ACT

ACCEPTANCE & COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT)

Developed within a coherent theoretical and philosophical framework, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a unique empirically based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility means contacting the present moment fully as a conscious human being, and based on what the situation affords, changing or persisting in behavior in the service of chosen values.

Based on Relational Frame Theory, ACT illuminates the ways that language entangles clients into futile attempts to wage war against their own inner lives. Through metaphor, paradox, and experiential exercises clients learn how to make healthy contact with thoughts, feelings, memories, and physical sensations that have been feared and avoided. Clients gain the skills to recontextualize and accept these private events, develop greater clarity about personal values, and commit to needed behavior change.

Click on a link below or to the left to learn more about ACT, or click on the emailing lists phrase in this sentence to join any of several email listserves for ACT professionals and students, RFT professionals and students, members of the public interested in ACT, or ACT/RFT list serves in various countries or languages (Sweden, German, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Italy, Australia/New Zealand, and others).

How To Start Learning About ACT

There is a vast amount of information available for browsing available on this site. When you have the time, consider browsing through the clinical resources, protocols, measures, books, visual aids, and videos available on the site (under the Resources tab). However, there is so much information available that it can be a little overwhelming.

To get started, we've compiled a comprehensive list of resources for the ACT novice that also includes resources for gaining greater depths of knowledge if you so choose.

If you are a member of the public, you are welcome to look around or even to join our group to get full access to videos, attachments, publications, etc. You can find research here, find ACT therapists, link to an ACT listserv for the public, and so on.