ACT Therapists in Chicago
Are you searching for an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) counselor in Chicago? If so, we are glad you are here. Our Chicago ACT therapists are often approached by clients who are struggling with difficult emotions, negative thought patterns, and unhelpful behaviors.
While there are many different therapeutic approaches that we utilize, one that we have found to be particularly effective is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Can Be Fun and Engaging!
Our Chicago ACT therapists strive to make Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to be a powerful experience. In truth, ACT can be a fun, fascinating, and enlightening moment for individuals seeking personal growth and development. While therapy may seem intimidating or boring to some, ACT offers a unique approach that emphasizes experiential learning and encourages individuals to engage in activities that bring them a sense of pleasure and fulfillment.
One of the reasons why ACT can be a fun and engaging experience is that it involves a variety of experiential exercises, such as mindfulness exercises, visualization, and metaphorical exercises. These exercises allow individuals to explore their thoughts and emotions in a creative and non-judgmental way, helping them to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences.
For example, ACT may involve using metaphors to help individuals see their thoughts and emotions in a new light, or visualizations to help them connect with their values and goals.
In addition to being fun, ACT can also be a fascinating experience for individuals who are interested in the workings of the mind and the nature of human experience. ACT draws from a range of scientific disciplines, including psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, and incorporates a range of theories and concepts from these fields.
This can make the therapy experience both informative and intellectually stimulating, as individuals learn about the latest research and theories related to human behavior and well-being.
“My Chicago ACT Therapist Made Counseling Fun and Exciting!”
-Kelly in Gold Coast, Chicago
Moreover, ACT can be an enlightening experience for individuals who are seeking to develop greater self-awareness and cultivate a more fulfilling life. Through the therapy process, individuals are encouraged to clarify their values and take action that is consistent with those values, which can provide a sense of direction and purpose.
By learning to accept difficult thoughts and emotions and focus on what they can control, individuals can develop greater psychological flexibility and resilience, allowing them to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and grace.
ACT can also be enlightening in the sense that it encourages individuals to develop a new perspective on their thoughts and emotions. Rather than trying to eliminate or suppress difficult thoughts and emotions, ACT teaches individuals to accept and observe them without judgment. This can lead to a greater sense of inner peace and well-being, as individuals learn to detach from unhelpful thoughts and emotions and develop a more compassionate relationship with themselves.
A Chicago ACT Therapist is trained to help you create change!
Finally, ACT can be a transformative experience for individuals who are seeking to break free from patterns of behavior that are holding them back. By developing greater self-awareness and learning new skills and techniques, individuals can learn to overcome barriers that may have previously seemed insurmountable. Through ACT, individuals can learn to take control of their lives and create a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.
ACT is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on helping clients develop psychological flexibility. This means that clients learn to be more aware of their thoughts and emotions, and to be able to choose how to respond to them in a way that is consistent with their values and goals. ACT is based on six core areas, which we will explore in more detail below.
Six Core Areas of ACT
There are six core areas of ACT that work in tandem to create change. These six areas include:
1. Acceptance
The first core area of ACT is acceptance. This involves learning to accept difficult thoughts and emotions as they arise, rather than trying to suppress or avoid them. Often, when we experience difficult emotions, our natural instinct is to try to push them away or distract ourselves from them.
However, this can actually make the emotions worse in the long run. Acceptance involves acknowledging the emotions, and recognizing that they are a normal and natural part of the human experience.
2. Cognitive Defusion
The second core area of ACT is cognitive defusion. This involves learning to see thoughts as just thoughts, rather than as accurate representations of reality. Many of us have a tendency to take our thoughts at face value, and to believe that they are completely true. However, our thoughts are often distorted, and may not reflect the reality of a situation. Cognitive defusion involves learning to step back from our thoughts, and to see them as simply mental events that are separate from us.
The third core area of ACT is contact with the present moment. This involves learning to be fully present in the moment, rather than getting caught up in thoughts about the past or the future. Many of us spend a lot of our time either dwelling on past events or worrying about future possibilities. However, this can prevent us from fully engaging with the present moment and enjoying the experiences that are happening right now. Contact with the present moment involves learning to focus our attention on what is happening in the present, and to fully engage with our senses.
3. Contact with the Present Moment
In the third area of ACT, contact with the present moment is a core component of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and refers to the ability to be fully present and engaged in the current moment, rather than getting caught up in thoughts, worries, or distractions. It involves developing awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations in the present moment, without judgment or evaluation.
