Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Newcastle
Building psychological flexibility for a full, values-driven life
Master of Clinical Psychology · Member, Australian Psychological Society (MAPS)
Schedule Your ConsultationWhat is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based approach that helps you develop a different relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than trying to eliminate them.
Instead of struggling against anxiety, sadness, or painful memories, ACT teaches skills for accepting what's outside your control while committing to action that moves you toward the things that matter most to you.
Through mindfulness-based techniques and values clarification, you'll learn to reduce the grip of unhelpful thinking patterns and build a life that reflects what's genuinely important to you — even alongside discomfort.
How ACT Works
Treatment typically moves through several overlapping phases, tailored to your pace and goals.
Assessment & Values Clarification
We explore your current difficulties and identify the values and life directions that matter most to you.
Mindfulness & Acceptance Skills
You learn practical skills for making room for difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than avoiding or fighting them.
Cognitive Defusion
We work on creating distance from unhelpful thoughts, so they have less power to dictate your behaviour.
Committed Action
We build concrete, values-driven steps you can take in daily life, even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present.
Who ACT Can Help
ACT has a strong evidence base across a wide range of presentations, particularly where avoidance keeps a difficulty going.
Anxiety & Avoidance
Persistent worry, panic, or avoidance of situations, people, or feelings that keeps your world getting smaller.
Chronic Pain & Illness
Learning to live well and stay engaged with life alongside ongoing physical health conditions or pain.
Depression & Low Motivation
Reconnecting with meaningful activity and values when low mood has made everything feel pointless or exhausting.
Work-Related Stress & Burnout
Building sustainable ways of relating to pressure, perfectionism, and competing demands at work.
Perfectionism
Loosening the grip of unrelenting self-criticism and rigid standards that get in the way of living fully.
OCD & Intrusive Thoughts
Changing your relationship with intrusive thoughts, rather than getting caught up in compulsions or avoidance.
Your ACT Practitioner
Bartholomew Henrick is a clinical psychologist working with adults and teenagers experiencing anxiety, avoidance, chronic pain, and difficulty living in line with what matters to them.
Drawing on training across CBT, EMDR, ACT and Schema Therapy, Bartholomew tailors treatment to the depth of work each client needs — from targeted symptom relief to longer-term work on the patterns underneath.
Qualifications & Experience
- Master of Clinical Psychology
- Two Honours-level degrees in Psychology
- Member, Australian Psychological Society (MAPS)
- Member, EMDR Association of Australia
- Experience with adults and teenagers
- In-person and telehealth appointments available
Frequently Asked Questions
How is ACT different from CBT?
Traditional CBT often focuses on changing the content of unhelpful thoughts. ACT instead focuses on changing your relationship with those thoughts — making room for them while still acting in line with your values. In practice, many clients benefit from a blend of both approaches.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies depending on your goals and the difficulties you're working with. Some clients see meaningful shifts within several sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work. We'll review progress together along the way.
Is ACT available via telehealth?
Yes. ACT translates well to secure video sessions, including mindfulness exercises and values work. See our telehealth page for details.
Do I need a GP referral?
No, you can book directly. A Mental Health Care Plan from your GP can provide a Medicare rebate and reduce your out-of-pocket costs, but it isn't required to start.
Ready to Build a Values-Driven Life?
Contact us to schedule an ACT consultation or ask whether this approach is a good fit for you.
02 4910 4061
02 4913 5390
Suite 107 (Reception)
17 Bolton Street
Newcastle NSW 2300
PO Box 18
Wickham NSW 2293
Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm