Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Steven Hayes · Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life (1999)
A mindfulness-based behavioral therapy that uses acceptance, cognitive defusion, present-moment awareness, self-as-context, values, and committed action to increase psychological flexibility.
Core Concepts
The Problem
Struggling against unwanted thoughts and feelings and being controlled by them leads to psychological suffering.
The Claim
Accepting internal experiences while committing to values-based action leads to a rich, meaningful life.
Key Evidence
- •Extensive clinical research showing efficacy for depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and substance use.
Practical Implication
Rather than trying to eliminate negative thoughts and emotions, we can learn to hold them lightly and still move toward what matters.
Nuance & Limits
ACT doesn't advocate passive resignation; it distinguishes between pain that is inevitable and suffering that comes from fusion with thoughts and avoidance.
Source Material
Citation Density
extensive
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