Lori G, LPC
Therapy
What Is
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, often called ACT, is an approach that helps people build a more flexible relationship with difficult thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Rather than trying to eliminate every uncomfortable feeling or challenge every thought, ACT focuses on learning how to make room for internal experiences while still moving toward what matters.
The goal is not to feel good all the time. It is to help you live more intentionally even when difficult thoughts or emotions are present.
Acceptance Does Not Mean
Giving Up
The word “acceptance” can be misunderstood.
In ACT, acceptance does not mean approving of something painful, tolerating harmful situations, or deciding that nothing can change.
It means recognizing what is already happening internally rather than spending all of your energy fighting with thoughts or feelings that are already there.
Sometimes that shift creates more room to decide what you want to do next.
Thoughts Are Not
Always Instructions
ACT places a lot of emphasis on changing how we relate to thoughts.
A thought such as “I can’t handle this,” “I’m going to fail,” or “Something is wrong with me” can feel very convincing.
ACT helps create some distance between you and the thought so it can be noticed without automatically being treated as fact.
That does not mean pretending the thought is not there. It means learning that you can have a thought without letting it completely determine your next move.
Related Concerns
ACT may be useful when working with concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, emotional regulation, burnout and stress, relationship concerns, life transitions, addiction and recovery, and co-occurring disorders.
Values &
Meaningful Direction
One of the core parts of ACT is identifying what matters most to you.
Values may include things like:
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Connection
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Honesty
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Growth
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Recovery
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Family
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Health
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Creativity
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Independence
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Compassion
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Stability
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Courage
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Learning
Values are not the same as goals.
A goal may be something you complete. A value is more like a direction you want your life to move toward.
ACT helps connect everyday choices with that larger direction.
Psychological Flexibility
A central idea in ACT is psychological flexibility.
This means being able to stay in contact with the present moment, notice thoughts and emotions without being completely controlled by them, and choose actions that are consistent with your values.
Flexibility does not mean being passive.
It means being able to respond to what is happening rather than reacting automatically.
What It May Look
Like in Session
ACT may include work around:
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Mindfulness and present-moment awareness
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Acceptance of difficult internal experiences
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Cognitive defusion, or creating distance from thoughts
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Clarifying values
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Identifying patterns of avoidance
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Building willingness to experience discomfort
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Taking committed action
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Developing more flexible responses
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Reconnecting with meaning and purpose
Sometimes these ideas are discussed directly. Other times, they may be woven into conversation through questions, metaphors, or experiential exercises.
How I Use
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
I use ACT as part of a person-centered and individualized approach.
We may look at what you are trying to avoid, what your mind tends to tell you, and whether those patterns are helping you move toward or away from the life you want.
I may help you identify values, notice when thoughts are being treated as facts, or explore whether trying to control every internal experience is actually making things harder.
At times, ACT work may involve mindfulness or experiential exercises. At other times, the approach may show up more subtly in the way we talk about choice, willingness, and what matters most.
The goal is not to force acceptance. It is to help you build more freedom in how you respond.
ACT & Other
Therapy Approaches
ACT can work well alongside other approaches, including:
For me, ACT fits naturally with person-centered therapy because both emphasize autonomy, meaning, and helping clients move toward a life that feels more aligned with who they are.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready to schedule therapy?
Visit Healthstead Psychiatry for scheduling, availability, and insurance information.
Not sure yet?
Contact me for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to see whether we may be a good fit.