What is ACT Therapy?
A Guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
If you’ve ever felt like your thoughts and emotions are running the show—dictating what you do, how you feel, and even what you believe about yourself—you’re not alone. Many people try to “fix” or avoid painful feelings, only to find themselves stuck in the same patterns over and over.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a powerful alternative.
Instead of trying to get rid of difficult thoughts and feelings, ACT helps you make room for them—so you can live more fully, with meaning and intention.
So, What Is ACT Therapy?
ACT (pronounced like the word “act”) stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and it’s based on one key idea:
You don’t have to control your thoughts and feelings to live a meaningful life.
ACT is an evidence-based approach that helps you build what psychologists call psychological flexibility—your ability to stay grounded, respond mindfully, and take actions that align with your values, even when life is hard.
The Six Core Processes of ACT
ACT isn’t a linear process—it’s more like a toolkit. Here are the six foundational skills we work on in ACT therapy:
1. Acceptance – Make Room for Your Emotions
Rather than pushing feelings away, ACT helps you create space for them. This doesn’t mean you like them—it just means you stop struggling with them. Think of it like unclenching your fist around something painful.
2. Cognitive Defusion – Unhook from Unhelpful Thoughts
We all have thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “What if I fail?” ACT teaches you how to notice these thoughts without getting caught up in them. They’re just words—not instructions or facts.
3. Present Moment Awareness – Come Back to Now
So much suffering comes from living in the past or future. ACT helps you anchor yourself in the present—through mindfulness, breath, and body-based awareness.
4. Self-as-Context – You Are Not Your Thoughts
You’re not just your roles, labels, or emotions. ACT introduces the idea of the “observing self”—the part of you that can notice what you’re thinking or feeling without being consumed by it.
5. Values Clarification – Know What Matters
What do you want your life to be about? What really matters to you? ACT helps you get clear on your personal values—and use them like a compass to guide your choices.
6. Committed Action – Take Meaningful Steps
This is where healing turns into movement. In ACT, we work together to take small, values-aligned actions, even when fear or discomfort show up. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
What You Can Expect from ACT Therapy
ACT therapy is experiential—it’s not just about talking, but about practicing. You’ll learn skills, try out new ways of relating to your inner world, and build a life that feels aligned with your deepest values.
Clients often report:
Less reactivity to emotions
More clarity and purpose
Greater confidence in decision-making
A sense of peace, even when things aren’t perfect
ACT Therapy at Bloodstone Therapy
At Bloodstone Therapy, ACT is one of the primary tools I use to help you untangle from self-doubt, pain, and overthinking—so you can reclaim the life you want to live. We’ll work together to explore your values, develop flexible thinking, and move toward a more grounded, intentional way of being.