Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For Addiction
Evidence-Based ACT Therapy for Substance Abuse Treatment At Absolute Awakenings
When Acceptance and The Desire For Change Coexist
Whether it was encouragement from a loved one or you feel like you’ve hit rock-bottom in your struggle with addiction, you’ve made the brave decision to regain control of your life and start a new chapter.
Many people do not make it to this point. By desiring change, you’ve already taken the first step in your recovery journey.
And it only gets better from here.
At Absolute Awakenings, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help you develop the emotional fortitude and psychological flexibility you need to overcome addiction.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
Developed by University of Utah professor Steven C. Hayes in the 1980s, ACT is a mindfulness-based therapy that helps clients navigate life in the present moment, despite life’s circumstances.
This form of mental health treatment guides clients through accepting that negative thoughts and feelings can coexist with the desire to move forward with life. With a greater understanding of how deeper emotions can be managed, clients can begin to make healthier choices and meaningful changes.
Often used in substance use disorder treatment programs, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help with overcoming cravings and relapse prevention.
The 6 Core Principles of ACT Therapy
Cognitive Defusion
Acceptance
Contact With the Present Moment
The Observing Self
Values
Committed Action
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy For Addiction At Absolute Awakenings
Recovery is never one-size-fits all.
Beginning with a thorough evaluation of your physical, emotional, and psychological health, our clinical care providers create a plan based on your individual needs. Your care team will closely monitor your progress throughout your outpatient, intensive outpatient, or PHP program to ensure that you have the best chance at achieving lifelong recovery.
At Absolute Awakenings, we understand that change in attitude results in a change in behavior. As part of your treatment program, you will participate in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to equip you with the skills you need to live a healthy life outside of a recovery environment.
Along with ACT therapy, your care plan may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), group therapy, art therapy, hypnotherapy, and other modalities.
How Does Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Help With Addiction
This behavioral therapy combines mindfulness with self-acceptance, giving the individual the skills necessary to identify emotions, accept them, and make value-based choices that help move life forward rather than dwelling in the negative emotions.
ACT therapy is useful in drug addiction recovery as it helps the client acknowledge and live with negative emotions while still taking actions that further their goals and reinforce their core values.
Many treatment centers use this type of psychotherapy in the treatment of not just substance use disorder, but co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder as well.
Move Beyond The Struggle Into Action With ACT Therapy At Absolute Awakening
FAQs about ACT Therapy & Absolute Awakenings
Although both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are both behavior-based therapies, they have key differentiators.
Cognitive behavioral therapy works by helping the client identify and modify negative thoughts, while ACT is based on the principle that negative thoughts must be accepted as a fact of life.
Both therapies encourage changed behavior, but ACT therapy is focused more on moving forward in life despite destructive thoughts.
ACT is helpful for any mental health condition in which the client feels stuck in negative behaviors due to fixation on negative thoughts, feelings, or circumstances. ACT is commonly used in drug use treatment, alcohol addiction treatment, PTSD treatment, depression treatment, and even the treatment of bipolar and schizophrenia.
Yes. ACT is a powerful therapy that can help individuals struggling with addiction to opiates or other drugs. Because ACT helps clients develop self-awareness, identify core values, and commit to taking action that support these values, clients are better equipped to overcome cravings and prevent relapse.
It is crucial to your recovery that you are admitted to the program that is the most conducive to your healing.
An outpatient program allows clients to participate in their therapies during the day and return home in the evenings to attend to work, school, or familial obligations. With Inpatient programs, clients stay on-site 24 hours a day.
Absolute Awakenings is an outpatient-only facility. If you feel that you need a residential-based treatment program, Absolute Awakenings might not be the best fit for you.
During your evaluation, our clinical care team will work with you to determine if an inpatient or outpatient treatment program is the best course of action.