What Is Acceptance And Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT (pronounced as "act"), is a therapy approach to accepting and improving one's quality of life. Acceptance and commitment therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), helps people focus on the present and move forward from overwhelming emotions to improve mental health. In ACT therapy, acceptance means acknowledging what's out of your control and commitment means committing to moving forward.
Acceptance and commitment therapy can be conducted online and in person. It can help diffuse the impact of negative emotions (known in clinical psychology as cognitive defusion) and reshape your thinking to treat depression, anxiety, and other similar mental disorders. The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science has a wealth of resources on ACT therapy and behavior therapy.
What's The Goal Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy?
With a licensed professional, you'll learn coping mechanisms and skills specifically tailored to your situation. These can be used to help you feel acceptance in the present and can be applied throughout your life to handle tough experiences and stay present. They may focus on helping you accept your situation and commit to changing your perspective or behaviors.
How Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Works
- Acceptance – accepting the situation so that a plan for action can be made.
- Cognitive defusion – changing the way you view or interact with thoughts so that their negative or unhelpful aspects are lessened.
- Contact with the present moment – also called psychological flexibility, means learning to be more mindful and present in the current moment to gain a greater sense of self and events without judgment.
- The Observing Self – you are not your thoughts or feelings, and you can learn to consciously observe, experience, and process them without attaching your self-value or identity to them.
- Values – “chosen qualities of purposive action” without “avoidance, social, or fusion.”
- Committed action – developing and choosing effective action and concrete goals related to the chosen values.
Think of yourself as a filter. When a feeling comes to the surface, allow it to pass through you like a liquid. Don't obsess over the feeling or judge it or yourself, and don't give it the ability to warp into another aggravating thought. Give it time to wash through you, imagining it like a wave that will eventually break over the shore. Once it passes, you can sit down and process what you felt.
Reminders For ACT
During the processing stage, it's imperative not to get stuck in a cycle of rumination. Those who live with anxiety and depression symptoms are particularly prone to delving into this rabbit hole, which ACT attempts to avoid through behavior modification. You want to diffuse (the first principle) these negative thoughts instead of agitating them.
An anxious brain is on constant alert, cycling through different scenarios in which things can go from wrong, or even alright, to worse. When you allow these emotions to pass, you can find a peaceful pond sitting on the other side of your thoughts instead of a warring ocean.
Here are some reminders to consider:
- You are in control of your own body even if you are not in control of your surroundings.
- It's okay to not be good at everything you try. That's what trying is for, and you don’t have to be good at something to find joy in it.
- Your strengths and your weaknesses are valuable as opportunities to learn and grow.
- Do not act on every single thought. Let them flow like a river back to its source.
- What happened years ago is not happening right now.
These are just some examples of what an ACT therapist might ask you to say to yourself during these moments. Use whichever ones work best while you're focusing on being mindful.
Our bodies are not able to be both anxious and calm at the same time; it’s not biologically possible. Research now confirms that practicing mindfulness has a host of benefits and is able to essentially hijack our biology; by breathing deeply and slowly, we sort of “trick” our body and brain into slowing down, relaxing, and letting go of the tension and anxiety and noticing physical sensations. Additionally, because of the incredible neuroplasticity of our brains, regularly practicing slowing down and being in the moment alters our brain structure and how it functions, making it easier over time to slow down and be mindful.
Imagine being able to quiet those intrusive thoughts that plague you during the day and trade them for your surroundings in the present moment. There can be a sense of calmness in this action. You may feel lighter, perhaps even a bit more in control of your own body and breathing than you thought. You may feel your shoulders relax and your head start to feel clear. You can hear yourself breathe through the silence surrounding you.
To achieve a state of mindfulness, one must focus on the present situation. What do you hear? What can you smell? Is there something in your vision or have you closed your eyes to focus more on your other senses? Are you cold or warm? How does your food taste? These sensations aren't to prompt more emotions, but to help diffuse the unfavorable ones. Once you can separate yourself from those uncomfortable feelings, you can focus more on going about your day without them.
Though many achieve mindfulness through meditation, you can achieve mindfulness simply by observing and taking in what is around you. This can be accomplished at work, at home, or on the go. If you're finding it difficult to become present, try changing the sensations you're picking up on. Perhaps light a scented candle to help you focus or run cold water over your hand to snap you into that moment. These strategies can help you practice and get better at being mindful, while acknowledging and accepting that everyone processes challenges differently.
