You Don't Have to Feel Better to Live Better: ACT Therapy | International Clinic London

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), London

You Don't Have to Feel Better to Live Better: Understanding ACT Therapy

Most of us try to fight, suppress, or outrun difficult thoughts and feelings — and end up more stuck than before. ACT teaches a different way: change your relationship with what's inside you, and commit to a life built around what genuinely matters to you.

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Location: 10 Harley Street, London
Languages: Therapy offered in 9 languages
Approach: Evidence-based, third-wave CBT

"A Team of Experts Who Walk the Journey With You."

That's not a slogan we chose lightly. It describes how our multilingual, culturally aware clinicians guide every client through ACT — with patience, expertise, and genuine care.

Languages spoken

1:1

Personalised care

100%

Confidential

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?

Developed by Dr. Steven C. Hayes and colleagues, ACT (pronounced as one word) is a "third-wave" cognitive behavioural therapy. Rather than trying to eliminate difficult thoughts and feelings, it helps you change your relationship with them — and build a life around what you value, even when things are hard.

Third-wave CBT

ACT belongs to the newer generation of cognitive behavioural therapies, grounded in Contextual Behavioral Science.

More Than Symptom Relief

ACT isn't just focused on reducing distress—it's about building a rich, full, and meaningful life, even when difficult emotions are present.

Evidence-based

A growing body of research supports ACT's effectiveness across anxiety, depression, stress, and more.

Skills-based

You leave sessions with practical tools — not just insight — that you can use the moment life gets difficult.

Three skills at the heart of ACT

Your therapist will guide you through several interconnected processes. Here are the three that clients feel first.

Untangle

Cognitive defusion

Learn to see thoughts as just thoughts — words and images your mind produces — rather than facts you must obey. This loosens the grip of negative self-talk, worry, and intrusive thoughts.

Make room

Acceptance

Not resignation, and not liking discomfort — acceptance means allowing difficult feelings to be present without fighting them, so you stop spending your energy on a battle you can't win.

Move forward

Values & committed action

Clarify what genuinely matters to you, then take concrete, values-guided steps — even when it's uncomfortable. This is where insight becomes real, lasting change.

Who ACT helps

ACT is a versatile, well-evidenced approach for a wide range of concerns. These are three of the most common reasons clients come to us.

Anxiety & Panic Disorders

For generalised anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, and phobias. ACT helps you defuse from anxious "what if" thoughts, accept the physical sensations of anxiety, and keep engaging with life rather than letting anxiety dictate your choices.

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Depression & Low Mood

Rather than fighting sadness or hopelessness, ACT helps you accept these internal states while re-engaging with what matters — relationships, hobbies, goals — breaking the cycle of withdrawal and avoidance.

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Stress, Burnout & Life Transitions

For chronic stress and burnout, ACT helps you identify what's driving it, defuse from overwhelming thoughts about work or responsibilities, and commit to boundaries and habits that protect your wellbeing.

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ACT is also used to support clients through OCD, trauma and PTSD, perfectionism and self-criticism, and chronic pain or illness. If your concern isn't listed here, an initial consultation will help us understand whether ACT is the right fit for you.

I'd spent years trying to argue my anxious thoughts out of existence. My ACT therapist at International Clinic London taught me something completely different — how to carry them lightly and still live the life I wanted. That shift changed everything.

Client of International Clinic London, London

Questions people ask us about ACT

A few things clients often want to know before their first consultation.

Is ACT the same as CBT?

Both are evidence-based, but they work differently. Traditional CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns to reduce symptoms. ACT focuses on changing your relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings rather than eliminating them, pairing acceptance with values-based action. Many clients benefit from an integrative approach that draws on both.

How long does ACT therapy take?

It varies by individual. Some clients notice meaningful change within 8–12 sessions, while others prefer longer-term support to deepen their practice and address more complex issues. Your therapist will discuss a personalised treatment plan with you.

Is ACT suitable for everyone?

ACT is versatile and suits a broad range of people and concerns, though like any therapy, its effectiveness depends partly on your readiness to engage with its principles and practise its skills. An initial consultation with one of our ACT specialists will help determine if it's the right fit for you.

What's the role of mindfulness in ACT?

Mindfulness — bringing open, non-judgmental awareness to the present moment — is core to ACT. It underpins cognitive defusion (observing thoughts without getting tangled in them) and acceptance (making room for feelings), and it's a skill you'll practise both in and between sessions.

Can I combine ACT with medication?

Yes. ACT can work well alongside psychiatric medication prescribed by a doctor. Where relevant, our team can liaise with your prescribing physician so your therapy and medical care work together.

Do you offer ACT therapy in languages other than English?

Yes. Our multilingual team offers therapy in 9 languages, so you can do this work in the language that feels most natural to you — particularly valuable if you're an expat, international student, or global professional based away from home.

Start your ACT journey

Tell us a little about what's going on. A member of our team will get back to you within one working day to arrange your first appointment.