What Is ACT Therapy?

November 30, 2022 by nextstep4adhd ACT Therapy 0 comments

Therapy is an umbrella term that refers to many different types of therapy. As a multidisciplinary practice, our team is experienced in many different types of therapy. In this article, we focus on ACT therapy, or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Here’s what you need to know.

Overview of ACT Therapy

Watch the video learn more about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy:

Dr. Ethan Short and ACT Therapy

Dr. Ethan Short has extensive experience working with adults with severe mental illness including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, addictions (opiates, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, alcohol, tobacco, etc.), PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders, and adult ADHD.

He is trained in multiple psychotherapies, but primarily practices Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as an alternative to medication, or as an adjunctive treatment for the above conditions.

Dr. Short shares his approach to care:

“Our mental health care system has significant problems. Oversimplification of complex mental health diagnoses and overmedication of patients are disturbing trends. While psychiatric medications do improve symptoms, they rarely address the underlying causes of the problem.

This concept is similar to taking Tylenol for a fever; Tylenol will reduce, but not cure the fever.

Individualized, collaborative, and sometimes innovative regimens, along with taking the time to get to know patients, are paramount to treatment. I offer a holistic and evidence-based approach using a combination of medication, reliable supplements, diet, exercise, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ACT is best summarized as psychological flexibility; it emphasizes 6 processes that help people to accept themselves, understand and positively impact their struggle against the inner voice, and live with purpose.”

The Six Processes of ACT Therapy

ACT therapy emphasizes six processes that help people. These processes promote psychological flexibility and include:

1. Acceptance: acknowledging and embracing (rather than avoiding) the full range of your emotions and thoughts

2. Cognitive Defusion: the process of changing the way you react to distressing thoughts and feelings

3. Being Present: the process of mindfulness in which you are present in the moment and can acknowledge your feelings without judgement

4. Self as Context: the idea that you (and all people) are more than just your thoughts, feelings, and/or experiences.

5. Values: the process of choosing your own personal values (and living according to them) rather than adhere strictly to other people’s values and/or expectations

6. Committed Action: the process of taking tangible and concrete steps to incorporate changes based on your own personal values that can lead to positive change in your life through goal setting, exposure, and skill development.

When Can ACT Therapy Be Used?

ACT can help treat many mental and physical conditions. These include:

Substance use disorders
Anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder)
Depression
Eating disorders
Workplace stress and chronic stress

Is ACT Therapy Right for You?

If you need help managing mental health conditions, know that help is just a call or click away. Our multidisciplinary team can shape a treatment plan that includes lifestyle modifications, medication, and therapy. To schedule an appointment and learn more about your potential treatment options, give us a call at our Louisville, Kentucky mental health clinic at 502-339-2442 or click here.