TREATMENT
APPROACHES
ACCEPTANCE & COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT)
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), pronounced like the verb ‘act’) is a newer type of CBT that includes both a mindfulness component and an existential component. Unlike classic cognitive therapy, ACT doesn’t attempt to directly change thoughts. Instead, ACT seeks to help people to gain distance and “unhook” from the unpleasant thoughts and feelings. ACT also attempts to help clients to seek meaning and deeper life satisfaction, aiding them in identifying what’s important to them and how to move courageously toward their personal values, even with their unwanted thoughts and feelings. Though ACT is a more modern approach to CBT, it already has extensive research supporting its effectiveness in the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, tinnitus and many other disorders.