Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological flexibility model that helps clients engage in meaningful activities (occupations) despite difficult thoughts, feelings, or circumstances.

Rather than eliminating distress or “fixing” behavior, ACT helps people accept what they can’t control and commit to actions aligned with their values, which fits naturally within OT’s client-centered, function-focused approach.

Core Idea of ACT (Briefly)

ACT teaches people to:

• Accept unpleasant thoughts/feelings without fighting them

• Defuse from unhelpful thoughts

• Focus on the present moment

• Identify values

• Commit to value-based actions

• Increase psychological flexibility (the ability to adapt and act in meaningful ways even under stress)

OT Interventions Using ACT Might Include:

• Mindfulness-based activities

• Values clarification worksheets

• Thought defusion exercises (e.g., labeling thoughts)

• Behavior activation toward meaningful occupations

• Reflective journaling

• Graded exposure to previously avoided tasks