Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Online Mental Health Counseling
What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy- or ‘ACT’ – is a behavioral- oriented approach to psychotherapy. This means that the method involves identifying and implementing modifications in behavior that will lead to the changes in thoughts, emotions, and lives that clients are looking for.
The model was developed by psychologist Steven Hayes, formed from his own experience and history with panic attacks. The method is based on the idea that clients achieve their goals when they accept– rather than avoid or resist- and commit to taking value-aligned actions.
ACT stems from traditional models of cognitive behavioral therapy. Clinicians help clients identify the ways they resist their emotions and practice techniques to allow, accept, and process them. The approach takes into account each client’s unique experience, expertise on their life, and goals for their future.
This work is not about quick or temporary fixes. Rather, it is about getting to the root of the challenges you face and learning to experience your problems differently.
The model has been shown particularly effective for individuals struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and more by helping them develop greater mental flexibility. Rather than resisting emotions, which usually leads to greater dysregulation, individuals learn how to manage them.
How Does Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Work?
An acceptance and commitment therapist works with you to evaluate the way you talk to yourself, the quality of your thoughts, how you deal with emotions, and patterns in relationships.
You decide the parts of your life and experience that you want to change, and your therapist will help you learn to manage and accept the aspects that you cannot change. With acceptance of the current situation, you can commit to practicing confident behavior in alignment with your values.
ACT focuses on six core processes to build greater mental flexibility:
- Acceptance– Embracing the full range of thoughts and emotions rather than trying to resist or deny them
- Defusion– Distancing yourself from your thoughts and reducing their grip on behavior
- Presence– Mindfulness of the present moment rather than unconscious projections based on the past
- Self as Context– Identification with your sense of Self (discernment between identity and thoughts)
- Values– Building clarity on your personal guiding principles for your decisions and life
- Committed Action– Taking steps to create changes in alignment with your own values
ACT combines mindfulness practices with behavior change strategies. These techniques help you move away from the struggle with negative thoughts and emotions and toward a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Instead of trying to eliminate difficult feelings, ACT encourages you to accept them as part of the human experience while committing to actions that bring you closer to the person you want to be and the life you wish to live.
Why I Use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT’s methods are based on the premise that trying to control emotions or thoughts is counterproductive.
Resistance, avoidance, and suppression of emotions, while well-meaning, are the mechanisms that lead to greater distress.
Instead, ACT techniques seek to help clients build mindfulness about the current situation, notice the impacts of thoughts and emotions on behaviors, and take actions that will lead to change in the direction you want your life to move.
By modifying behavior and accepting emotions, clients gain transformation in the emotions and stress they experience.
Throughout my training as a therapist, I’ve learned a few key lessons that I carry throughout my practice:
- Behaviors serve a purpose, even if the purpose is outside our awareness
- We cannot change behaviors if we do not understand what function they are serving
- We also cannot change behaviors through shame, resistance, suppression, or avoidance
- Change comes from a combination of insights (i.e. learning the function of the behaviors) AND practice of techniques that build out tolerance for acceptance of emotions
ACT is based on the idea that we are empowered to change our emotional and mental states by building mental flexibility and taking positive action in our lives. The best part is that each client gets to define their own set of values to guide the treatment in the direction that provides meaning and wellness for their unique situation.
Therapy Approach
While I incorporate ACT principles into my work, I also draw from other therapeutic approaches including Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and EMDR to tailor treatment to your unique needs and goals.
“You couldn’t relive your life, skipping the awful parts, without losing what made it worthwhile. You had to accept it as a whole.”
Questions About Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Get In Touch
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Naples (Note: At this time, I am only seeing weekly clients virtually online).
2614 TAMIAMI TRAIL N, NAPLES, FL 34103
