Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a modern form of psychotherapy that helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings, connect with their values, and take committed action toward a meaningful life. Pronounced like the word “act,” this therapy encourages individuals to stop fighting their inner experiences and instead learn how to live better with them.
ACT is part of the broader group of cognitive behavioral approaches but takes a different direction from traditional CBT. While CBT often focuses on changing negative thoughts, ACT helps clients relate to their thoughts differently—by accepting them instead of controlling or avoiding them. Developed in the 1980s by psychologist Steven C. Hayes, ACT combines mindfulness, behavioral change strategies, and values-based living.
The main goal of ACT
The goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility—the ability to stay present, accept what’s out of your control, and choose actions based on your values. Rather than trying to eliminate pain or discomfort, ACT teaches people how to make room for these experiences while continuing to move forward in life.
For example, instead of trying to “get rid” of anxiety, ACT encourages people to notice the anxiety, accept its presence, and still take action toward what matters—like going to a job interview or attending a social event.
The six core processes of ACT
ACT is built around six interconnected processes that help develop psychological flexibility:
Cognitive defusion
Learning to “unhook” from unhelpful thoughts by seeing them as words or mental events—not facts. For example, instead of thinking “I’m a failure,” a person might say, “I’m having the thought that I’m a failure.”
Acceptance
Making space for uncomfortable feelings rather than avoiding or resisting them. This might include accepting sadness, fear, or self-doubt without letting those emotions control your actions.
Contact with the present moment
Staying connected to the here and now through mindfulness. By focusing on what is happening right now, people are less caught up in regrets about the past or fears about the future.
Self-as-context
Developing a flexible sense of self. This means seeing yourself as more than your thoughts, feelings, or experiences—like the sky that holds passing clouds.
Values
Clarifying what truly matters in life—such as relationships, creativity, honesty, or helping others. Values guide the direction a person wants to move toward.
Committed action
Taking steps, big or small, toward goals that align with your values, even in the presence of discomfort. This turns therapy insights into real-life change. These processes are often practiced using metaphors, experiential exercises, and mindfulness activities, all tailored to the client’s needs.
Who can benefit from ACT?
ACT has been shown to help people with a wide range of issues, including:
- Anxiety and depression
- Chronic pain
- PTSD and trauma
- Addiction
- Eating disorders
- Stress and burnout
- Life transitions or identity struggles
It’s also useful for people who feel “stuck” or disconnected from what’s meaningful in life, even if they don’t have a clinical diagnosis.
Benefits of ACT
- Promotes self-acceptance and reduces the struggle against negative emotions
- Encourages personal growth by connecting actions to values
- Reduces avoidance behaviors that often keep people stuck
- Builds resilience by improving mindfulness and emotional flexibility
- Works well with a wide variety of populations and cultures
Unlike some forms of therapy that aim to reduce symptoms directly, ACT focuses on helping people build a rich and meaningful life—symptom relief often follows as a natural result.
Conclusion
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy invites people to stop trying to control what they can’t and start living in alignment with who they truly are. By learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while taking meaningful action, clients can move toward a life that feels purposeful, even in the face of emotional challenges. ACT doesn’t promise a life without pain, but it offers the freedom to live fully and intentionally—with openness, awareness, and commitment.