Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

When I first learned of ACT in the late 00s, I thought it was a clear concept with a great approach. I still believe it is. I view ACT as a nice blend of mindfulness, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, and behavior therapy: it takes the general good from all these things and weaves it together. The following is a description of ACT, co-written with Bard.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy wherein the patient is directed to live a more fulfilling life by accepting their thoughts and feelings, and by committing to actions that are consistent with their values. ACT is based on the idea that we cannot control our thoughts and feelings, but we can control our behavior. By accepting our thoughts and feelings, we can free ourselves from the struggle to control them, and we can focus on taking actions that are important to us.

ACT has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and substance abuse. It is also being used to help people with a variety of other challenges, such as stress, anger, and relationship problems.

ACT therapy typically involves six core components:

• Acceptance: This involves learning to accept your thoughts and feelings, even if they are unpleasant.
• Mindfulness: This involves paying attention to your thoughts and feelings in the present moment, without judgment.
• Values: This involves identifying what is important to you in life.
• Committed action: This involves taking steps to live in a way that is consistent with your values.
• Defusion: This involves learning to step back from your thoughts and feelings, and to see them as just thoughts and feelings, not facts.
• Self-as-context: This involves developing a sense of self that is not defined by your thoughts and feelings.

ACT is a powerful therapy that can help you to live a more fulfilling life. If you are struggling with mental health problems, or if you are simply looking for ways to improve your life, ACT therapy may be a good option for you.

Here are some additional information about ACT:

• ACT is a relatively new therapy, but it has been shown to be effective in a number of studies.
• ACT is a short-term therapy, typically lasting 12-16 weeks.
• ACT is a collaborative therapy, which means that you and your therapist will work together to develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
• ACT is a flexible therapy, which means that it can be adapted to meet your individual needs.

If you are interested in learning more about ACT, you can talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.