What is ACT Therapy and How Does It Help Treat Addiction?

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT therapy) teaches people tools to help them move past negative emotions and focus on healing. This is done by accepting the person’s thoughts and feelings without judgment. This type of mindful psychotherapy has been shown to help an individual move through any difficult emotions or situations.

Conditions ACT Therapy Helps

While more research needs to be conducted on ACT therapy, initial studies have shown it can be effective either as a stand-alone treatment or added to standard psychosocial therapy.

There are a variety of mental health conditions ACT therapy helps with, including:

• Stress regulation
• Work stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Substance abuse
• Phobias (irrational fears)

Additional studies of ACT therapy are needed to examine exactly how this form of treatment works. For instance, what are the behavior change mechanisms of ACT therapy? Comparing the treatment to other approaches like 12-step facilitation and traditional relapse prevention, which have been empirically proven, will give more insight into ACT therapy’s effectiveness.

How ACT Therapy Works

ACT therapy aims to help people free themselves from obsessive negative thinking. The basis of ACT therapy is mindfulness exercises that teach the person how to accept things as they come. The goal is not to try to change events or evaluate them.

The therapy starts with acceptance. Rather than fighting any feelings or experiences that feel beyond the person’s control, ACT therapy invites the individual to accept these reactions. Next, the focus turns to direction. This component asks for a commitment to a positive approach and avoids any temptation to rehash past negative events. Finally, the person should take action to stick with this positive focus.

What to Expect in an ACT Therapy Session

There are five main stages of an ACT therapy session. They are:

1. Building rapport — Initial sessions involve the person and therapist talking about the individual’s challenges, mental health, and previous therapy efforts.
2. Deeper awareness — The therapist helps the individual recognize areas of negativity and work through painful memories to make peace with what cannot be changed.
3. Core values — ACT therapy encourages participants to think about their core values and what they want their life to look like.
4. Actions — The therapist helps the person begin to make a change by focusing on what they can control and what they can’t.
5. Commitment — Finally, the therapist helps the individual find ways to include ACT in their everyday life to continue what they have learned.

A vital component of ACT therapy is mindfulness. Mindfulness techniques reinforce ACT therapy, and they are easy to practice anytime, anywhere.

All the person needs to do is bring their attention to the present moment. Next, they should focus on breathing to ground themselves. Finally, they should pay attention to what is happening around them — the sounds, smells, and other activities.

Mindfulness may seem like a small thing, but it can significantly impact a person’s sense of inner peace and happiness.

A dual diagnosis treatment center for addicts, Aftermath Addiction Treatment Center was founded by recovering addicts. Providing and utilizing proven clinical and medical approaches and techniques to assist in recovery, we stand apart thanks to our treatment planning, which begins and ends with the most crucial ingredients: love, empathy, and direction.