Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT — acceptance and commitment therapy — starts from a different premise than most therapy: the goal isn't to win the argument with your own mind. Struggling to suppress anxious or painful thoughts often gives them more power. ACT teaches you to let thoughts come and go without obeying them, get clear on what actually matters to you, and take committed steps in that direction — even on the days your mind is loud.
How it works
You'll practice noticing thoughts as thoughts (not facts), making room for uncomfortable feelings instead of numbing or avoiding them, and clarifying your values — then turn those values into specific, doable actions between sessions. Sessions blend conversation, experiential exercises, and mindfulness skills. ACT is usually time-limited and works well alongside other approaches.
What it's good for
- Anxiety and chronic worry
- Depression
- Chronic pain and illness
- OCD
- Stress and burnout
- Perfectionism and avoidance
Conditions it helps with
Anxiety · Anger Management · Depression · Grief and Loss · Life Transitions · Self-Esteem · Stress and Burnout · Work Stress · Chronic Illness · Chronic Pain
Screening tools suggest — they don't diagnose. Only a licensed clinician can diagnose a mental health condition.
Clinical review pending This page was written by the DocSana team and is awaiting review by a licensed clinician.