Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) teaches us how to accept and be with our emotional experiences rather than fighting them while also helping us live lives aligned with our values. Many people spend their lives fighting against themselves and their feelings, but I believe that real change comes from learning to approach yourself with self-compassion. We’ll work together to shift from resistance to acceptance, helping you build a healthier and more supportive relationship with yourself.

ACT is a form of behavioral therapy that combines mindfulness skills while promoting self-acceptance. It encourages the client to embrace thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them or feeling guilty for having them. ACT is supported to treat concerns such as anxiety, depression, addictions and substance abuse.

Being a member of the ACBS keeps me connected to other ACT therapist as well as guidance in providing ACT therapies effectively and updates within the ACT model. I also engage in group consultation, self reflection, and continued education throughout the year.

As a behavior analyst, ACT is the backbone of our practice. It is a largely behavior analytic intervention in which I am able to help you understand how your values, thoughts, and behaviors are all interconnected. Rather than focusing on changing your thoughts, we will work on accepting the things that cannot be changed and develop new behaviors that will take the place of what is not serving you.

ACT aims to develop and expand psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility encompasses emotional openness and the ability to adapt your thoughts and behaviors to better align with your values and goals.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach to therapy that combines mindfulness and acceptance strategies with commitment and behavior change strategies to increase psychological flexibility. It aims to help individuals contact the present moment fully, change or persist in behavior in line with their values, and lead a rich, full, and meaningful life. ACT is based on traditional behavior therapy and is designed to cultivate health, vitality, and well-being.

Our values drive majority of our decisions. Often our thoughts get in the way of our goals and who we want to be. So that negative thinking internally pulls you further and futher away from yourself and pulls you further and further in the direction of what negative and/or intrusive thoughts are telling you. We can change the way the cycle works. Let's do this together.

Through my degree program I have been trained in counseling methods rooted in Acceptance and Commitment best practices.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is about learning to identify the aspects of your life that you cannot change, learning to identify the things you can, and learning how to commit yourself to changing those changeable things, including your mindset, your feelings, and how you navigate life.

Values clarification and alignment

ACT is a type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy that focuses on being able to live a rich and meaningful life, with all the ups and downs that life throws at us. We focus on finding out what "makes you tick" and on becoming less constrained by the effects of anxiety, depression, and other unhelpful patterns, so you can do more of what makes you feel engaged with life. In ACT, we acknowledge that we aren't perfect, our lives aren't perfect, and we can find enjoyment and fulfillment in spite of this.

I have used acceptance and commitment therapy for 4 years in helping my clients manage their mental health challenges.

I have always been drawn to ACT because it is based on the foundation that when we can truly accept ourselves for who we are and what we are going through, then our body can feel safe enough to make change in how we relate to ourselves. I also have done research in how ACT can be a useful orientation for treating ADHD and anxiety.

I’m trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps individuals accept difficult emotions and commit to actions aligned with their values. ACT focuses on increasing psychological flexibility by teaching mindfulness and self-compassion, while encouraging clients to pursue meaningful goals despite challenges. It’s effective for managing stress, anxiety, and depression, fostering a more fulfilling and value-driven life.

Instead of trying to change or avoid difficult thoughts and emotions, ACT encourages you to embrace them fully, like welcoming old friends into your home. As your therapist, I'll gently guide you to acknowledge these feelings without judgment, teaching you to make peace with them rather than letting them control you. Together, we'll explore your deepest values and aspirations, crafting a roadmap for living in alignment with what truly matters to you.

We live in a society that is constantly normalizing us to what we are "supposed to be" and what we are "supposed to feel". Much of the distress someone feels is their interpretation of an experience and labeling it as good or bad. When we do this, we go into fight, flight, or freeze. Acceptance and Commitment therapy can help you accept the good, the bad, and the ugly, lean into anxiety, and commit to living a life in line with your values.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy works to help people accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment or shame. ACT can help you to live in the present moment and put your energy towards more positive aspects of your life. In therapy we will work on mindfulness skills, on identifying and living out your values, and move towards healing. When you lean into ACT you will experience more peace with situations, thoughts, or feelings that may be negatively impacting you.