Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Conditions We Treat
The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Program at The Anxiety Center, directed by Nathan Fite, PhD, brings together highly experienced psychologists, therapists, and interns specializing in ACT for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and medical issues. ACT has been shown to be a highly effective form of treatment for a broad range of psychiatric conditions and health concerns. The Anxiety Center is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art treatment to patients in the ACT Program.
The ACT Program at The Anxiety Center offers clinical treatments and education for a variety of psychiatric disorders and medical issues, including:
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Anxiety disorders
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Depression
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
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Chronic pain
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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Substance use disorders
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Eating disorders
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Psychosis
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Stress
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Diabetes management
Our team is committed to helping patients improve their mental and physical well-being through the principles and practices of ACT.
Our Approach
​Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) at The Anxiety Center is a structured, goal-oriented process that requires active participation from both the therapist and the patient. We emphasize that ACT is an active form of therapy—so much so that we tell our patients it’s not good therapy if you don’t break a sweat. Expect to be challenged and to be heard. Expect encouragement, but also expect to be provoked. Our goal is to instigate growth in each of our patients and maximize the benefits of treatment to help them achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.
Cognitive Defusion
Cognitive defusion involves changing the way individuals relate to their thoughts by helping them see thoughts as simply thoughts, rather than literal truths. Some specific strategies include:
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Observing Thoughts: Patients learn to see their thoughts as just thoughts, reducing the impact of negative thinking patterns.
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Language Exercises: Techniques such as repeating a thought out loud until it loses its meaning, helping to reduce the power of distressing thoughts.
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Metaphors: Using metaphors to illustrate the nature of thoughts, such as imagining them as passing clouds or leaves on a stream.
Self-as-Context
Self-as-context helps individuals develop a sense of self that is separate from their thoughts and feelings, promoting a stable and flexible identity. Some techniques used include:
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Observing Self: Helping patients recognize the distinction between themselves and their thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
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Perspective-Taking: Encouraging patients to view their experiences from different perspectives to foster a more flexible self-concept.
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Mindfulness of Self: Practicing mindfulness to cultivate a sense of self that is stable and continuous despite changing experiences.
Acceptance
Acceptance involves fully embracing all thoughts and feelings, even the unwanted ones, without trying to change or avoid them. Some techniques we use involve:
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Allowing Feelings: Encouraging patients to fully experience their emotions without trying to avoid or change them.
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Mindful Awareness: Practicing mindfulness to stay present with uncomfortable feelings, observing them without judgment.
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Willingness Exercises: Helping patients build willingness to experience difficult emotions as part of their valued living.
Acceptance
Values clarification helps individuals identify what is truly important to them and guides their actions in alignment with these values. Values clarifying activities include:
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Identifying Values: Assisting patients in recognizing what truly matters to them in various life domains (e.g., relationships, work, health).
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Values-Based Living: Encouraging patients to align their actions with their identified values.
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Goal Setting: Setting short-term and long-term goals that reflect patients' values to guide their behavior and decision-making.
​Contact with the Present Moment
This process involves bringing full awareness to the here and now, rather than getting caught up in past regrets or future worries. To do this we develop some of the following skills:
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Present-Moment Awareness: Training patients to focus on the here and now, rather than ruminating on the past or worrying about the future.
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Mindful Breathing: Techniques like deep breathing and grounding exercises to enhance present-moment focus.
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Sensory Awareness: Exercises that direct attention to sensory experiences to anchor patients in the present
Committed Action
Committed action involves taking effective action guided by values, even in the presence of obstacles and discomfort. The following activities help achieve this:
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Value-Driven Actions: Encouraging patients to take actions that are consistent with their values, even in the presence of difficult thoughts and feelings.
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Exposure Exercises: Gradually confronting feared situations to build resilience and reduce avoidance behaviors.
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Behavioral Activation: Scheduling and engaging in activities that are enjoyable and aligned with patients' values to enhance motivation and well-being.
¿Por qué elegir nuestro IOP?
En The Anxiety Center tienes acceso a la mejor tecnología de la región.
01.
Cuidados más intensivos
Nuestro programa ofrece más horas de servicios terapéuticos por semana que la terapia estándar, lo que lo hace más efectivo y capaz de brindar una mejora más rápida.
02.
Participación flexible
Puede unirse a nosotros virtualmente, en persona o mediante una combinación de ambos para adaptarse a su estilo de vida y preferencias.
03.
Participación flexible
Puede unirse a nosotros virtualmente, en persona o mediante una combinación de ambos para adaptarse a su estilo de vida y preferencias.
04.
Cuidados más intensivos
Nuestro programa ofrece más horas de servicios terapéuticos por semana que la terapia estándar, lo que lo hace más efectivo y capaz de brindar una mejora más rápida.
05.
Participación flexible
Puede unirse a nosotros virtualmente, en persona o mediante una combinación de ambos para adaptarse a su estilo de vida y preferencias.
06.
Participación flexible
Puede unirse a nosotros virtualmente, en persona o mediante una combinación de ambos para adaptarse a su estilo de vida y preferencias.
Contactanos
Al proporcionar su número de teléfono, acepta permitir que The Anxiety Center y su personal autorizado utilicen su información de contacto con fines de comunicación sobre su atención médica, recordatorios de citas y cualquier otra información relevante relacionada con su tratamiento y atención. Su número de teléfono no será compartido con terceros sin su consentimiento explícito, salvo que lo exija la ley o en los casos en que sea necesario para su tratamiento y coordinación sanitaria.