What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, pronounced as the word "act") is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on psychological flexibility. Created by Steven C. Hayes, ACT suggests that struggling against our pain often brings more suffering.
Instead of trying to eliminate or avoid difficult thoughts and emotions, ACT teaches you to accept them while simultaneously committing to actions that align with your core values.
What is ACT? An Introduction by Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
The Six Core Processes of ACT
ACT builds psychological flexibility through six overlapping processes:
- Acceptance — Opening up to unwanted feelings without trying to change or ignore them.
- Cognitive Defusion — Stepping back from thoughts and seeing them as just words or pictures rather than absolute truths.
- Being Present — Engaging fully with the here-and-now instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
- Self as Context — Observing your thoughts and feelings from a detached perspective, realizing you are the observer, not the content of your thoughts.
- Values — Clarifying what is truly important and meaningful to you.
- Committed Action — Taking effective action guided by those values, even when difficult emotions arise.
ACT Therapy Specialists
Verified Oregon therapists
Kate Mordarski
★ FEATURED PROLPC · 916 SW King Avenue Suite 202
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor with 17 years experience providing outpatient, residential,…
Steven Ponec
★ FEATURED PROProfessional Counselor Associate · Tigard, OR 97223
Hello! I’m Steven, a Professional Counselor Associate passionate about helping kids, teens, and…
Jacky Gomez
★ FEATURED PROLCSW
You may seem OK on the outside, but on the inside, your mind rarely slows down. There is constant…
Sandy Bacharach
★ FEATUREDMCFT Associate · 1730 SW Skyline Blvd #104
I will listen deeply, actively, and compassionately, making space for you to unburden yourself…
Mackenzie Phelps
★ FEATUREDProfessional Counselor Associate; Marriage & Family Associate · 2206 SE Washington St.
Accepting NEW Clients! Supporting adolescents, adults, families, and LGBTQIA+ clients navigating…
Who Can Benefit from ACT?
ACT is incredibly versatile and has extensive research supporting its use for:
- Chronic Pain Management
- Workplace Stress and Burnout
- Anxiety and Depression
- Social Anxiety
- OCD and Phobias
- Adjusting to chronic illness or challenging life transitions
Sources & Clinical Evidence
- Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). State of the ACT Evidence. Hundreds of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) support ACT's effectiveness across a vast array of clinical and subclinical issues.
- Hayes, S. C., et al. (2006). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Model, processes and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy.