Section 2: The ACT Model

People suffer, not only from physical pain, but also from various forms of psychological pain: difficult emotions, unpleasant memories, unwanted sensations, fear, worries, etc. At the same time, people also demonstrate resilience, courage, and compassion, as Steven C. Hayes (2005) observes, “Knowing they can be hurt, humans still love others. Knowing they will die, humans still care about the future. Facing the draw of meaninglessness, humans still embrace ideals. At times, humans are fully alive, present, and committed (p.1).”

The ACT model is about supporting people to move beyond suffering to fully engage with meaningful and committed living.