Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological intervention developed in the late 1980s by Steven Hayes. It is grounded in the belief that while the natural human tendency to avoid pain and seek pleasure may be helpful in some situations, it can also lead to inflexibility as well as psychological and emotional suffering when we are faced with the inevitable challenges and discomforts of life.
The core processes of ACT can be summarized using the acronym ACT:
Techniques and approaches used in ACT may include mindfulness, cognitive defusion, acceptance, and committed action.
ACT is supported by the American Psychological Association for the treatment of:
It may also be effective in treating many other mental health conditions.