Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

What is ACT?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT (said like “act”) is a mindfully oriented and humanistic type of behavioral therapy. Its unique goal is to help you create a rich and meaningful life alongside the existence of pain and suffering. Through ACT, you develop mental flexibility, mindfulness, self-acceptance, and a commitment to life-affirming behavior change. ACT encourages us to embrace thoughts and feelings rather than fighting, fleeing, or feeling guilty for them.

What happens during ACT?

During the session, I’ll teach you ways to ease pain and suffering. You’ll work with me to accept what is out of your control and commit to actions that increase your psychological flexibility, embrace any challenge, and enrichen your life. You’ll work with me to change your relationship with certain urges, emotions, bodily sensations, memories, and thoughts to create a more conscious, present, flexible approach to life. Together, we will allow challenging thoughts and feelings to pass and commit to facing the problem head-on rather than avoiding your stresses.

Is ACT effective according to research? 

Yes, ACT has been empirically studied and found to be clinically effective for a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, phobias, addictions, and trauma. 

How can ACT change you if you consistently and diligently work at it over time?

ACT is an involved and collaborative process that offers clinically effective treatment.  To benefit, you will need to commit yourself to the process. The benefits of ACT increase with repeated practice between sessions as you take action in service of your most deeply held values and long-term goals. It might not seem clear at first and at times counter-intuitive, but ACT offers clinically effective results.