Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or “ACT” (pronounced like action), is a mindfulness-based form of CBT developed with a unique philosophy on how to improve wellbeing. ACT aims to address emotional suffering by increasing psychological flexibility through six processes: Acceptance, Defusion, Present-Moment Awareness, Observer Self, Values, and Committed Action.

In ACT, the goal is to change the way we relate to our thoughts, feelings, and sense of self so that we can spend less time getting stuck trying to fix our experiences with worry, rumination, or cycles of avoidance, and more time doing things that matter to us, like pursuing meaningful relationships, staying committed to a personal goal, or maintaining a health routine.

ACT is recognized by Division 12 of the American Psychological Association as an effective treatment for anxiety and depression, and the research supporting its effectiveness for additional mental health concerns continues to grow. The Association for Contextual and Behavioral Sciences is an international organization for researchers and clinicians who share interests in ACT and its empirical and theoretical foundations. If you would like to learn more about ACT and its foundation, you can visit the ACBS website here.