Acceptance and commitment therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be beneficial for managing various mental health and behavioral issues, including:

• Substance use disorder (SUD)
• Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Trauma and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Eating disorders (e.g., bulimia, anorexia, binge eating disorder)

Additionally, ACT may be helpful for individuals coping with long-term or progressive conditions, such as cancer, that significantly affect daily life and future well-being.

While ACT is not typically the primary treatment for these conditions, it can serve as an effective supplementary therapy alongside other treatments, like medication or traditional psychotherapy.

The underlying principle of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is that trying to control or suppress painful emotions and psychological experiences often leads to greater distress. When individuals attempt to avoid, deny, or change negative feelings, they may end up amplifying those emotions, which in turn makes them harder to manage. ACT counters this by promoting the idea that struggling against emotions can be counterproductive, and that accepting these experiences can lead to more effective coping.

Instead of focusing on changing the way you think, ACT emphasizes mindful behavior, aligning actions with personal values, and committing to meaningful steps. By fostering acceptance of difficult emotions and psychological experiences, individuals can gradually shift their mindset and emotional responses. This allows them to respond to challenges in a healthier, more adaptable way.

ACT encourages clients to focus on what they can control—their actions—while also learning to sit with and accept emotions without letting them dictate behavior. Through this process, individuals can improve their emotional flexibility, better manage distressing thoughts, and ultimately create a life that reflects their values and goals, rather than being driven by the avoidance of negative emotions.

In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), you’ll work closely with a therapist to explore how you talk to yourself about the challenges you face, such as past trauma, difficult relationships, physical limitations, or other obstacles. The goal is to become aware of your inner dialogue and assess whether a particular issue needs immediate action or if it’s something that must be accepted for what it is. Once you understand this, you’ll learn how to make behavioral changes that can improve or manage the situation.

Together with your therapist, you’ll reflect on past approaches that haven’t been effective and identify thought patterns or behaviors that have contributed to ongoing struggles. By understanding these patterns, you can work on stopping them and replacing them with healthier, more constructive ways of thinking and acting. The ultimate aim is to stop fighting against your emotions or past experiences and instead start practicing behaviors that align with your personal values and goals, fostering greater confidence and optimism.

At the heart of ACT is the development of psychological flexibility. This means being able to adapt your thoughts and actions to fit your values, allowing you to approach life with a greater sense of openness, resilience, and self-acceptance.

ACT focuses on six key processes to build psychological flexibility:

• Acceptance: Acceptance means fully acknowledging your thoughts and emotions, including those that are uncomfortable, rather than trying to avoid or suppress them.
• Cognitive Defusion: This process helps you detach from distressing thoughts and feelings, enabling you to view them from a more objective standpoint. Techniques like observing your thoughts without judgment, singing them, or labeling your automatic responses can reduce their impact.
• Being Present: Being present involves practicing mindfulness—paying full attention to the here and now, without judgment or attempts to change your thoughts or feelings. This awareness allows for clearer decision-making and behavior change.
• Self as Context: This concept encourages you to view yourself beyond just your thoughts, feelings, or experiences. You are not defined by these, but rather you are the context in which they arise and pass.
• Values: Values refer to identifying what truly matters to you and making decisions based on those principles, rather than on the desire to avoid discomfort or meet external expectations.
• Committed Action: Committed action means taking specific, meaningful steps that align with your values. This might involve setting goals, confronting difficult experiences, or practicing new skills to foster lasting change.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is often covered by insurance, especially when it is part of an accredited treatment program. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance providers are required to cover mental health and substance use treatments on par with medical and surgical procedures. However, coverage details can vary based on your insurance provider, the specifics of your policy, and the type of treatment you are receiving. Generally, insurance plans cover therapy if it’s considered medically necessary and included in a structured treatment plan prescribed by licensed professionals.

While some plans may fully or partially cover ACT sessions, others may impose limitations such as the number of sessions or require co-pays. The level of coverage depends on factors such as whether the therapy is part of inpatient or outpatient treatment, the duration of therapy, and whether it’s being used for conditions like substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns.

To confirm whether your insurance will help with the cost of therapy, give us a call at (888) 899-3880 for a free and quick insurance benefits check.