Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented form of psychotherapy that helps you to stop struggling with difficult emotions and instead develop psychological flexibility. Rather than trying to eliminate negative thoughts, ACT teaches you to accept them and commit to actions that align with your core values.
ACT is typically structured around six core processes:
Acceptance: Allowing difficult thoughts and feelings to happen without fighting them.
Defusion: Learning to step back and detach from your thoughts rather than over-identify with them.
Being Present: Maintaining an open, flexible, and conscious focus on the "here and now."
Self as Context: Observing your experiences without being trapped by them.
Values: Identifying what is truly meaningful and important to you in life.
Committed Action: Setting actionable goals and taking steps that serve your values, even when discomfort is present.