The first years of my clinical work focused on using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), and the use of general mindfulness.  As I became more familiar with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) the draw to become trained was compelling.  I have received well over 160 clinical hours of training including 5 workshops specifically related to using ACT to treat symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief and to use ACT with adolescents. I attend at least 2 new pieces of training each year and will continue to do this.  ACT is such a flexible and versatile method that it contains most of the important elements of these other treatment methods.  ACT is exceptional in that it targets people that haven't found relief in traditional CBT.  Recent studies have shown that while changing distorted or negative thinking can be very successful, it backfires with many others.  What about these people who try to change their thinking and fail? Inevitably they become just that more depressed or worried NOW because they haven't been able to make this shift.  ACT works to help people who are experiencing anxious and depressed thinking and feeling have a different relationship with these distressing emotions.       The coping skills focus on taking the power out of these thoughts and emotions and therefore, helping people do things and act in ways that are meaningful to them.  You can have and hold painful experiences in such a way as to prevent suffering.  Suffering occurs in two main ways: when we avoid dealing with painful thoughts and feelings and when we spend too much time struggling to get rid of the pain.  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) was created by Professor Steven C. Hayes in the mid-1980s.  His colleagues Kelly Wilson and Kirk Strosahl developed it further.  It came from a field of psychology called behavior analysis and is based upon a behavioral theory of cognition known as relational frame theory (RFT).  ACT is part of the "third wave" of behavioral therapies, all of which show major emphasis on acceptance, mindfulness, and compassion, in addition to traditional behavioral interventions.  The aim of ACT is to maximize a person's potential for a rich and meaningful life, while effectively handling the pain that inevitably goes with it.  Our sessions together using ACT will involve helping you clarify what's truly important and meaningful to you -your values/qualities of being- and to use that knowledge to guide, inspire, and motivate you to do those things that will enrich and enhance your life.  I will teach you the psychological skills (based on specific goals you set for our sessions) that will enable you to handle difficult thoughts and feelings effectively, engage fully in whatever you are doing, and appreciate and savor the fulfilling aspects of your life. There are six basic skills we will work on to help you gain "psychological flexibility" -  Be present, open up, and do what matters. ACT is very experiential in nature- therefore, I will be suggesting that we try exercises out in our sessions.  I will make every effort to ensure that I am clear on how the exercise will help you with something you are working on over the next week.  I commit to helping you leave each session with a direction/ action step you are taking right away.  We will process how things went at the beginning of the following session before moving on to the next step. I can't guarantee you that our work together will have the results you deserve, but I can promise you that I will work as hard as I can to help you using only evidence-based interventions.  ACT is a very flexible model so we can switch interventions/exercises if one is not working well or doesn't feel like a good fit for you.  Please feel free to do some research on this model through the Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences (ACBS). Go to www.contextualscience.org.