Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that combines aspects of mindfulness and behavioral therapy to help individuals increase psychological flexibility. Rather than focusing on symptom reduction, ACT emphasizes the importance of accepting difficult thoughts and feelings, committing to values-based actions, and creating a life of meaning and purpose, despite challenges.

The core principle of ACT is psychological flexibility, which refers to the ability to be present in the moment, accept emotions and thoughts as they arise, and act in a way that aligns with one's values, rather than reacting impulsively to discomfort. In ACT, individuals are taught to recognize that struggling against or avoiding uncomfortable thoughts and feelings often leads to greater distress and life disruption. Instead, ACT encourages acceptance of these experiences, allowing individuals to develop a healthier relationship with them.

ACT is built on six key processes: acceptance, cognitive defusion (detaching from unhelpful thoughts), being present, self-as-context (seeing oneself as more than just one’s thoughts or feelings), values clarification, and committed action. These processes help individuals move from avoidance and struggle to living a life that is guided by their core values and goals.

A key feature of ACT is the focus on values-based action. Rather than attempting to eliminate distressing thoughts, ACT helps individuals define their values and take concrete steps toward fulfilling them, regardless of the thoughts or emotions that arise.

ACT is effective for a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and stress, and it promotes a healthier, more balanced approach to life. By fostering acceptance, mindfulness, and behavior change, ACT helps individuals build resilience, improve emotional regulation, and live more authentically.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on accepting unwanted experiences which are out of our personal control and making committed actions towards living a valued life. The goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility, or the ability to contact the present moment and the psychological reactions it produces, as a fully conscious human being, and based on the situation, to persist with or change behavior for valued ends.