Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has been around since the 1980s; it is a form of behavioral therapy developed to help those with mental health or substance use disorders (SUDs). ACT is an evidence-based therapy employed by a large number of rehab facilities throughout the United States. ACT for addiction treatment may be used as a stand-alone approach or in conjunction with other evidence-based therapies and holistic approaches to treatment.
If you are curious about acceptance and commitment therapy, reach out to us at Insight Recovery Center in Asheville, NC, to learn more. It’s easy to connect with us—simply call 828.826.1376.
The Basics of ACT for Addiction
ACT for addiction is essentially based on the same principles and concepts as ACT used to treat mental health disorders. Based, as the name suggests, on the idea of acceptance, ACT helps people understand that avoidance and denial of internal and external challenges will not help with recovery. In fact, trying to look away from triggers and reminders of painful experiences is ultimately impossible. ACT enables you to learn flexibility so that you have the tools you need as you accept the reality of your addiction, including cravings and other symptoms. You learn the skills to cope with and reduce the symptoms of substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, thereby limiting their impact on you.
Like some other behavioral therapies, acceptance and commitment therapy for addiction is based on mindfulness practices. You come to accept that suffering is normal but does not need to derail your life nor be completely eliminated (which is impossible) in order to be happy. The idea that it is possible to have complete control over your life is a harmful myth. Accepting the full range of experiences while committing to change—in this case, living a life of recovery—is possible.
ACT Principles
ACT for drug addiction and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is based on six essential concepts or principles. Part of ACT in rehab involves learning how to incorporate these principles into your recovery.
- Acceptance – Avoiding challenges will not work in the long run, so learning how to live with them is part of acceptance. If you accept the hard things, you will not need to escape into drug or alcohol abuse to avoid or squelch them.
- Presence – Being present in the now is a familiar mindfulness trope, and for good reason. The ability to center in the moment means you are less likely to be harmed by your past or fearful of your future.
- Values – What might it look like if you live in alignment with your true values instead of choosing paths based on avoidance of difficult emotions or outcomes?
- Commitment – The commitment to taking action based on your foundational values is a vital part of ACT. Set realistic goals about how you want to live and who you want to be, understanding that sometimes there will be negative feelings, thoughts, or experiences.
- Cognitive defusion – This concept is specific to ACT. You can’t make the thoughts and beliefs that are distressing you disappear, but you can separate yourself from them to minimize their power over you. Doing so allows you to move forward.
- Observation – Become an observer of your experiences to emphasize that they are not part of you, don’t define you, and are indeed separate from you. What you experienced in the past and any actions taken by you in the past do not equal who you are. The same holds true for your experiences now and in the future.
The lessons of ACT for addiction help you stop trying to avoid pain or needing to be in control. You shed fear and learn to accept the vicissitudes of life with equanimity.
Call Insight Recovery Center Today About ACT for Addiction
At Insight Recovery Center, we offer evidence-based therapies, including acceptance and commitment therapy for addiction. Reach out to us to learn more about our outpatient programs, including partial hospitalization (PHP), which is the highest level of outpatient care you can receive.
Connecting is easy. Just submit this form or call 828.826.1376. You deserve to live a life free of substance abuse.