Acceptance &
Commitment.
Stop struggling, start living
ACT teaches you that trying to control or eliminate difficult thoughts often makes them stronger. Instead, you'll learn to make room for discomfort while taking meaningful action toward the life you want.
A Different Kind of Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (pronounced "act") takes a different stance on psychological pain. Rather than viewing difficult emotions as problems to be fixed or eliminated, ACT recognizes them as normal parts of the human experience.
The goal isn't to feel good all the time—it's to live a meaningful life even when you don't. You'll learn psychological flexibility: the ability to be present, open up to your experiences, and do what matters most to you.
The Core Processes
Six keys to freedom.
ACT focuses on six core processes to help you develop psychological flexibility.
Acceptance (Open Up)
Making room for painful feelings and sensations without struggling against them.
Defusion (Watch Your Thinking)
Stepping back from unhelpful thoughts and seeing them for what they are—just words.
The Now (Be Here Now)
Connecting fully with the present moment, rather than living in the past or future.
Values (Know What Matters)
Clarifying what is truly important to you in the big picture of your life.
Committed Action (Do What Takes You There)
Taking effective action guided by your values, even when it’s difficult.
Observing Self (Pure Awareness)
Connecting with the part of you that observes your experience but is not defined by it.
The Struggle vs. The Life
Traditional approaches often focus on symptom reduction: "I need to get rid of this anxiety so I can go to the party." This can lead to a constant battle with your own nervous system.
The ACT approach focuses on valued living: "I am willing to bring this anxiety with me to the party because connecting with my friends matters to me." Paradoxically, when we stop fighting our feelings, they often have less power over us.
Living Your Values
Find your north star.
We help you clarify what truly matters in these key areas of life.
Relationships
Intimacy, connection, family, and friendship.
Work & Education
Career, learning, mentoring, and skill-building.
Personal Growth
Health, spirituality, creativity, and leisure.
Proven Effectiveness
What ACT treats.
ACT has strong research support for conditions where avoidance and control strategies have stopped working.
Our Specialists
Meet your ACT therapists.
Our therapists integrate ACT principles to help you develop psychological flexibility.
Sara Banks, LCSW
Specialties
Integrates ACT with CBT and EMDR for anxiety and life transitions.
Dr. Jonathan Woodin, PsyD
Specialties
Uses ACT to help clients live by their values despite difficult thoughts and feelings.
Nagla Mostafa, LMFT
Specialties
Applies ACT principles to relationship challenges and family dynamics.
Ready to Live Your Values?
You don't have to wait for the storm to pass to learn how to dance in the rain.