Our Psychologists have availability for face-to-face and online appointments for adults, adolescents and children.
Our Psychologists have availability for face-to-face and online appointments for adults, adolescents and children.
Many of our Psychologists use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Children (ACT) to help young people manage their emotions, behaviours, and challenges. ACT is particularly useful for children experiencing anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. It can be used on its own or in combination with other evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
Research shows that ACT is highly effective in helping children and adolescents develop psychological flexibility—the ability to adapt to difficult thoughts and feelings while continuing to engage in meaningful activities. Studies indicate that ACT can be particularly beneficial for young people struggling with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and behavioural issues.
ACT is designed to help children accept difficult emotions instead of struggling against them and commit to actions that align with their values. This approach promotes emotional resilience, mindfulness, and improved decision-making. ACT teaches children that thoughts and feelings come and go, and they don’t need to control or eliminate them to live a fulfilling life. Instead, they learn to observe their thoughts, feelings, urges, and physical sensations with curiosity and make choices that move them closer to their own goals and values (despite having big feelings!).
The number of ACT sessions varies depending on the child's needs, but typically ranges from 6 to 12 sessions, with weekly appointments. Some children may benefit from ongoing support, especially if they are managing long-term emotional or behavioural difficulties. Our Psychologists tailor ACT strategies to each child's unique challenges and strengths.
Here are three key components that children and adolescents can expect to learn in ACT sessions:
NON-JUDGMENTAL ACCEPTANCE
Children learn to notice and accept their thoughts and emotions without judgment. This helps reduce emotional distress and improves their ability to stay present in the moment. Mindfulness techniques are often used to encourage self-awareness and self-compassion and lots of fun props, activities, and metaphors are used to help children understand these concepts.
VALUES
Identifying children’s own goals and values is a central part of ACT. Children explore what truly matters to them—such as friendships, kindness, or learning—and use these values to guide their actions and decisions, even though they may experience strong emotions when moving in those directions.
ACTION
ACT encourages children to take committed action based on their values. They learn problem-solving skills, develop resilience, and practice making choices that align with what’s important to them, even when faced with challenges.
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Saturday (Reception only) 7am to 3pm
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