ACT Therapy in Nashville

ACT is effective for a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety / panic, depression, trauma, OCD, chronic pain, stress, eating disorders, substance use, and self-injury. It aims to enhance what’s called “psychological flexibility,” which helps clients live more in alignment with their chosen values while improving their overall wellbeing.

Research shows that ACT can be more effective than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for various issues. Unlike CBT, which focuses on challenging and changing thoughts, ACT emphasizes developing skills to learn how to “unhook” from unhelpful thoughts and accept the full range of feelings, while committing to values-guided actions.

ACT brings more “heart” to therapy than many old-school approaches, often utilizing experiential exercises to create deeper, more lasting insights and change. It can also feel much more approachable and realistic than trying to tell yourself to just “stop having that thought.” Especially for clients who lean toward control or avoidance to manage distress, ACT can be much more effective than CBT.

ACT was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Steven C. Hayes as part of the third wave of behavioral therapies. It integrates concepts from traditional behavior therapy with mindfulness and acceptance strategies, providing a comprehensive framework for addressing complex psychological issues.

At The Gaia Center, numerous therapists on our team have extensive training in ACT and find it to be incredibly accessible and helpful for clients. We’d love to integrate ACT to support you in navigating your challenges while moving toward a more meaningful, value-aligned life as defined in YOUR terms.