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.
The Struggle Is the Trap
When painful thoughts or feelings arise, our natural instinct is to fight them, push them away, or avoid situations that trigger them. But this "struggle switch" often creates more suffering than the original thought.
ACT suggests an alternative: what if you stopped fighting? Not giving up, but dropping the rope in the tug-of-war with your thoughts so you can use your hands for something you actually care about.
The Hexaflex
Six paths to psychological flexibility.
ACT develops psychological flexibility through six interconnected core processes.
Present Moment (Mindfulness)
Connect with the here-and-now instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
Defusion (Step Back from Thoughts)
See thoughts as what they are—just words and images—rather than absolute truths that must control you.
Acceptance (Make Room for Feelings)
Allow unwanted feelings and sensations to be present without struggling against them.
Self-as-Context (The Observing Self)
Recognize that you are more than your thoughts, feelings, or diagnoses. You are the space where they happen.
Values (Know What Matters)
Clarify what is truly important to you—what kind of person you want to be and what you stand for.
Committed Action (Do What Matters)
Take concrete, values-guided steps even when fear, doubt, or discomfort show up along the way.
Is ACT Right for You?
You might benefit if...
- You've tried to "control" your thoughts and feelings, but they keep coming back
- You find yourself avoiding situations, people, or opportunities because of anxiety
- You want to live a meaningful life, but feel stuck in patterns of worry or low mood
- You value action and want to move forward even if anxiety doesn't disappear first
- You're interested in mindfulness without necessarily wanting to sit in silent meditation
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.
Melanie Ciucci, LCSW
Specialties
Uses ACT to help clients stop struggling with difficult thoughts and build values-based lives.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions.
While traditional CBT focuses on challenging and changing negative thoughts, ACT teaches you to change your relationship to your thoughts—accepting their presence while choosing behaviors aligned with your core values.
Acceptance does not mean giving up or resigning yourself to suffering. It means allowing uncomfortable emotions and thoughts to be present without wasting energy struggling against them, freeing you to take meaningful action.
Yes. ACT is supported by hundreds of randomized controlled trials proving its efficacy for anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain, OCD, and stress management.
Ready to Live Your Values?
You don't have to wait for the storm to pass to learn how to dance in the rain.