Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (pronounced “act,” not A-C-T) was developed by psychologist Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D. Its goal is straightforward yet profound: help you stay fully present with life as it really is, while moving toward what genuinely matters to you.
Six Core Processes of ACT
- Acceptance – making room for inevitable pain without getting stuck in it
- Cognitive Defusion – noticing thoughts as thoughts, not facts or commands
- Present-Moment Awareness – anchoring in the here-and-now rather than replaying the past or rehearsing the future
- Self-as-Context – cultivating a stable, observing perspective that is larger than any single story about you
- Values Clarification – identifying what you want your life to stand for
- Committed Action – translating those values into concrete, sustainable steps
How ACT Feels in Session
ACT is experience-based: instead of wrestling with your mind, you’ll practice skills that change how you relate to thoughts and feelings. You’ll notice fewer internal arguments and more psychological freedom.
- We’ll treat painful emotions as natural signals, not enemies to eradicate.
- Mindfulness exercises will help you spot unhelpful thought loops and gently let them go.
- Values-mapping activities will reveal the directions that feel most alive for you, so action becomes purposeful rather than pressured.
Why ACT?
Research shows ACT benefits people coping with trauma, major life transitions, anxiety, depression, substance use, and chronic health conditions by increasing psychological flexibility—the capacity to remain open, aware, and engaged in meaningful action even when life is hard.
Listen to Dr. Hayes talk about psychological flexibility:
My Approach
I weave ACT’s evidence-based tools with depth-oriented and trauma-informed perspectives, creating a space where practical skill-building meets soulful exploration. I am a member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) and stay current with the evolving science of ACT to ensure our work is both rigorous and resonant.
Ready to explore how Acceptance & Commitment Therapy can support you? Feel free to reach out for a consultation.