Telehealth Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Women Across Australia
Written by Natasha Kiemel-Incorvaia, Registered Psychologist (PSY0001977411) | Last updated: 29 April 2026
I offer Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) via secure telehealth to women and girls aged 15 and over across Australia. ACT is an evidence-based approach that helps you build a different relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings, and take action toward what genuinely matters to you.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, said as the word "act") is an evidence-based psychological approach developed by Dr Steven Hayes and colleagues. It sits within the broader family of cognitive and behavioural therapies, with a strong emphasis on mindfulness, values and acceptance.
The approach recognises that trying to control or eliminate difficult internal experiences often makes them louder and pulls you away from the life you actually want. Rather than focusing primarily on changing thoughts, ACT focuses on changing your relationship to thoughts and feelings, while supporting you to take meaningful action even when difficulty is present.
The aim of ACT is psychological flexibility. This means building the capacity to make space for difficult internal experiences, stay present, connect with what matters to you, and take action in that direction.
What is psychological flexibility?
Psychological flexibility is the capacity to stay present, open up to difficult thoughts and feelings, and still take steps toward what matters to you. It involves shifting from fighting your inner experience to noticing it, making room for it, and choosing actions that line up with your values, even when discomfort is there.
ACT as a standalone approach
ACT can be used as the primary modality for your therapy and works well as a standalone approach for many presentations. ACT may suit you as a sole approach if you:
Have done previous CBT and found yourself wanting something less focused on changing thoughts
Are dealing with chronic difficulties (for example, ongoing health conditions, persistent anxiety, long-standing patterns) where the focus is on living well alongside difficulty rather than eliminating it
Want a values-based approach that connects therapy to the bigger picture of your life
Are drawn to mindfulness and present-moment awareness as part of psychological work
Notice that perfectionism, self-criticism or rumination are central themes for you
Are navigating identity questions, life transitions or burnout
ACT can also be combined with other approaches such as CBT, EMDR, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy or DBT-informed skills when that better suits your needs. The choice of approach is always collaborative and based on what fits you, your presentation and your preferences.
What symptoms can ACT support?
ACT has a strong and growing evidence base, particularly for anxiety, depression, chronic pain and stress-related presentations. It is also used clinically across a broader range of difficulties. Below is a non-exhaustive list of areas where ACT may support:
Perfectionism and self-criticism
Avoidance of difficult emotions or experiences
Chronic pain and long-term health conditions
Adjustment to illness, grief or major life change
Identity questions and life transitions
Relationship difficulties
Workplace stress and values conflicts
Disordered relationships with achievement and productivity
Trauma-related difficulties (often combined with other approaches)
Obsessive thinking patterns
In ACT, the goal is not to get rid of feelings or thoughts, but to change how you relate to them so they take up less space in your life and have less influence over your choices.
How ACT works
ACT works through six interconnected processes that together build psychological flexibility. Your psychologist will help you develop each of these in a way that fits your situation.
Acceptance
Making room for difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them, suppressing them or trying to make them go away. Acceptance is not resignation; it is the recognition that struggling with internal experiences often makes them more powerful.
Defusion
Learning to step back from thoughts and see them as thoughts, rather than as truths or instructions. Defusion reduces the grip that difficult thoughts have on your behaviour, without needing to argue with them or change them.
Present-moment awareness
Building the capacity to be present with what is actually happening, rather than caught up in the past, the future, or the inner commentary about either.
Self as context
Developing a sense of yourself as the part that notices your thoughts and feelings, rather than being defined by them. This observing perspective can feel like a calm centre that has been with you across many stages of life, and can help you relate differently to painful stories about who you are.
Values
Clarifying what genuinely matters to you, in your own words, separate from what you have been told you should value. Values give direction and meaning, particularly during difficult periods.
Committed action
Taking consistent steps toward what matters, even when difficult thoughts and feelings show up along the way.
These six processes are what ACT works with in practice. The work in session is collaborative, often experiential, and involves practical exercises rather than only conversation.
Is ACT effective via telehealth?
ACT translates well to a telehealth setting. The work involves conversation, mindfulness exercises, values clarification and behavioural experiments, all of which can be done effectively via video.
Research suggests that ACT delivered via telehealth can achieve outcomes comparable to in-person ACT for concerns such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain and stress, although individual responses can vary. Many clients find that doing ACT from home, where their actual life is, supports the practical application of the work.
What an online ACT session may look like
ACT sessions often have a different rhythm to more structured cognitive therapies. A typical session may include:
A check-in on how the week has been and what showed up
Conversation about a current difficulty or pattern
An experiential exercise (for example, a mindfulness practice, a defusion exercise, a values exploration)
Connecting the exercise back to what you want to do differently in your daily life
Agreement on what to notice or experiment with before the next session
ACT often uses metaphors, imagery and experiential exercises rather than working primarily through analysis. This can feel different from other therapies you may have tried, and your psychologist will adapt the work to suit your style and what feels useful.
For example, if you notice a harsh "I'm failing" story showing up at work, an ACT session might involve gently observing that thought as a thought, noticing how it shows up in your body, and identifying a small values-based step you want to take anyway (such as asking for support, setting a limit, or finishing one important task).
Who ACT may suit
ACT may be a good fit if you:
Are looking for a values-based, meaning-focused approach to therapy
Have done CBT and want something with a different emphasis
Are dealing with chronic or long-term difficulties where elimination is not realistic
Are drawn to mindfulness and present-moment work
Are navigating identity questions, life transitions or midlife shifts
Are struggling with perfectionism, self-criticism or harsh inner dialogue
Are managing burnout and questioning what you actually want your life to look like
ACT and neurodiversity
ACT can be adapted for different ways of thinking and processing information. Sessions can move at a pace that suits you, use more or fewer metaphors, include visual or written supports, and focus on your strengths and sensory needs. The aim is to help you build a life that fits your own values, not to force you into narrow ideas of what you "should" be like.
