Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) represents a distinctive, scientifically-validated psychological intervention that integrates acceptance and mindfulness practices with commitment and behavior change strategies to enhance psychological flexibility. According to the American Psychological Association, psychological flexibility involves fully engaging with the present moment as a conscious being and, based on situational demands, either modifying or persisting in behaviors that align with chosen values.
Clients benefit both from ACT’s underlying philosophy and the interconnected skills that comprise this therapeutic modality.
The foundational principle of ACT proposes that psychological distress largely emerges from the intersection of human language and cognition, coupled with behavior regulation through direct experience. Psychological inflexibility develops through experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, excessive self-identification, disconnection from present-moment experience, and consequent failure to engage in value-congruent actions. Supported by extensive research on related theories of language and cognition, ACT maintains that attempting to alter or control difficult thoughts and emotions as a coping mechanism can prove counterproductive, while powerful alternative approaches exist.
Effective coping alternatives employed in ACT include:
ACT represents a psychotherapeutic approach that employs mindfulness practices to help individuals align their thoughts and behaviors with personal values while developing greater psychological flexibility. Through collaboration with ACT practitioners, clients learn to recognize how their efforts to suppress, control, and regulate emotional experiences may contribute to their difficulties. By implementing ACT principles, individuals can develop the capacity to make space for values-based behaviors that promote wellbeing by acknowledging and addressing their current challenges.
ACT is grounded in Relational Frame Theory (RFT), which examines the relationship between human language and cognitive processes. According to research published in the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, the reasoning capabilities that effectively solve practical problems may prove inadequate when addressing psychological distress.
This insight led to ACT’s development, which aims to teach individuals that while psychological suffering is an inherent aspect of human experience, we can discover approaches to living fuller, more meaningful lives by transforming our relationship with pain. ACT represents an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approach with demonstrated efficacy across various clinical populations according to the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.
ACT provides practical skills that can be learned and implemented in daily life. These skills collectively enhance psychological flexibility through six core processes:
Fully engaging with present experience with an attitude of openness and curiosity represents a fundamental component of mindfulness. This involves consciously connecting with whatever arises in one’s experience without judgment or avoidance.
This involves creating space for uncomfortable feelings, urges, and sensations to emerge and dissipate without resistance. Acceptance allows difficult thoughts and emotions to surface and be acknowledged without suppression. Individuals learn to relinquish struggle, providing breathing room for experiences to exist without becoming entangled in or overwhelmed by them. By opening to experience and allowing emotions to move more freely, feelings can come and go without depleting resources or constraining valued action.
This process involves creating distance between oneself and potentially harmful thoughts, attitudes, and memories. Rather than becoming immersed in thoughts, controlled by them, or struggling to eliminate them, defusion involves observing their coming and going, similar to watching vehicles pass by outside a home. Through defusion, individuals learn to step back and observe thoughts objectively, responding thoughtfully rather than becoming entangled or lost within mental content.
The mind encompasses two primary aspects: the thinking self (the narrative mind generating thoughts, beliefs, memories, judgments, and fantasies) and the observing self (the aspect capable of aware attention to thoughts, feelings, and actions in any given moment). Without access to this inherent capacity, mindfulness skills would remain inaccessible. Through regular mindfulness practice, individuals strengthen their connection to the observing self, enhancing their ability to utilize these skills when needed.
This component involves identifying personal beliefs and preferred directions for future action. Values clarification explores questions such as: What positive intentions guide one’s life? What deeply meaningful aspirations exist in one’s heart? What would one like their life to represent? What ultimate concerns matter most? What legacy would one wish to leave with loved ones?
As the saying suggests, “If you want to know what a person believes, watch their feet.” This represents commitment to value-aligned action. It involves learning to evaluate events not primarily as good or bad, but as opportunities to enact personal values and beliefs through meaningful choice and purposeful behavior.
At Sacramento Mental Health, we utilize acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to effectively manage symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Our trained ACT practitioners work with clients to develop greater psychological flexibility and create lives aligned with their deepest values.
ACT has shown particular effectiveness for:
If you or someone you care about is experiencing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, or trauma-related disorders, contact Sacramento Mental Health at (916) 527-9606. to learn more about our specialized ACT programs.