Goal setting is an important component of ACT therapy. Being mindful more often can help you clarify the important goals in your life that you would like to achieve, however big or small. It could be publishing a book or surrounding yourself with happier people. Maybe you want to go a full day without panicking, or you want to be able to get into your work without mental disruption. What habits would you like to curb that are holding you back?
How Does ACT Help?
Through ACT therapy, you can discover your most valued desires. Clearing negative emotions and memories by bringing your attention to the present can pave way for other things in life that serve you and your growth. What once was a difficult battle could become a clear path for you to walk.
It can be scary discovering there's a world outside of that haze of thinking. What else can you finally do that you haven't been able to? How will you be able to turn the page? Paint that picture? Write that book? Travel to new places? Everything may feel possible when you make room for your true self to thrive without the weight of frightful emotions and worries. This is how therapy, including ACT, has helped the lives of millions.
As much as ACT can help, therapy only helps someone who is willing to dedicate themselves to the practice. Consistent attendance—whether in person or virtually— in addition to engaging in sessions and exercises is the key to reaping the benefits of this psychotherapy. Your commitment begins when you start ACT sessions. Then, it's your commitment to yourself that keeps you continuing therapy each session you attend. And from there, commitment lies in your desire to be healthy and safe.
You deserve to be healthy and happy in your life—remember that when you begin therapy like ACT or CBT. Keep pushing forward because you deserve growth and relief.
Utilizing Online ACT
There is evidence supporting the use of online ACT therapy when dealing with a variety of mental health concerns. Various studies have shown ACT therapy to be an effective approach to reduce chronic pain and emotional pain. In a broad-based review published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, the effects of online ACT on those experiencing symptoms of anxiety were examined. The results of 20 studies where online ACT was utilized for a variety of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and illness anxiety disorder. Researchers noted that these treatments significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety, concluding that ACT could be effectively administered through online platforms. The report also states that online ACT aims to reduce common barriers to therapy treatment, including geographical or place constraints, high costs, and perceived stigma.
Takeaway
If having a clearer mind and balanced lifestyle sounds appealing to you, it may be beneficial to try acceptance through ACT therapy. To begin getting effective and convenient help, reach out to a professional and ask for support today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Russ Harris proposed this concept in his book, The Happiness Trap. He suggests that when the switch is on, our brains try to resist unpleasant emotions like anxiety. When the switch is off, we allow ourselves to feel a full range of human emotions, letting these feelings come and go without attempting to resist, hide, or block them. The psychological flexibility this awards us can be hugely beneficial to our overall well-being. Most people are caught up with the happiness trap which is why its important to develop mindfulness.
What Is Cognitive Fusion?
This is described as being in a state where your emotions control your difficult thoughts and behaviors.
Often in daily life, we are presented with some heavy emotions and distressing thoughts that can be difficult or painful to process. ACT encourages us to accept these situations as soon as they surface and actively start practicing awareness of these emotions. The sooner you accept the feeling, the sooner you can move on from it and maintain a healthy level of being. It's important to remember that feelings aren't facts, and they can pass just as quickly as they come along. They only have power over you as long as you let them.
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a widely used form of therapy designed to treat a specific issue in a short timeframe. Its focus is on building coping patterns through modifying thinking patterns and behaviors over time. ACT is generally accepted as a form of CBT which focuses on acceptance strategies using the self as context.
What Is DBT In psychology?
DBT, or dialectical behavior therapy, is a form of CBT that aims to support people diagnosed with more severe mood and personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, or BPD. It focuses on helping clients learn to manage impulses like physical sensations in response to strong emotions, and better understand and respond to said emotions.
What Are Some CBT Strategies?
CBT strategies aim to help you change patterns of thought and, in turn, modify unwanted behaviors in a healthier, more effective direction. Some of the most popular strategies include reframing a thought or problem, progressive relaxation techniques, exposure therapy, behavior activation, roleplaying, and journaling.
Acceptance therapy is most useful to people managing psychological disorders like anxiety, depression, everyday stress, and substance use. It is not particularly useful for people managing more physical conditions, like brain injuries or neurological disorders. However, ACT can sometimes be helpful in managing chronic pain.
What Are Some Challenges Faced By This Type Of Therapy?
What Are The Premises Of Act?
Who Are Good Candidates For Acceptance And Commitment Therapy?
What Is The Length Of Treatment For Act?
Is Act Strength-based? Evidence-based?
What Is The Main Objective Of Act?
How can ACT help people with anxiety?
Who should not use ACT?
- Previous Article
- Next Article