Our Treatments
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Adults & Adolescents
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that focuses on developing psychological flexibility—the ability to stay present with your experiences and choose actions based on your values rather than being driven by difficult thoughts and feelings. Unlike traditional CBT approaches that focus on changing thoughts, ACT teaches you to change your relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions.
ACT is built on six core processes: Contact with the Present Moment, Acceptance, Cognitive Defusion, Self-as-Context, Values, and Committed Action. Through these processes, clients learn to observe their thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them, identify what truly matters to them, and take meaningful action even in the presence of psychological discomfort.
ACT recognizes that psychological pain is a normal part of human experience and that attempts to eliminate or control difficult emotions often increase suffering. Instead of fighting against anxiety, sadness, or other challenging emotions, ACT teaches skills for accepting these experiences while continuing to move toward your valued life goals. This approach has been shown effective for anxiety, depression, chronic pain, workplace stress, and many other conditions.
Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Right For Me?
ACT is an evidence-based treatment developed by Dr. Steven Hayes that emphasizes workability over truth—focusing on whether thoughts and behaviors help you live according to your values rather than whether they are “right” or “wrong.” ACT is particularly effective for individuals who struggle with experiential avoidance, perfectionism, or feeling stuck despite insight into their problems.
This approach is well-suited for clients who are ready to explore their values and commit to behavior change, even when it feels uncomfortable. Through experiential exercises, mindfulness practices, and behavioral experiments, clients develop the ability to act on their values even when experiencing difficult thoughts, emotions, or sensations. ACT is especially helpful for highly successful individuals who struggle with work-life balance, imposter syndrome, or the pressure to be perfect.