Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; pronounced like the word act) was developed in the late 1980s and is commonly grouped under the third wave of behavior therapy. ACT is rooted in the capacity for language: how we hear it, how we experience it, and how we fit it into our existing schema. This therapy incorporates mindfulness, awareness and acceptance, and values-based psychological flexibility. Unlike cognitive-behavioral therapy, which emphasizes modifying thoughts and behaviors that produce stress, ACT emphasizes accepting these stress-producing thoughts. This therapy is based on six primary core conditions, which focus on mindfulness and flexibility. ACT is used in a variety of delivery methods, including individual, group, workshop, and supervision sessions. In the context of group work, ACT has been used successfully with a ...