What Is ACT Therapy?
If you're looking for a more guided, personalized approach, you can learn more about ACT therapy in Vermont and how it can support you.
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You can also visit my blog page for ACT exercises and more on ACT, or explore practical ACT tools to start applying these ideas in your own life.
Video: Introduction to ACT Therapy (Click to play)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that combines mindfulness, acceptance strategies, and behavior change techniques to help individuals develop psychological flexibility. It is based on the idea that struggling to control or eliminate painful thoughts and emotions often leads to greater distress, whereas accepting them and committing to meaningful actions improves well-being.
Core Principles of ACT:
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Cognitive Defusion – Learning to separate from and observe thoughts without getting entangled in them.
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Acceptance – Allowing thoughts and emotions to exist without trying to suppress or avoid them.
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Present Moment Awareness (Mindfulness) – Focusing on the here and now instead of ruminating on the past or worrying about the future.
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Self-as-Context – Seeing oneself as more than just thoughts, emotions, or past experiences.
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Values Clarification – Identifying what truly matters in life and aligning actions with these values. To get started on your values, I recommend this values clarification card game.
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Committed Action – Taking meaningful steps toward goals, even in the presence of discomfort.
ACT is commonly used to treat anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and stress, among other psychological conditions. It helps individuals develop a healthier relationship with their thoughts and emotions while committing to behaviors that align with their values.