Acceptance and Commitment Therapy | Vibepedia

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, pronounced 'act') is a therapeutic approach that emerged from [[relational-frame-theory|Relational Frame Theory (RFT)]]. Unlike traditional therapies that aim to eliminate or reduce distressing thoughts and feelings, ACT posits that psychological suffering often stems from our attempts to control or avoid these internal experiences. Instead, ACT encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment, recognizing them as transient psychological events. The therapy then guides individuals to identify their core values and commit to taking consistent, value-driven actions, even in the presence of discomfort. This approach aims to foster psychological flexibility, enabling people to live richer, more meaningful lives. ACT's theoretical underpinnings draw heavily from [[b-f-skinner|B.F. Skinner's]] radical behaviorism and [[functional-contextualism|Hayes's]] own functional contextualism, integrating principles from Eastern contemplative traditions and the human potential movement.