ACT Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
ACT is an evidence-based behavioral therapy that has shown promising results in treating anxiety disorders. It emphasizes acceptance instead of avoidance, differing from ERP in that it doesn’t rely on exposure exercises to address symptoms; rather, ACT helps people create value-driven goals and take steps toward them regardless of any thoughts or feelings they may experience along the way.
Although this focus on values won’t completely eliminate your anxiety triggers, it will teach you how to respond in new ways that align with core values and a sense of purpose. For instance, if social anxiety is an issue but you wish to build meaningful connections with others, ACT skills could provide the confidence to start conversations or interact with friends without fear of rejection or judgment.
A mindfulness session in ACT involves paying attention to your thoughts and feelings as they arise, remaining present, and remaining mindful throughout the process. It also requires being aware when you have become too caught up in those thoughts or emotions, being able to step away from them.
Your therapist will assist you in practicing these skills and motivating you to use them outside of therapy. This could include taking an ACT course online, reading books on the topic or attending 1-day workshops.
The six core processes of Acceptance, Mindfulness, Cognitive Defusion, Connectedness, Compassion and Self-Compassion in Action Therapy (ACT) can be used to treat many mental health conditions like anxiety, depression eating disorders substance abuse. Some ACT programs even incorporate meditation as part of the treatment plan.
You can locate a therapist in your area who provides ACT by searching an online therapist directory or asking your doctor for a referral. Moreover, check with your insurance company to see if coverage includes sessions with an ACT therapist or out-of-network benefits.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that emphasizes mindfulness and accepting difficult thoughts and feelings. This type of therapy has been demonstrated to be successful for adults, adolescents and children with various mental health problems; particularly helpful for anxiety disorders according to 2020 research.
Transdiagnostic therapy has proven beneficial for individuals suffering from various mental health disorders.
This type of therapy encourages clients to be more accepting and flexible with their feelings and thoughts, so they can live life more fully and savor every moment. Not only does this help combat anxiety and other stressful experiences, but it also leads to an improved quality of life overall.
ACT is often combined with exposure therapy, but it can also be used independently to treat anxiety and other symptoms. Studies have demonstrated that ACT can be just as successful at treating OCD and other anxiety disorders when administered by an experienced therapist who specializes in OCD issues.
ACT, an evidence-based treatment that emphasizes acceptance rather than avoidance, can be especially helpful for people with OCD and other anxiety disorders when treated by a therapist who has an in-depth knowledge of these conditions.