acceptance & commitment therapy (act)

A lot of the struggles I help people through include at least a component of resisting harsh realities of life. All human beings resist harsh realities of life, not only those who seek out therapeutic services. An example of what this might look like is when I come home from work and think “UGH I do NOT want to do the dishes”, and then proceed to postpone the task for as long as possible. It can also look like someone who is feeling sick continuing to work their hardest throughout the day telling themselves “I am fine” until they end up being told by their boss to go home because everyone can tell they are miserable and sick. It happens a lot with uncomfortable emotions. Whether it is not wanting to feel sad, anxious, or angry (three of the most common emotions I see people disliking), individuals may ignore, and ignore until they explode with that emotion, or become exhausted from it hanging over them. 

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) aims to help individuals feel better by reducing the struggle that comes from resisting realities of life that cannot be changed, and then with the extra mental and physical energy preserved, engage in values consistent activities to feel fulfilled and find a meaningful life. This approach includes a lot of elements from mindfulness and behavior change strategies facilitated through metaphors, classic CBT skills, and experiential exercises. 

ACT has a lot of research backing it as an effective therapeutic approach to help individuals with a variety of mental health struggles including people with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and hair pulling/skin picking behaviors. I use it in conjunction with ERP,  and habit reversal therapy (HRT), and when I am working with parents. 

You can find a lot of really good resources HERE to help you understand more of the nuances of ACT. Or CONTACT ME if you have more questions about how ACT may be beneficial for you!