What makes ACT different from CBT?

While CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts, ACT helps you change your relationship to those thoughts. Rather than debating or suppressing them, you learn to observe them without judgment and choose actions guided by your values.

Can ACT help with anxiety or panic?

Yes. ACT is highly effective for anxiety, panic, and chronic worry. It teaches you to make space for uncomfortable sensations and thoughts without reacting automatically, reducing their intensity over time.

How long does ACT therapy take?

ACT can be short-term or ongoing depending on your goals. Some clients experience noticeable change within 6–10 sessions, while others continue longer to deepen mindfulness and sustain growth.

Is ACT effective for trauma or burnout?

Yes. ACT supports trauma recovery and chronic stress by teaching acceptance, grounding, and self-compassion while helping you rebuild a sense of safety and purpose.

What happens in an online ACT session?

ACT sessions combine conversation, mindfulness exercises, and practical coaching. You’ll explore what’s been difficult, practise new skills, and take small, values-based actions between sessions.

Is ACT covered by insurance in Alberta?

Many extended health plans in Alberta cover ACT when provided by a Registered Social Worker or Counselling Therapist. Check your policy for details on coverage for mental health services.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Alberta | Online ACT Counselling for Emotional Balance

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you navigate life’s challenges with more flexibility, calm, and purpose. Instead of trying to control every thought or emotion, ACT teaches you how to make peace with what’s difficult while taking meaningful steps toward the life you want.

When Your Mind Feels Like the Enemy

Some days it feels like your mind just won’t stop. You overthink, second-guess, and replay conversations until you’re exhausted. Even when things are going well, your brain finds new worries to chase. You might try to push thoughts away or distract yourself, only to find they return louder than before.

ACT understands that the harder you fight your thoughts and emotions, the more power they gain. Instead of endless battles with your mind, ACT helps you build a new relationship with it; one that’s steadier, kinder, and more intentional.

It’s not about silencing your thoughts. It’s about learning to let them exist without letting them drive your life.

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What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is an evidence-based form of behavioural therapy developed to help people respond to distress with mindfulness and values-based action. Rather than focusing on changing thoughts directly, ACT helps you shift how you relate to them.

When painful experiences or emotions show up, ACT teaches you how to make space for them instead of trying to suppress or control them. The focus moves from “getting rid of pain” to “building a life that matters.”

ACT is widely used for anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, burnout, and chronic stress. It’s also valuable for people who feel stuck, those who know what they want but can’t seem to follow through.

How ACT Works in Counselling Sessions

Each ACT session is practical and grounded. You and your therapist will explore what you’ve been struggling with, clarify what truly matters to you, and identify small, realistic steps that move you closer to those values.

You’ll learn how to notice when your mind pulls you into old loops like worry, avoidance, self-criticism, and practise skills to stay anchored in the present. Over time, you’ll discover that you don’t need to win against your thoughts to move forward. You can act meaningfully even when discomfort shows up.

Our ACT sessions are available online across Alberta, including Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Fort McMurray. Sessions are confidential, structured, and paced to your comfort.

The Core Principles of ACT Therapy

ACT is based on six interwoven principles that create psychological flexibility, the ability to stay present, open, and committed to what matters even when life is hard.

Acceptance: Allowing space for difficult emotions rather than avoiding them.
Cognitive Defusion: Learning to see thoughts as words and sensations, not absolute truths.
Being Present: Staying connected to the moment instead of lost in past or future worries.
Self-as-Context: Recognising that you are more than your experiences or thoughts.
Values Clarification: Discovering what gives your life meaning and direction.
Committed Action: Taking steady, practical steps that align with your values.

These principles help clients create lasting change not by controlling their inner world, but by strengthening their ability to live well within it.

Benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

As you begin applying ACT, life doesn’t suddenly become easier but it does become clearer. The storms still come, yet you stop getting swept away.

You’ll notice more space between thoughts and reactions. You’ll respond to challenges with calm rather than urgency. You’ll make decisions guided by your values, not by fear or self-doubt.

Many clients describe feeling lighter, more grounded, and more confident in navigating daily life. Focus returns, relationships feel steadier, and life starts to feel like something you’re participating in not just surviving.

Who ACT Can Help

ACT is designed for anyone who feels trapped in mental loops or emotional avoidance. It’s especially helpful if you:

Feel stuck in anxiety, self-criticism, or overthinking.
Struggle with motivation, burnout, or perfectionism.
Experience emotional ups and downs that leave you drained.
Have difficulty moving forward after loss, trauma, or major change.
Want to reconnect with your goals and values but don’t know where to start.

ACT meets you where you are, not to erase struggle, but to help you live more fully alongside it.

Why Choose The Mental Health Clinic for ACT in Alberta

Therapists you can trust: Licensed professional with advanced training and 20+ years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families.
Evidence-based and results-oriented: Every session follows proven methods tailored to your goals, so you notice progress you can feel and measure.
Alberta-wide access: Meet from a private space via telephone or by using our encrypted video platform. Online sessions provide the same level of care and emotional connection as in-person therapy while allowing you to meet from the comfort of your own home. Whether you are in a large city or a small rural area, professional relationship support is within reach!
Flexible scheduling options with morning, afternoon, evening and weekend appointments available.
No waitlists so you can start when you're ready, not months from now.
Free consultations: Meet your therapist first, ask questions, and make sure it feels like the right fit before committing.

Learn more about how we work on About Our Clinic, or learn more about out Therapists.

How to Begin ACT Online

Your first step is simple: schedule a free 20-minute consultation. During this meeting, you’ll speak with one of our Alberta therapists, explore your goals, and see whether ACT feels like the right approach.

If you decide to move forward, your therapist will guide you through a structured plan focused on building mindfulness, clarifying values, and taking meaningful steps at your pace.

ACT isn’t about perfection or control. It’s about learning how to live fully even when life is uncertain.

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Common Questions About ACT Therapy in Alberta

While CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts, ACT takes a different approach; it helps you change your relationship to those thoughts. Rather than debating or suppressing them, you learn to observe them without judgment and choose actions based on your values. This shift builds psychological flexibility, allowing you to respond to challenges more calmly and intentionally.
Yes. ACT is one of the most effective therapies for anxiety and panic because it teaches you to make space for discomfort instead of fighting it. You’ll learn to observe anxious sensations and thoughts with curiosity, not fear, which naturally reduces their intensity. Over time, clients report feeling calmer, more in control, and less ruled by worry.
The length of ACT therapy varies based on your goals and how deeply you want to integrate the skills. Many clients begin to notice a shift within 6–10 sessions as they start applying mindfulness and acceptance tools in daily life. Others continue longer to strengthen these practices and align their actions more consistently with their values.
Absolutely. ACT helps people recovering from trauma or burnout reconnect with their sense of self and meaning after long periods of emotional fatigue. It supports grounding and emotional regulation while gently reducing avoidance and self-blame. Over time, clients regain confidence and begin living in alignment with what matters most to them.
ACT sessions are interactive and experiential rather than purely conversational. You and your therapist will explore your experiences, practise mindfulness or grounding exercises, and translate insights into clear actions for daily life. Many clients find online sessions just as effective and sometimes even more comfortable because they can apply skills directly in their home environment.
Most extended health and employee benefit plans cover ACT when provided by a Registered Social Worker, Counselling Therapist or Canadian Certified Counsellor. At The Mental Health Clinic, receipts include all information insurers require for reimbursement. If you’re unsure, it’s best to contact your provider to confirm coverage for mental health counselling in Alberta.