Acceptance and commitment therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological intervention developed by Steven C. Hayes and colleagues in the 1980s. ACT assumes that psychological suffering is caused by experiential avoidance of symptoms and hurtful thoughts and feelings. The objective of ACT, however, is not to correct or eliminate hurtful experiences but to prevent them from becoming a barrier towards value-driven behavior. ACT aims to help the individual clarify their personal values and to increase psychological flexibility towards painful thoughts or sensations.

ACT is used to help patients with various chronic conditions including multiple sclerosis, anorexia nervosa, epilepsy, anxiety disorder, and depression. Most research has focused on the treatment of chronic pain conditions. In myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) only a small feasibility study of ACT has been conducted.