Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combines mindfulness strategies
with the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It aims to help
individuals develop psychological flexibility and effectively handle difficult thoughts
and emotions, allowing the patient to lead a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
ACT emphasizes suffering as a normal part of the human experience and helps a
patient accept rather than avoid or try to eliminate painful thoughts and feelings.
The therapy focuses on six core processes:
1. Acceptance: ACT encourages individuals to be open and willing to experience
their thoughts and emotions without judgment or avoidance. It teaches that trying
to control or eliminate these experiences often leads to more suffering.
2. Cognitive Defusion: This process helps individuals distance themselves from
their thoughts and see them as passing mental events rather than objective
truths. It aims to reduce the impact of unhelpful thoughts and beliefs on behavior.
3. Being Present: Mindulness plays a central role in ACT. It involves paying
attention to the present moment, observing thoughts and feelings as they arise,
and fully engaging in activities. Mindfulness helps individuals develop a non-
judgmental and accepting attitude towards their experiences.
4. Self-as-Context: ACT highlights the importance of observing one-self from a
broader perspective, recognizing that one's thoughts and emotions are not the
entirety of one's identity. By cultivating a sense of self-awareness, individuals can
create psychological distrance from their experiences.
5. Values Clarification: ACT helps individuals identify their deeply held values and
what truly matters to them in life. This process helps guide their actions and
decisions, allowing them to live in alignment with their values and pursue a more
meaningful life.
6. Committed Action: ACT encourages individuals to take purposeful action in
line with their values, even in the presence of difficult thoughts and emotions. This
involves setting meaningful goals and making choices that move them towards a
rich and fulfilling life.
Therapists at Greater Chicago Counseling Center use ACT to treat a wide array of
psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, chronic
pain, and relationship problems. The application of ACT typically involves
experiential exercises, metaphors, and minfulness practices which help individuals
apply these principles in their daily lives.
Overall, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy aims to foster psychological
flexibility, allowing individuals to develop a more compassionate and accepting
relationship with their internal experiences and pursue a life guided by their core values.