ACT for Coaching: Building Psychological Flexibility with ACT
Explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) builds psychological flexibility in coaching. Learn to move past experiential avoidance toward values-based action.
Best quote from ACT for Coaching: Building Psychological Flexibility with ACT
Psychological flexibility is the ability to stay present, open up to whatever you’re experiencing—even the uncomfortable stuff—and still take action that aligns with your values.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles within a coaching context to help clients manage emotions, change habits, and find values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Psychological flexibility is the ability to stay present and open to your current experiences, including uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, while still taking action that aligns with your core values. In coaching, this means moving from an autopilot reaction to a conscious response. Instead of struggling to suppress difficult emotions, individuals learn to accept them so they can focus on what truly matters in their professional and personal lives.
Experiential avoidance is the human instinct to suppress or get rid of unwanted thoughts and feelings, which often leads to feeling stuck. ACT addresses this by teaching that the struggle to "fix" emotions is often the problem itself. By using ACT principles, individuals learn to stop pushing away difficult internal experiences—like the metaphorical beach ball held underwater—and instead develop the flexibility to coexist with them while pursuing meaningful goals.
Business psychologist Hazel Anderson-Turner discovered ACT at a conference and found the framework transformative for coaching. She notably utilized these techniques to support NHS workers during the pandemic, helping them navigate high-stakes environments. Her approach focuses on building psychological flexibility rather than simply trying to eliminate stress, allowing professionals to remain effective and grounded in their values even during periods of intense pressure and emotional challenge.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
