What is ACT?

ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ACT is an action-oriented therapy approach that stems from traditional behavior therapy and mindfulness practices. ACT is part of the so called “third wave” of behavior therapies along with CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy). Clients learn to stop avoiding and struggling with emotions and instead, accept that unpleasant feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations. With this understanding, clients begin to accept their difficulties and commit to taking actions that align with their core values, which helps them live like the people they desire to be. The aim of ACT is to maximize human potential for a rich and meaningful life, while also learning to manage and accept the pain that inevitably goes with it. ACT helps clients learn to accept what they cannot control and make committed actions to change the things they can control.

 

ACT was developed in the 1980s by Steven Hayes, who began to develop the model from his own experiences with panic attacks. His aim was to no longer run from himself but to accept himself and his personal experiences. He said, “We as a culture seem to be dedicated to the idea that ‘negative’ human emotions need to be fixed, managed, or changed- not experienced as a part of a whole life. We are treating our own lives as problems to be solved as if we can sort through our experiences for the ones we like and throw out the rest. Acceptance, mindfulness, and values are key psychological tools needed for that transformative shift.”

 

Adapted from Psychology Today article