ACT Therapy in Calgary | Values-Based Support for Adults & Teens
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Anxiety, Stress & Life Transitions
Some struggles aren’t about “fixing” the feeling itself—they’re about finding ways to move forward even when the feeling is there.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you notice your thoughts, connect with your values, and take meaningful steps toward the life you want.
At NU Psychology, you’ll work with a psychologist who specializes in ACT therapy in Calgary, supporting adults and teens who want emotional resilience, clearer priorities, and a stronger sense of direction.
ACT teaches you how to live more intentionally—even when discomfort shows up along the way..
What Is ACT Therapy?
ACT helps you build psychological flexibility—your ability to stay connected to what matters while handling difficult thoughts and emotions in healthier ways.
ACT focuses on six key processes:
1. Acceptance
Softening resistance to uncomfortable emotions instead of fighting them.
2. Cognitive De-fusion
Changing your relationship with thoughts so they lose power.
3. Present-Moment Awareness
Staying grounded instead of getting pulled into rumination or worry.
4. Self-as-Context
Seeing yourself with compassion and perspective—not defined by your thoughts.
5. Values Identification
Clarifying what truly matters to you.
6. Committed Action
Taking small, meaningful steps aligned with your values.
ACT isn’t about “feeling good”—it’s about feeling capable.
How ACT Helps Teens & Adults
With ACT, you can:
Reduce struggle with anxiety
Respond to emotions instead of avoiding them
Break cycles of rumination
Reconnect with what brings meaning
Strengthen motivation
Build resilience during transitions
Release unhelpful self-judgment
ACT is especially helpful for people who feel stuck between wanting change and feeling overwhelmed by it.
Issues ACT Supports
ACT is effective for:
Anxiety and persistent worry
Depression or low mood
Chronic stress
Perfectionism
Identity concerns
Burnout
Overthinking
Life transitions
Self-criticism
Emotional avoidance
ACT blends well with CBT, Narrative Therapy, and IFS/Parts Work when layered support is helpful.
ACT in Everyday Life
ACT helps you:
Take action even when motivation is low
Move through fear or uncertainty with more clarity
Make decisions rooted in values instead of pressure
Shift out of avoidance patterns
Handle relationship stress more effectively
Build a life that feels aligned
Clients working on anxiety, identity, or life transitions often find ACT particularly grounding.
The NU Process: ACT Therapy
A typical ACT session may include:
1. Grounding Check-In
What showed up this week—emotionally, mentally, or situationally.
2. Noticing Thoughts & Emotional Patterns
Understanding how your mind responded without judgment.
3. Clarifying Values & Priorities
Exploring what direction you want life to move toward.
4. Building Skills
Examples include:
De-fusion exercises
Mindful awareness
Acceptance strategies
Values-guided planning
5. Choosing Meaningful Steps
Small, values-based actions that support change.
ACT integrates easily with CBT, Narrative Therapy, IFS, and EMDR.
Serving Calgary’s Inner Southwest & Beyond
NU Psychology is located in Killarney, Calgary, easy to reach from:
Aspen Woods · West Springs · Cougar Ridge · Discovery Ridge · Springbank · Signal Hill · Strathcona · Mount Royal · Altadore · Bankview · Glendale · Westgate · Wildwood · Hillhurst · Sunalta · Lakeview
We also offer online ACT therapy across Alberta, making care accessible wherever you are.
Your First NU ACT Session
Your first session focuses on:
What you’ve been navigating
Where you feel stuck
What matters most to you
What you want life to look like moving forward
Which modalities fit your goals
We offer in-person therapy in Calgary and online IFS therapy across Alberta.
Is ACT the Right Fit for You?
ACT may be a strong match if you want:
A values-based approach
Support with anxiety or avoidance
Emotional resilience
Clarity during transitions
A blend of mindfulness + action
Why Start ACT Therapy Now?
Most people wait to start ACT because they hope things will “settle down.”
But ACT works because life is messy, unpredictable, and full of emotion and transition.
Beginning ACT now can help you:
pause avoidance patterns before they grow
reconnect with your values during stressful seasons
navigate change with a clearer sense of direction
stop postponing the things that matter most
feel more capable, even when discomfort is present
make decisions with confidence instead of fear
You don’t need everything to be calm before you begin.
ACT helps you build a meaningful life in real time—not once things are perfect.
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ACT uses mindfulness, but it’s broader—focused on values, behaviour change, and psychological flexibility.
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No. ACT includes the past when it’s relevant but focuses on what you want your life to look like now and moving forward.
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ACT teaches acceptance of internal experiences—not harmful situations. Boundaries and change are part of the process.
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Yes. ACT is one of the most effective therapies for anxiety because it shifts your relationship with worry.
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Most people notice changes within a few weeks as they begin practicing skills. Longer-term progress builds with repetition and support.
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Absolutely. ACT integrates well with CBT, Narrative Therapy, IFS, and EMDR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start ACT Therapy in Calgary
If you want to move toward a life guided by your values—not by pressure, fear, or old patterns—ACT can help you take meaningful steps forward. You don’t have to wait for the “right moment” to start. Small, intentional changes can begin today.
Book online, call, or email to get matched with a psychologist who specializes in ACT therapy in Calgary.
📍 2005 – 37 St SW, Unit #4, Calgary
📞 403-217-4686
