Psychological flexibility helps you respond differently, so you can move towards a life that matters to you.

Psychological flexibility is the ability to stay present, make room for difficult thoughts and feelings, and take action guided by what matters to you.

It does not mean feeling calm, confident, or positive all the time. It means having more choice in how you respond, even when anxiety, stress, pain, self-doubt, or difficult emotions are present.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is an evidence-based psychological therapy. It sits within the wider cognitive behavioural family of therapies, which includes approaches such as CBT. ACT is sometimes described as a “third wave” behavioural therapy because it places more emphasis on mindfulness, acceptance, values, and changing how you relate to thoughts and feelings.

Rather than focusing on getting rid of every difficult thought or feeling, ACT helps you change how you relate to them. In therapy, we use skills such as mindfulness, acceptance, defusion, the observing self, values, and committed action, so your life can become less shaped by avoidance and more guided by what matters to you.

ACT includes mindfulness, but it is not the same as mindfulness alone.

In ACT, mindfulness helps you notice thoughts, feelings, sensations, and urges with more awareness and steadiness. Rather than getting caught up in every thought or trying to push feelings away, you learn to create a little more space around what is happening inside.

ACT then goes further by connecting this awareness with values and action. The aim is not just to feel calmer in the moment, but to respond with more choice and move towards the kind of life you want to live.

No. You do not need to know anything about ACT before starting therapy.

ACT ideas are introduced gradually and practically through the therapy process. You do not need to study the six core processes, understand the terminology, or get anything “right” before we begin.

My aim is to make ACT clear, accessible, and usable in everyday life. We explore the ideas through conversation, reflection, exercises, and practice, so they become something you can actually use rather than something you have to learn like a theory.

ACT sits within the wider cognitive behavioural family of therapies, alongside approaches such as CBT, but it has a different emphasis.

Traditional CBT often helps you identify, test, or challenge unhelpful thoughts. ACT focuses more on changing your relationship with thoughts, so you can notice them, step back from them, and choose how to respond. The aim is not to win an argument with your mind, but to build psychological flexibility and take meaningful action guided by what matters to you.

An ACT session is not about being taught a theory or being told to think differently. We usually begin by looking at what has been happening for you, where you feel stuck, and what you would like therapy to support.

From there, we may explore how thoughts, feelings, sensations, or urges are affecting your choices, and practise ways to respond with more awareness and flexibility. This might include mindfulness, defusion exercises, values work, practical reflection, or small steps to try between sessions.

The aim is to make ACT feel useful in real life, so you leave with a clearer understanding of what is happening and practical ways to respond differently.

ACT can be helpful for a range of experiences where difficult thoughts, feelings, sensations, or avoidance have started to shape your life more than you would like.

In my work, I often use ACT to support people with anxiety, stress, overthinking, low mood, self-doubt, sleep difficulties, chronic pain, long-term conditions, burnout, and life transitions.

ACT is not about trying to get rid of every difficult thought or feeling. It helps you build psychological flexibility, so you can respond with more awareness and choice, and take steps towards what matters to you.

This varies depending on what you are coming to therapy for, how long it has been affecting you, and what kind of support will be most useful.

Most people begin with a programme of around six sessions, starting with a 90-minute in-depth assessment. We review progress as we go, so therapy stays relevant, focused, and useful.

Yes. I offer Acceptance and Commitment Therapy online across the UK, so you can access support from a private space that feels comfortable for you.

Online sessions can be especially helpful if you need therapy to fit around work, family, health, or everyday life. If you are unsure whether online or in-person sessions would suit you best, we can talk this through during your free consultation.

Yes. I offer Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Warwickshire, with in-person sessions available from North Warwickshire. I also offer online sessions across Warwickshire and the wider UK.

I am based near the Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire borders, with clients often coming from nearby areas including Atherstone, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Burton upon Trent, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Lichfield, and the surrounding Midlands.

Between sessions, you will have access to your own private space inside the Your Mind Works app, where I share personalised resources linked to what we discuss and practise in therapy.

This may include guided ACT practices, mindfulness audios, values exercises, journaling prompts, breathing and grounding practices, and personalised notes or resources to help you build on the therapy session in everyday life.

The app is not a replacement for therapy, but a simple place to return to the ideas, practices, and resources that support your sessions.

Therapy packages start from £600 for six sessions, including a 90-minute in-depth assessment. Payment plans are available.

I work through therapy packages because they give us enough time to understand what is happening, begin building practical skills, and review what is changing over time. The first step is a free 30-minute consultation, where we can talk through what you need and whether working together feels right.

Yes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be helpful for young people and adolescents, especially when they are struggling with anxiety, stress, low confidence, overthinking, emotional overwhelm, pain, sleep difficulties, or feeling stuck.

ACT can support young people to understand what is happening in their mind and body, respond differently to difficult thoughts and feelings, and take small steps towards the things that matter to them.

I have specialist training in ACT for adolescents, along with over 15 years’ experience working with young people and teenagers, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), anxiety, low confidence, emotional overwhelm, and other challenges that can affect everyday life.

In therapy, the ideas are adapted to the young person’s age, needs, and situation. The focus is on making ACT practical, accessible, and relevant to everyday life, rather than something that feels abstract or overly clinical.