ACT Basics
This is what ACT stands for.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
This ACT concept means being able to stay present and act according to values, even when difficult thoughts or feelings show up.
What is psychological flexibility?
This ACT skill helps people see thoughts as thoughts, rather than literal facts or commands.
What is cognitive defusion?
In ACT, values are chosen life directions, not this type of finish line.
What is a goal?
Someone avoids social events because they fear judgment. In ACT, the therapist may explore whether avoidance moves them toward or away from this.
What are their values?
ACT is less focused on eliminating symptoms and more focused on helping people build this.
What is psychological flexibility?
The six core ACT processes are often represented visually using this model.
What is the hexaflex?
Saying “I’m having the thought that I’m going to fail” instead of “I’m going to fail” is an example of this.
What is defusion/reframe?
“Being a caring parent” is a value, while “calling my child tonight” is this.
What is a committed action or goal?
A person with substance use concerns says, “I can’t tolerate cravings.” ACT might help them practice making room for cravings while choosing this.
What is values-consistent behavior or committed action?
In ACT, painful thoughts and feelings are not automatically treated as problems to remove, but as experiences to relate to differently.
What is acceptance?
Name two of the six ACT core processes.
What are acceptance, defusion, present-moment awareness, self-as-context, values, and committed action?
This ACT process means making room for uncomfortable internal experiences without unnecessary struggle.
What is acceptance?
This ACT process involves identifying what matters deeply to the person.
What is values clarification?
A client is stuck arguing with the thought “I’m broken.” Instead of disputing the thought, ACT may use this process.
What is cognitive defusion?
ACT is part of this broader family of behavioral therapies that includes mindfulness, acceptance, and contextual approaches.
What are third-wave behavioral therapies?
This ACT process involves noticing thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they happen right now.
What is contact with the present moment?
A client says, “I can’t go to the meeting because I feel anxious.” In ACT terms, they may be treating anxiety as this.
What is a barrier, rule, or reason-giving thought?
When someone takes behaviorally specific steps guided by values, even in the presence of discomfort, they are practicing this.
What is committed action?
Someone says, “My anxiety controls my life.” An ACT therapist might help them notice the difference between having anxiety and being controlled by this.
What is fusion with anxiety, avoidance, or the struggle agenda?
ACT is based on the idea that suffering often increases when people become stuck in attempts to avoid, control, or fuse with private experiences.
What is experiential avoidance?
Psychological inflexibility often includes fusion, avoidance, unclear values, inaction, attachment to the conceptualized self, and lack of contact with this.
What is the present moment?
This ACT metaphor describes the difference between struggling with unwanted experiences versus allowing them to be present while moving forward.
What is “Tug-of-War with the Monster,” “Passengers on the Bus,” or another ACT acceptance metaphor?
A client says, “I want to stop feeling anxious before I start dating again.” An ACT-consistent response would encourage them to move toward this instead of waiting for anxiety to disappear.
What are values-based actions?
A client reports, “I drank because I couldn’t stand feeling lonely.” In ACT terms, drinking may function as an attempt to reduce or escape this.
What is unwanted private experience or experiential avoidance?