Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Los Angeles CA
Do you need an ACT Therapist in Los Angeles?
Do you spend hours and hours thinking and thinking without taking action?
Do you struggle with dwelling on the past or anticipating a terrible future?
Do you avoid situations or people that make you feel uncomfortable?
Do you have a hard time making decisions because you’re unsure?
Do you feel like an imposter despite everything you have accomplished?
Do fear, anxiety, and panic dominate your actions?
We Love ACT
At Thrive and Feel, we are huge fans of ACT. All of our clinicians are trained in this modality.
We offer in-person ACT therapy in Pasadena (Los Angeles area) and teletherapy across California.
You do not have to be alone in your healing process, and you do not need to be “fixed.” You just need support stepping into the life you want.
What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a “third wave” evidence-based behavioral therapy that provides clients with the skills to create a meaningful life (even when there is the presence of emotional pain and stress). ACT supports folx in developing the ability to sit with uncomfortable emotions, clarify what truly matters to them, and take committed action toward a fulfilling life.
ACT was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Steven C. Hayes. One of the most impressive elements of ACT’s history is that it has now been supported by over 900 randomized controlled trials (Gloster et al., 2020).
The theoretical orientation of ACT is called Relational Frame Theory (RFT), a conceptualization of language and cognition that helps explain how our thoughts can become so entangled with our suffering. ACT invites us to change our relationship to those thoughts rather than trying to eliminate or control them.
Unlike traditional cognitive-behavioral therapies (like cognitive behavior therapy) that emphasize changing the content of our thoughts, ACT focuses on increasing psychological flexibility through the six Core Processes. Psychological flexibility can be defined as our capacity to stay present, open up to difficult feelings, and take action aligned with our values.
“The goal of ACT is to create a rich and meaningful life, while accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it." - Dr. Steven Hayes
One of the most controversial components of Acceptance and Commitment therapy is that it teaches us that we cannot actually CHANGE our thoughts. On the contrary, when we are using ACT skills, we are working to willingly accept our thoughts as they are (rather than trying to change them).
ACT is also different from many other therapies in that it is more than “talk” therapy. When working with an ACT therapist, you will learn concepts and strategies that can be applied to your daily life. You will be asked to complete “homework” between sessions as well. As Acceptance and Commitment Therapy clinicians, we know that the “work” truly happens between sessions (not just one hour a week).
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy does not believe that you can be “fixed.” Instead, as ACT therapists, we teach clients that they make the choices they make for a reason. As humans, we do not need to be “fixed;” instead, we want to develop the ability to choose differently. We want to have compassion for ourselves, rather than beating ourselves up for being “broken.”
One of the other controversial components of ACT is that it is rooted in the belief that suffering is part of the human experience. As a result, the goal of treatment is not to rid ourselves of suffering. Instead, we work toward living a full and meaningful life, even in the presence of discomfort.
How is ACT Different?
ACT Therapist Los Angeles
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that can help you to live a more fulfilling life by embracing your thoughts and feelings, rather than struggling with them.