Our Services
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
The goal of ACT is to work towards a life worth living. This does not mean that life will always be easy or without pain. However, we can learn to be with our pain rather than fighting against it. “ACT” is a fitting abbreviation, because this therapy is about taking action guided by our values; a life that is driven by what matters to you on the deepest levels. Through mindful action we can create a meaningful life in which we are fully present.
ACT teaches a variety of skills to help us change our relationship to the barriers and challenges that stand in the way of a life worth living. It is not so much the difficult thoughts, feelings and emotions that are a problem, but rather how we relate to them that causes problems for us on the inside. ACT focuses on 6 areas of skill, including developing presence, putting things into context, releasing from the hold of difficult thoughts and emotions, acceptance, identifying values, and living out goals. Together, we will identify and develop the skills you need to help take you in the direction of your values!
An Oakland Therapist Can Help You
Overcome Issues With ACT Therapy
Anxiety
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps individuals with anxiety by teaching them to accept their feelings without judgment, recognize unhelpful thoughts without being controlled by them, and commit to actions that align with their values, reducing the power of anxiety over their lives. ACT helps overcome anxiety.
Panic Attacks
ACT assists individuals experiencing panic attacks by encouraging acceptance of the physical sensations of panic without fear or avoidance. It helps them understand these sensations as part of their experience, not threats, thereby reducing the intensity and frequency of attacks over time. ACT helps accept and confront panic sensations.
Worry
For chronic worriers, ACT offers techniques to observe worrisome thoughts from a distance rather than getting entangled in them. It encourages acceptance of uncertainty and commitment to moving forward in spite of worries, helping individuals engage more fully with their present lives.
Social Anxiety
By using ACT, people with social anxiety learn to notice their feelings of fear and self-judgment without being ruled by them. They are encouraged to commit to actions that involve social interaction in line with their values, helping to build confidence and reduce avoidance behaviors.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
In OCD, ACT helps by promoting acceptance of unwanted thoughts and feelings while focusing on engaging in actions consistent with personal values, rather than responding to compulsions. This can help reduce the grip of OCD symptoms by changing the relationship one has with their thoughts.
Improving Relationships
ACT facilitates the building of healthier relationships by helping individuals clarify what is genuinely important in their relationships, accept the presence of difficult emotions, and take committed action to enhance intimacy and understanding based on those values.
Anger & Irritability
ACT helps individuals understand and accept their feelings of anger without acting impulsively. It encourages identifying values that might be at conflict with anger-driven behaviors and choosing actions that are in harmony with those values, leading to a decrease in irritability and aggression, helping have a better way of living.
Emotional Awareness
ACT aids in increasing emotional awareness and flexibility. It teaches how to observe and describe emotions without immediate reaction, allowing for a more authentic and vulnerable sharing of feelings, enhancing emotional connectivity with oneself and others.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Get In Touch
Get in touch with a therapist in Oakland, serving the Greater Bay Area and beyond. Helping you overcome anxiety, depression, and more and chart a course forward.
