Life is a struggle and it is through the acceptance of that struggle that we can begin to make choices towards our valued life.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of experiential therapy, primarily developed by Steven C. Hayes, PhD. It is a research-based psychotherapeutic tool that is built on the older behavioral and cognitive treatments.
ACT is founded on the idea that humans will often inadvertently create problems in their lives when they avoid unwanted private experiences (e.g., thoughts, feelings, memories, bodily sensations). Experiential avoidance will frequently hinder a person’s optimal ability to function in his/her relationships, on the job, or in the community. This in turn may prevent us from living the kind of valued life we had hoped for.
Through various desensitization and empowering exercises a person is gradually taken to a place that they can better live the life they had intended. For more information on ACT, visit the web site of the Association for Contextual Behavior Science.
“When I began therapy with you I was determined to deal with the issues from my childhood that were preventing me from having a successful relationship. In fact, the relationship I was having with myself wasn’t working very well either. You skillfully guided me as I explored the legacy of issues that childhood sexual abuse and inadequate parenting by my mother had left in me. Through ACT exercises I learned to identify the triggers that were problematic for me and you taught me how to ‘talk myself down’ when a trigger was pulled.
I continue to use the methods you taught me, because the reality is that I will always carry the scars from my childhood, but I’m no longer crippled by them.”
– Former Client