Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based psychological intervention that cultivates psychological flexibility—the ability to stay present, open to experience, and take values-driven action even in the presence of difficult thoughts and feelings. Developed by Steven Hayes and colleagues in the 1980s, ACT operates through six core processes organized in the Hexaflex model, targeting both mindfulness and behavioral change. Unlike traditional approaches that attempt to reduce or eliminate symptoms, ACT teaches workability: asking "Is this working to create the life you want?" rather than "Is this thought true?" This mindset shift—from struggling against internal experiences to making room for them while pursuing what matters—makes ACT uniquely applicable to anxiety, depression, chronic pain, relationship challenges, and everyday stress.
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This topic spans 12 focused tables and 86 indexed concepts. Below is a complete table-by-table outline of this topic, spanning foundational concepts through advanced details.
Table 1: The Six Core Processes (Hexaflex Model)
| Process | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
Feeling anxious before a presentation and choosing to open up to the sensation rather than fighting it | • Active embrace of private experiences without attempts to change their form or frequency • alternative to experiential avoidance. | |
Noticing the thought "I'm a failure" and labeling it: "I'm having the thought that I'm a failure" | Changing relationship with thoughts by seeing them as words or mental events rather than literal truth or commands to obey. | |
Pausing to notice breath, bodily sensations, and sounds during a stressful moment | • Being psychologically present • flexible attention to the here-and-now instead of being lost in past or future rumination. |