Usually, when we think of medical treatments, we picture a problem, and the medical treatment is the solution. The goal, at least in our minds, is always to be cured, so that we can move on to live our best lives. However, when it comes to mental health, it’s not always that simple.

ACT or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a different approach, which allows you to accept and acknowledge your thoughts and feelings, and still make changes that will move your life in a more positive direction.

What is Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is a type of behavioral therapy that is based around the premise that not all negative thoughts and emotions necessarily need to be cured. That we can have those thoughts and feelings, but that we can learn to react and cope with them in more positive ways.

How does ACT work

ACT is a mental health treatment that is provided by a trained mental health professional. They will guide you through the process of identifying what your feelings are and acknowledging that they are valid.

Instead of trying to change the way you feel and think, they will help you to identify when your thoughts and feelings are valid and an acceptable reaction, but also how you can adjust your actions and response when your feelings or emotions are misaligned with an event or situation.

By first acknowledging and accepting your feelings, deciding which ones you need to address and then committing to making gradual changes, it’s easier for patients to shift their mental and emotional response to the world.

What can ACT help with

ACT has been effectively used to treat a wide range of conditions, including depression and anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, psychosis, substance abuse, work related stress and even pain disorders.

It’s important to note that ACT does not have to be a standalone treatment either. It can be used very effectively in conjunction with other therapies and with medication.

Benefits of ACT

Sometimes, when we want to change the way we interact with the world, we think of it as an all or nothing situation. However, mental health is very rarely binary. It’s not just black and white, and there’s plenty of room for grey areas.

Often, that means that even though our thoughts, feelings and emotions are extreme, they might not be entirely inappropriate for a situation. Learning to accept those thoughts, feelings and emotions before attempting to change them is an effective and gentler way to address many mental health situations.

Change Takes Work

While acceptance is the first step of the ACT treatment model, it’s important that you don’t stop there. An action-oriented approach that includes concrete, measurable commitment to change is just as important as learning to accept the way you think and feel.

This is why it’s very important that if you do choose to try ACT, you find a specialist therapist who can guide you through the process and ensure that you get the results you want.