What Is ACT Therapy?

What Is ACT Therapy?

ACT is an evidence-based psychotherapy that has been clinically proven effective for many mental health conditions. It encourages individuals to accept their thoughts, feelings and experiences rather than suppressing them.

ACT therapy offers those who opt for it the opportunity to gain the skills needed to maximize their life. They will learn to take responsibility and set objectives that reflect their values.

What sets ACT apart is its effectiveness not only for people with certain psychological disorders like anxiety or depression, but also substance abuse and trauma issues. According to 2020 research, this transdiagnostic therapy has been shown to improve symptoms and reduce distress across a wide range of mental health conditions.

Although this program cannot completely remove anxiety or stress triggers, it does provide techniques to manage them. You’ll develop skills for building and maintaining meaningful relationships despite fears of rejection or judgment, for instance.

Your therapist will meet with you once or twice a week for 50 to 75 minutes, and they may give homework to practice specific techniques between sessions. These could include exercises related to acceptance and mindfulness, value clarification, or cognitive processing.

ACT is one of the most successful psychotherapies for anxiety. It works on the idea that pain, grief, loss, disappointment, illness and fear are natural parts of life. Furthermore, ACT can be an invaluable aid for those living with chronic pain as it increases psychological flexibility and alleviates depressive symptoms even for those who continue to feel discomfort.