Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically-based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies to help individuals live in ways consistent with their personal values while developing mental flexibility. ACT is effective in treating conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance abuse, and alcoholism. Through mindfulness, individuals learn that suffering often arises from resisting negative experiences and clinging to positive ones. True freedom involves embracing the full range of human emotions, including pain and suffering, to prevent them from exerting control.

Distressing emotions, though unwelcome, have a purpose; they may highlight cognitive associations with past experiences that are no longer relevant. For instance, fears and phobias often develop this way. If you got stuck in an elevator as a child, it’s understandable to develop a fear of elevators. ACT techniques help individuals observe cognitive distortions and self-judgments that lead to maladaptive behaviors. By working closely with a therapist, clients learn to process events and feelings, deciding whether to accept them as they are and make appropriate behavioral changes.