Symbolism or deeper meaning of words and images used on therapy Southampton website: 

 

Humming bird symbolism: 

To open the heart to the love, lightness, playfulness and joy in life 

Flexibility and lightness, adaptability resilience and freedom 

Lightness of being, enjoyment of life, playfulness 

Being more present 

Independence 

Lifting up negativity 

Swiftness, ability to respond quickly 

Resiliency being able to travel great distances tirelessly  

 

Star symbolism:  

Self reliance 

Guidance, Navigation, to help guide us through life, connecting with what motivates us on our journey 

Intuition 

Illumination, clarity, inspiration, hope, renewal 

 

 

 

Lotus flower symbolism: 

 

Purity of body, speech and mind- spiritual awakening  

Flowers float above the muddy waters of attachment and desire 

Detachment as drops of water easily slide off petals 

Rebirth 

 

 

Butterfly symbolism: 

The soul 

Endurance, change, hope, life, renewal 

Powerful personal transformation with grace and lightness 

Metamorphosis in your life, personality  

Lightness of being, playfulness, aliveness, brightness 

Internal transformation- elevation from earthly matters. Tuning into emotional or spiritual guidance. 

The world of the soul, psyche 

 

What is ACT, how can it help me and how ACT differs from CBT. Conveyed via the symbols and words used. 

The am of ACT is to help you live a rich, full and meaningful life. While effectively handling the pain which inevitably comes your way (The Happiness Trap). We humans are emotion lead. Emotions make things matter. Emotions will control thinking and behaviour as they are designed to do, unless we choose otherwise.  

To accept, choose and take action (ACT). 

 

3 steps: 

Step 1. Learn how our automatic reactions -thoughts and feelings, create pain and suffering in our life 

Step 2. Rather than trying to get rid of- (an automatic reaction) -painful thoughts and feelings we learn how to transform our relationship to them. We become more RESPONSE-ABLE. 

Step 3. Instead of chasing happy thoughts and feelings we focus on creating a rich full and meaningful life. 

Learn to foster and develop some distance from these internal experiences. Learn to observe them and you will witness, there exists within you, a safe, grounded centre. From this space energy movements within you, thoughts, feelings, sensations, have much less power over your actions and behaviour. Combined with a clearer sense of direction you wish to take your life and skills to handle the journey. This is ACT. 

 

Psychological flexibility is the ability to flexibly relate to private experiences and behave in a manner which is responsive to the here and now (current circumstances) and consistent with ones values.  

Psychological flexibility is comprised of 6 core processes or skills summarised: 

Open, aware and engaged. We will learn and strengthen these skills together in our sessions.  

ACT differs from CBT in its emphasis on altering how one relates to thoughts, feelings and other private events rather than attempting to change them (Hayes et al 2012) 

The focus of ACT treatment is increasing flexible responding to the environment and living consistently with ones values- which is strongly associated with distress reduction (Cierrochi et al 2010) 

 

 

 

Symbolism or deeper meaning of words: 

 

Acceptance and Commitment training or therapy can help one move from depression, anxiety, stress. Towards: acceptance, courage, wisdom. 

 

Acceptance- to take something to oneself. Consent to receive as adequate, valid or suitable. To take what is offered as if one chose it.  

 

Courage- action in spite of ones fears. Denoting the heart as the seat of feelings (from the Latin cor- heart) 

 

Wisdom- the application of knowledge, putting into action what we know.Having or showing experience, knowledge and good judgement. Wisdom = awareness  

 

 

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference- Niebuhr  

   

To accept, choose and take action (ACT).