Who ACT may not suit as a sole approach
ACT is widely applicable, and there are circumstances where it works better in combination with other approaches:
Acute, severe symptoms requiring more structured, symptom-focused work first (for example, severe panic, OCD, acute trauma)
Clients who strongly prefer structured, skills-based, time-limited therapy with measurable symptom reduction (CBT may suit better)
Complex trauma where body-based or trauma-specific approaches such as EMDR or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy may be needed alongside ACT
Clients who find experiential, metaphor-based work uncomfortable or unhelpful
Natasha will discuss with you whether ACT alone, ACT combined with other approaches, or a different approach altogether is the best fit for your needs.
Telehealth ACT with Natasha
Natasha Kiemel-Incorvaia is a Registered Psychologist with over 10 years of experience supporting women and girls aged 15 and over across Australia. Natasha is trained in ACT and uses it both as a primary approach and in combination with other modalities depending on what best suits each client.
ACT is one of several evidence-based approaches Natasha draws on in her work and has been studied for difficulties such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain and stress. ACT is often a particularly good fit for women navigating burnout, identity shifts, perfectionism, perimenopause and life transitions, all of which are common presentations in the practice.
As a solo telehealth practice, you meet with Natasha for each session, supporting continuity throughout your ACT work.
If you would like to know more about Natasha’s background and approach, you can visit the About page.
Appointment length and cost
Initial appointments are 60 minutes; all subsequent appointments are 50 minutes.
Initial 60-minute appointment: $230
Subsequent 50-minute appointments: $215
A Medicare rebate of $98.95 is available with a valid Mental Health Care Plan from your GP. Visit our Appointments page for full pricing information and our Medicare rebate information page for more information about Mental Health Care Plans.
Ready to explore ACT?
If you would like to start ACT or discuss whether it suits your needs, you can:
Book an initial appointment online by visiting our Halaxy booking page
Or
Call our admin team on 0457 427 876
An initial appointment is a chance to talk through what you are experiencing, ask questions, and get a sense of whether this approach feels right for you. It is not a commitment to ongoing therapy if it does not feel right.
Frequently asked questions about online ACT
What is ACT therapy?
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, said as the word "act") is an evidence-based psychological approach that helps you change your relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings rather than trying to eliminate them, while taking action toward what genuinely matters to you.
How is ACT different from CBT?
CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. ACT takes a different approach: rather than trying to change the content of your thoughts, ACT helps you notice thoughts as thoughts, make room for difficult feelings, and take values-based action even when discomfort is present. Some clients benefit from elements of both.
Does ACT work for anxiety?
ACT has a strong evidence base for anxiety-related presentations, including generalised anxiety, chronic worry and stress. Rather than aiming to reduce anxiety directly, ACT helps you change how you respond to anxious thoughts and feelings so they have less influence over your choices and daily life.
Is ACT evidence-based?
Yes. ACT has a substantial and growing research base, with randomised controlled trials supporting its effectiveness for anxiety, depression, chronic pain, stress and a range of other presentations. It is recognised as an empirically supported treatment by multiple international professional bodies.
Can ACT be done online?
Yes. ACT translates well to telehealth. The work involves conversation, mindfulness exercises, values clarification and behavioural experiments, all of which can be done effectively via secure video. Research suggests telehealth ACT can achieve outcomes comparable to in-person delivery for many presentations.
How many ACT sessions will I need?
The number of sessions depends on your goals, the complexity of what you are working with, and how you respond to the approach. ACT can be used as a shorter-term intervention for specific concerns or as a longer-term approach for more complex or chronic difficulties. Natasha can discuss this with you in your initial appointment.
Can ACT help with burnout?
ACT is often a good fit for burnout because it focuses on reconnecting with your values and what matters to you, rather than only managing symptoms. It can help you notice the patterns that contributed to burnout and make intentional changes aligned with the life you actually want.
What is psychological flexibility?
Psychological flexibility is the core aim of ACT. It is the capacity to stay present, make room for difficult thoughts and feelings, and take action guided by your values rather than being driven by avoidance or autopilot.
Can I get a Medicare rebate for ACT?
Yes. A Medicare rebate of $98.95 is available for each appointment with a valid Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, regardless of which therapy approach is used in session.
How do I book an ACT appointment?
You can book an initial appointment online through the Halaxy booking page or call the admin team on 0457 427 876. The initial appointment is a chance to talk through what you are experiencing, ask questions, and decide whether ACT feels like a good fit.
References
A-Tjak, J. G. L., Davis, M. L., Morina, N., Powers, M. B., Smits, J. A. J., & Emmelkamp, P. M. G. (2015). A meta-analysis of the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for clinically relevant mental and physical health problems. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 84(1), 30-36.
Gloster, A. T., Walder, N., Levin, M. E., Twohig, M. P., & Karekla, M. (2020). The empirical status of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 18, 181-192.
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Herbert, M. S., Afari, N., Liu, L., Heppner, P., Rutledge, T., Williams, K., Eraly, S., VanBuskirk, K., Nguyen, C., Bondi, M., Atkinson, J. H., Golshan, S., & Wetherell, J. L. (2017). Telehealth versus in-person Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain: A randomized noninferiority trial. The Journal of Pain, 18(2), 200-211.
Ruiz, F. J. (2012). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy versus traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of current empirical evidence. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 12(3), 333-357.