How We Treat
Acceptance + Commitment Therapy
Aster Springs
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Instead of pushing away or fighting with unpleasant emotions, ACT challenges people to focus on accepting them and working to better understand why they exist.
Acceptance + commitment therapy at Aster Springs
Just how does acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) work in eating disorder treatment? Maybe an individual uses food as comfort when faced with painful thoughts. It just feels easier to eat instead of telling someone they’re hurting. Alternatively, a person may rigorously control their eating when they feel like they don’t have control over anything else. Instead of expressing their feelings, they bury them.
With the assistance of our skilled therapists, each client learns that it’s counterproductive to ignore their problems and suppress their emotions. They learn self-compassion instead of always judging themselves harshly.
What is ACT?
ACT is an evidence-based treatment that derives its name from what’s at the very core of its function: to accept and commit. This approach targets the underlying causes of mental health disorders, including eating disorders, empowering individuals to process emotions constructively and develop more effective coping strategies.
In treatment, clients learn to address their avoiding behaviors, gaining insight and tools that help them recognize and confront these issues in a more productive way.
ACT Overview
Listen in as Odyssey Behavioral Healthcare’s AVP of Clinical Operations, Kate Fisch, LCSW, CEDS, explains acceptance and commitment therapy and how it’s used at Aster Springs.
How ACT Works
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) forms the basis for ACT. In treatment, clients gradually learn to stop the avoiding behaviors they often use when faced with problems. Instead of denying or ignoring difficulties, they gain insight and tools to help them recognize and confront them.
Acceptance
Teaches individuals the concepts of acceptance and flexibility. With these skills, individuals can work through their unpleasant emotions rather than resist them.
Emotional Distancing
Encourages individuals to take stock of their emotions in a more objective manner.
Presence
Helps individuals focus on living in the moment, being aware of the present, and practicing controlling thoughts and worries about the past and the future.
Self-perspective
Helps clients focus on a state of constant mindfulness.
Identification of Personal Values
Challenges individuals to identify their values and what’s important to them to live healthier lives.
Commitment
Helps individuals commit themselves to embodying the values they’ve chosen as meaningful to them.
The Aster Springs Difference
Our distinctive approach combines compassionate, inclusive care with evidence-based innovation, promoting a healing environment where meaningful progress in treatment leads to lasting recovery beyond our doors.
Levels of Care
Comprehensive treatment options for every stage of eating disorder recovery
Take the next step at Aster Springs.
Whether you’re seeking treatment for the first time or returning after previous care, the team at Aster Springs is here to help you navigate this stage in your recovery journey.
Your privacy is our priority. All communication is completely confidential.
