Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) combines aspects of acceptance and mindfulness approaches with behavior-change strategies, in an effort to help clients develop psychological flexibility. Therapists and counselors who employ ACT seek to help clients identify the ways that their efforts to suppress or control emotional experiences can create barriers. When clients are able to identify these challenges, it can be easier to make positive and lasting changes. Think this approach may work for you? Contact one of TherapyDen’s ACT specialists today to try it out.
ACT is an inspiring form of therapy. It helps you identify your values and we then collaborate on ways for you to live by them. ACT also encourages you to practice mindfulness and think flexibly and adaptively.
— Brian Lopez, PsychologistMy preferred therapy approach is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which is a flexible and comprehensive framework that can be applied to various populations and settings. ACT is grounded in contextual behavioral science, which is a scientific approach that seeks to understand human behavior in relation to the environment and its consequences. ACT aligns with my values as a therapist, such as compassion and knowledge.
— AJ Huynh, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in Cypress, TXMindfulness, an important part of self-acceptance, is a beautiful approach to giving yourself grace surrounding your challenges. It takes the "pressure" off of trying to be "perfect" and allows you to just live "as is" and adjust as you feel comfortable. My clients have found that this approach is calming and affirming for their lives. ACT allows a person to understand and observe that stressors come into one's life, but instead of resisting, learn to manage their state of being.
— Michelle May, Counselor in West Bloomfield, MIAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that helps individuals embrace their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling guilty for them. It encourages mindfulness, acceptance, and understanding that difficulties are a part of life, fostering commitment and behavior-change strategies to increase psychological flexibility and enhance well-being.
— Jennifer Gray, Licensed Professional Counselor in Portland, ORAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (known as ACT) is an empowering and effective approach that helps you refocus on the things that matter most. If you have tried Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in the past but still struggle with problematic thought patterns, ACT might be a good fit. With ACT, you will learn how to observe your thoughts without getting hooked by them. Rather than trying to change or banish unwanted thoughts, you will learn how to change how you relate to them.
— Jennifer Beytin, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Arlington, VAACT is all about powering up and working through discomfort by remembering what's really important to you. So, for instance, if you're uncomfortable finishing what's on your plate, you remember that the real reason you sat down for dinner was to continue your recovery, which is important because your family and friends need you and you want to be healthy so you can still go to Spain next summer. In other words, you ACCEPT the discomfort and COMMIT to your values. Get it?
— Brian Jones, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Seattle, WAAccepting what is within our locus-of-control and what is not helps to focus the work of therapy on what can be achieved for overall health, wellness, and well being. By accepting what is, and committing to the change necessary outcomes are strengthened.
— Parker Preston, Mental Health Counselor in Newport, ORDon't just tell me the difficult things you're moving away from. I want to hear what you're moving towards. ACT looks at how individuals can build psychological flexibility by rooting in the present moment and connecting their actions to their behaviors.
— Jordan Dobrowski, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Chicago, ILACT is way of learning to tolerate and accept the truth of your present experiences, while taking intentional action toward creating change. When life is hard, it makes sense to have difficult thoughts and feelings; it makes sense to want things to be different. We'll work together, through compassionate conversation and mindfulness practice, to increase your capacity to accept these hard things. And we'll also identify action steps, no matter how small, that will create a pathway forward.
— Rachel Fernbach, Therapist in Brooklyn, NYACT is a great modality that takes many of the skills practices from other types of therapy modalities but adds a strong emphasis on values alignment. Addressing one's values can be a strong motivator for change as well as a starting point to examine the person that you want to be/were created to be.
— Amber Claudon, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, COI integrate principles and techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
— Jamie Suarez, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Knoxville, TNACT uses values as an underlying base and motivation for future action. The exploration of individual values is an incredibly important tool for self growth. This process also allows us to look for discrepancies between values you were raised with, and values that you personally feel are important to uphold. You are making a commitment to lean into the things that you care most about, while also accepting yourself as you are. I hope to model that acceptance for you through our work.
— Jennifer Beltz (Catharsis Counseling LLC), Licensed Professional Counselor in Eugene, ORI believe values are such an important part of who we are as people, and ACT helps us to notice and manage how we relate to our thoughts and feelings, and chose how to move forward based on the values we hold dear.
— Holly Love, Licensed Professional Counselor in Aurora, COACT greatly informs my practice. I have significant experience and training. My most basic practice orientation is ACT based.
— Meg Higgins, Clinical Social Worker in ,The world and our lives can be overwhelming at times, but by recognizing our values and holding them close to us, we are able to live a more fulfilling life.
— Katlyn Nolan, Social Worker in Ocala, FLI love Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and use it with my clients often. I use it to help clients achieve more psychological flexibility, decrease their struggle with discomfort, and be more mindful in general.
— Jennifer Kulka, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in , CAACT & DBT both share in common foundational principles of mindfulness. Both therapies address acceptance, while ACT promotes "value-driven" actions. I have clients do a "value inventory" of various areas of their life. This can be eye-opening for clients to see that their actions do not always align with their values, causing them to dig for deeper understanding. From that understanding sprouts growth and healing for lasting, meaningful changes.
— Shima Ahmedaly, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Boca Raton, FL