Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is a type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy that focuses on being able to live a rich and meaningful life, with all the ups and downs that life throws at us. We focus on finding out what "makes you tick" and on becoming less constrained by the effects of anxiety, depression, and other unhelpful patterns, so you can do more of what makes you feel engaged with life. In ACT, we acknowledge that we aren't perfect, our lives aren't perfect, and we can find enjoyment and fulfillment in spite of this.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to embrace their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling guilty for them. We will work collaboratively to help you move forward through difficult emotions, so you can put your energy into healing instead of dwelling on the negative. You'll learn a collection of coping mechanisms specifically designed for your situation, which you can use throughout your life to handle challenging experiences.

Our staff have extensive experience in ACT and other mindfulness-based treatments. We believe that fostering present-moment awareness and a nonjudgmental stance toward self and others can help people better tolerate unpleasant emotions, grow in self-acceptance, and become more open to the varied nature of the human experience.

Boy do I love practicing ACT. It has been the foundation of my clinical training since the beginning and I not only utilize the tenets of ACT in therapy, but also in my own life. I have experienced such freedom from defusing from rigid thoughts and certainty. Focusing on values has directed my life to a place of meaning and joy. Using ACT, together we can shift you out of your stuck places into the person you want to be in this world.

I have done trainings on ACT, that help me to guide clients in using the principles of acceptance and commitment. ACT focuses on accepting that there will be challenges in life and then using your values to make committed action to respond in healthier ways. I work with clients on being more mentally flexible, which is a huge skill that can help with anxiety, depression and pretty much any life obstacle.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is an evidence-based behavior therapy technique that is considered the gold standard treatment for OCD. ERP involves exposing oneself to situations that provoke obsessions (exposure) without performing the ritual or compulsion (response prevention). This process allows the brain to reach a point of habituation, decreasing anxiety. It is essential to do ERP with a trained professional. I have successfully treated clients using ERP for many years.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based action. It aims to help individuals develop psychological flexibility by accepting their thoughts and feelings rather than avoiding or controlling them. ACT also encourages individuals to identify their values and take committed action towards living a meaningful life.

I incorporate elements of ACT, including mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based work.

I have trained in ACT throughout my graduate and post-doctoral career. Often times, mental health concerns can drag us so far away from our values and the people that we want to be. ACT strategies are great at promoting mindfulness around our values and promoting behavior change activities to bring us back in line with our values.

One of the most helpful strategies in coping with anxiety symptoms can be changing one's relationship with their thoughts. Utilizing mindfulness strategies and recognizing thoughts are only thoughts and not "who you are" are just some helpful skills that come from ACT.

I've done a comprehensive training in ACT and incorporate ACT principles into my practice.

As a therapist trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I tend to pay close attention to what really matters to my clients. Using client-identified values, or the things that make life worth living, as a central guide, I help clients close the gap between their current life circumstances and where they want to be.

In session I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help individuals facing relationship issues, narcissistic abuse, and depression. ACT helps you accept difficult emotions, reduce emotional suffering, and build resilience. By focusing on your values and taking mindful actions, we guide you to set boundaries, rebuild self-worth, and foster healthier connections.

ACT is a great modality that takes many of the skills practices from other types of therapy modalities but adds a strong emphasis on values alignment. Addressing one's values can be a strong motivator for change as well as a starting point to examine the person that you want to be/were created to be.

My training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) began early as a PhD student and continued on through my post-doctoral specialization. I find ACT's core message to be what life is all about - learning to live with the inevitable pain of being human in service of a rich, meaningful life. ACT provides purposeful insight into what matters most to us and teaches skills to help us live in alignment with those core values.

ACT is the primary therapy modality I use. When working from an ACT framework, we'll do things like identifying personal values and goals, learning how to be more comfortable with the presence of difficult thoughts/feelings, and building skills to help pursue life-affirming activities and connections.