ACT is behavioral therapy that’s about taking action toward change. But the change must be guided by your core values, the values you hold nearest to your heart. These values may once have guided your choices but got lost somewhere along the way. They may be values you admire, aspire to, and want to stand for in life. The goal of ACT is to learn to accept challenges life will bring and make value-based choices that create the life you want. It is particularly helpful for substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
How ACT Works
Guided by the therapist, the client learns that psychological pain is something to be accepted and used, not suppressed. The client discovers their own personal core values and learns the practice of mindfulness. The therapist helps the client use mindfulness and values to develop plans of action for productive change. ACT is a time-limited form of therapy that gives the client a toolkit to manage their pain. Clients learn to treat themselves and their pain with compassion. It is less about eliminating pain and more about learning to accept it as part of life and transform it into a creative force.
Learn more about ACT here.