Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an experiential approach to psychotherapy that helps clients stop avoiding situations and struggling with their emotions. Using ACT, clients can begin to accept their issues and make the changes they want in their lives. ACT has been used effectively to help treat many different mental health diagnoses such as panic disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, trauma-related problems, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, among others. It is also used to help treat medical conditions such as chronic pain and substance use.

How can treatment help?

ACT holds that it’s counterproductive to avoid experiences or to control negative emotions, because it’s the suppression of these feelings that leads to a cycle of distress. Using ACT, you will learn that there are alternatives such as mindfulness, acceptance, turning toward personal values, and committing to wanted action, that can improve your life and start you moving again. If you or someone you know would like to explore treatment options, you can reach out to me.