Overview

Living with a long-term health condition can affect your physical health, your thoughts and how you feel. Over time, this can affect your wellbeing and quality of life. 

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of talking therapy. It can help you cope with these challenges and continue doing the things that matter to you.

About ACT

Living with a long-term condition can be difficult. You may have symptoms such as pain or fatigue, or feel worried about the future. This can make it harder for you to do things you enjoy. Not knowing how your condition might change may also make you feel uneasy.

You might find yourself worrying a lot, being self-critical, or avoiding certain situations. Some people withdraw from family and friends, or find it harder to look after themselves. These responses are common, but they can make it harder to do the things that are important to you.  

ACT helps you develop skills, such as mindfulness, to manage any difficult thoughts and feelings. It helps you focus more on what matters to you.

Rather than trying to get rid of difficult thoughts, feelings, or symptoms, ACT helps you change how you respond to them. You learn to notice difficult thoughts without getting caught up in them. You also learn to make space for uncomfortable feelings rather than trying to resist or avoid them.  

The aim is to help you build a more fulfilling and purposeful life, even when you’re facing challenges.

How ACT can help

ACT can help you deal with the challenges of a long-term condition in more flexible ways. It can help you to:

• be more open and compassionate towards your thoughts and feelings
• stay more present in the moment
• spend more time doing things that matter to you
• improve your quality of life

ACT may also help you cope with:

• pain and fatigue
• uncertainty
• anxiety and low mood
• worries about the future

How to get ACT

You can ask a member of your healthcare team about ACT. Some departments have psychologists or therapists who offer it. You can also ask your GP.

ACT can be accessed face to face or online. Speak to your healthcare team to see what’s available. 

Face-to-face

• You may have one-to-one sessions with a therapist or psychologist, where you can focus on your experiences, concerns and goals.
• You may also take part in group sessions, where you can share experiences and learn from others facing similar health challenges.

Online

You may choose to access ACT online. This gives you more flexibility and allows you to take part in sessions remotely. 

Self-help resources

You can access a free online self-help guide based on ACT called Doing What Matters in Times of Stress. The guide is available in multiple languages and includes practical exercises to help you manage stress. You can use it on its own or alongside therapy.  

Our general wellbeing support page includes a range of self-help resources to help you manage stress and anxiety.