In ACT, contact with the present moment is viewed as an essential aspect of psychological flexibility and well-being. By learning to focus one’s attention on the present moment and fully engage with one’s senses, individuals can reduce the impact of unhelpful thoughts or emotions that may be holding them back from living a fulfilling life.
4. Observing the Self
The fourth core area of ACT is the observing self. This involves learning to step back and observe our thoughts and emotions from a more detached perspective. Often, we identify very strongly with our thoughts and emotions, and believe that they define who we are. However, the observing self involves recognizing that we are not our thoughts or emotions – we are the ones who are observing them.
By learning to take a more detached perspective, we can reduce the impact that our thoughts and emotions have on us.
5. Values
The fifth core area of ACT is values. This involves clarifying what is most important to us in life, and then using this knowledge to guide our behavior. Many of us are not fully aware of what our values are, and may find ourselves acting in ways that are inconsistent with what we truly believe.
By clarifying our values, we can make more intentional choices about how to behave in a way that is consistent with what is most important to us.
6. Committed Action
The sixth and final core area of ACT is committed action. This involves taking action that is consistent with our values, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable.
Often, we may know what is important to us, but struggle to take action because we are afraid of failure, rejection, or discomfort. However, committed action involves learning to take risks and step outside of our comfort zones in order to create a more fulfilling life.
“My Chicago ACT therapist helped me clarify my needs!”
-Bob in Lakeview, Chicago
Short Explainer Video: ACT
Benefits of ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can provide a number of benefits for individuals struggling with difficult emotions, negative thought patterns, and unhelpful behaviors. Some of the benefits of ACT include:
- Increased psychological flexibility: By learning to be more aware of our thoughts and emotions, and to choose how we respond to them, we can become more psychologically flexible and adaptable.
- Reduced avoidance: Rather than trying to suppress or avoid difficult emotions, ACT encourages individuals to accept them as a normal part of the human experience, which can help to reduce avoidance behaviors.
- Greater mindfulness: ACT emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment and fully engaging with our senses, which can help to increase mindfulness and reduce rumination.
- Improved self-awareness: By learning to step back and observe our thoughts and emotions from a more detached perspective, we can increase our self-awareness and reduce the impact that our thoughts and emotions have on us.
- Clarity of values: ACT helps individuals to clarify what is most important to them in life, which can provide a sense of direction and purpose.
- Increased motivation: By clarifying our values and taking action that is consistent with them, we can increase our motivation and sense of fulfillment.
Overall, ACT can help individuals to develop the skills and mindset needed to live a more fulfilling and values-driven life.
Our Chicago ACT Therapists want to help you live a happier life.
Practical Uses for ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has a number of practical uses in various settings, including clinical and non-clinical settings. Some of the practical uses our Chicago ACT therapists may help with include:
- Treating anxiety and depression: ACT has been found to be effective in treating anxiety and depression, as it helps individuals to develop psychological flexibility and learn to accept difficult thoughts and emotions. [see our Chicago therapist for depression page]
- Managing chronic pain: ACT can also be used to help individuals manage chronic pain, by teaching them to focus on the present moment and accept the pain without getting caught up in negative thoughts or emotions.
- Improving relationships: By clarifying values and learning to communicate effectively, ACT can also help to improve relationships and promote greater intimacy and connection.
- Enhancing workplace performance: ACT can be used in the workplace to help employees develop greater focus and resilience, and to improve productivity and job satisfaction.
- Promoting personal growth and development: ACT can also be used for personal growth and development, by helping individuals to clarify their values and take action that is consistent with those values.
- Enhancing sports performance: ACT can be used to help athletes develop greater mental toughness and resilience, and to overcome performance anxiety and self-doubt. [see our Chicago therapist for anxiety page].
Overall, ACT has a wide range of practical uses, and can be tailored to the specific needs and goals of individuals in various settings. It can be used both as a standalone therapy or in combination with other treatments, depending on the individual’s needs.
Make an Appointment for ACT Therapy
As a group psychotherapy practice, we have found that ACT can be a very effective approach for many clients who are struggling with difficult emotions and unhelpful behaviors.
By focusing on developing psychological flexibility, clients are able to make meaningful changes in their lives and move towards a more fulfilling and values-driven existence. If you are interested in learning more about ACT or exploring it as a treatment option, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for an appointment. You can also call us at 773.528.1777
We offer ACT therapy for in person appointments in our Chicago offices or virtual via a HIPAA compliant platform.
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Reference:
Science Direct online 2023: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032719313023?via%3Dihub