Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Orange County, CA.
What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
ACT is a mindfulness-based therapy that helps you stop fighting your thoughts, stay present, accept difficult emotions, and start living your values. It’s especially effective for people dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic stress. Instead of trying to “fix” or eliminate painful emotions, ACT teaches you how to accept them, get unstuck from unhelpful thoughts, and take meaningful action that reflects who you really are. Research has shown ACT to be effective across a wide range of mental health conditions, particularly where avoidance, rumination, and emotional suppression are present.
At Friendly Recovery in Tustin, CA, we integrate ACT into personalized treatment plans across all levels of care, including Outpatient (OP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), and telehealth. This ensures that therapy is not only effective but also accessible, whether you’re balancing work, school, or other responsibilities.
“ACT helped me let go of the desire to control every thought. I started noticing what really mattered to me and making choices based on that. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m living my best life.”
Principles of ACT
Cognitive Defusion: Learning to see thoughts for what they are, just thoughts, not instructions or truths.
Acceptance: Making room for uncomfortable feelings instead of struggling against them.
The Present Moment: Grounding yourself in the now, rather than being stuck in past regrets or future worries.
Self-as-Context: Understanding that you are more than your thoughts, feelings, or experiences.
Values Clarification: Identifying what truly matters to you.
Committed Action: Taking small, consistent steps toward what you value, even when it’s hard.
The Origins and Growth of ACT Therapy
ACT was developed in the 1980s by psychologist Dr. Steven Hayes and has since become one of the most evidence-supported third-wave behavioral therapies. It draws from both behavioral science and mindfulness practices and has shown long-term effectiveness in treating a wide range of mental health concerns, from generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD. ACT is now recommended by mental health professionals worldwide and is continually supported by ongoing clinical research.
How ACT Helps With Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma
ACT is especially useful for people who feel like they’re caught in a loop of overthinking, avoidance, or emotional struggle. Here’s how it helps:
Anxiety & Panic: ACT helps you detach from fear-based thoughts and reduce the need to control anxiety, while still living life.
Depression: By reconnecting you with your values and daily purpose, ACT supports motivation and emotional resilience
Trauma-Related Stress: ACT creates space for traumatic memories while helping you take action toward recovery without being dominated by the past.
Stress Management: With CBT, people learn how to handle life’s stressors and reduce reactivity.
Chronic Worry or Perfectionism: ACT offers tools to quiet the inner critic and build self-compassion and psychological flexibility.
“I was stuck in my head all the time, running thoughts over and over. What if this happens? What if I mess up? ACT helped me stop repeating these thoughts, and focus on doing the things that really matter to me.”
ACT Therapy Techniques
ACT sessions are structured yet deeply personalized. Here’s what the therapeutic process can include:
Mindfulness Practices: Build awareness and presence with breathing techniques, body scans, and grounding tools.
Values Exploration: Discover what truly matters to you and why it’s worth acting on.
Exposure Therapy: A core strategy for anxiety-related disorders involving systematic desensitization to feared stimuli.
Behavioral Activation: Take steps toward your goals and values, even in the presence of doubt or discomfort.
Thought Observation: Learn how to watch thoughts come and go without being pulled into them.
Key Advantages of ACT
Here’s what makes our ACT-based therapy at Friendly in Orange County stand out
Evidence-Based: ACT is backed by decades of research and effective for anxiety, depression, and trauma-related conditions.
Flexible Format: Offered in-person or online, and through OP, IOP, and PHP levels of care.
Values-Driven Recovery: Focusing on your values helps you build a meaningful life..
Therapist-Guided Growth: Our trained clinicians offer support, structure, and tools tailored to your needs.
Supportive Environment: Sessions are held in a compassionate, judgment-free space designed for healing and growth.
Getting Started With ACT
Not sure where to begin? We make it simple:
- Schedule a Consultation: Start with a confidential conversation to see if ACT is right for you.
- Match With a Therapist: We’ll connect you with an expert in mental health care.
- Verify Insurance Coverage: ACT therapy is often covered by insurance. Our team can help check your benefits and verify your insurance.
What to Expect in ACT Sessions
Here’s what you can count on at Friendly Recovery
Specialized ACT Therapists: Clinicians trained in ACT and trauma-informed care.
Custom Treatment Plans: Tailored to your specific challenges, preferences, and pace
Whole-Person Healing: We support your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Real-Life Tools: Walk away with strategies you can use every day to handle stress, doubt, and emotional pain.
Proven Success: Many people like you have improved with our help.
At Friendly Recovery in Tustin, CA, we keep things flexible because we know life doesn’t always follow a set schedule. Whether you’re looking for the structure of a Partial Hospitalization Program or the support of an Intensive Outpatient Program, we’ve got you covered. Need something more laid-back like Outpatient Care? Or the ease of Telehealth from home? We’ve got those too. Our nurturing team is here to guide you with care!
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy FAQs
How long does ACT therapy take?
Treatment length varies, but many people begin noticing benefits within 8–12 sessions, with continued growth over time.
What makes ACT different from other therapies?
ACT doesn’t try to eliminate thoughts or emotions; it teaches you how to live with them and still take action that’s meaningful.
Is ACT helpful for people with trauma?
Yes, ACT is highly effective for trauma recovery. It teaches you to hold painful experiences with compassion while still moving forward.
Does insurance cover ACT?
Most insurance plans offer coverage for ACT. We’ll help you verify your insurance online quickly and easily.
Can I do ACT online?
Absolutely. Friendly Recovery offers ACT via HIPAA-compliant telehealth for flexible, private care.
How do I start ACT therapy?
Reach out to us for a free consultation, and we’ll guide you through matching with the right therapist and program level.
Align Your Life With What Matters Most
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy isn’t about fixing you, it’s about helping you build a life guided by purpose, even when things feel hard. At Friendly Recovery in Tustin, CA, we’re here to support you in stepping into the version of life you want to live, one day, one choice at a time.
Medically Reviewed By: Shahana Ham, LCSW
Shahana Ham, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She specializes in client-centered care for individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges, fostering a supportive environment for healing and growth.
