About acceptance and commitment therapy (act)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a behaviorally informed approach that emphasizes accepting thoughts and feelings while taking action guided by your values. Below you can browse therapists who list ACT among their approaches to compare focus areas, credentials, languages, and experience.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether acceptance and commitment therapy (act) is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page names Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) among the approaches they told the platform they use. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for acceptance and commitment therapy (act)
Savithri (Savi) Jayaweera, NCPS
Ref 151058
Compassionate counsellor for complex life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Hindi, Sinhala
View listingCarmen Chaney, LIMHP
Ref 48397
Therapist blending practical skills and compassion
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJames French, BACP
Ref 203032
Practical support for anxiety and life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDr. Paula Alvarez, LCSW
Ref 29756
Compassionate clinical social worker with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingMargaret Johnston, LMHC
Ref 62092
Calm listening that helps you move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingPamela Benoit, NCPS, BACP
Ref 180577
Compassionate practical psychotherapy
Works with: Relationship, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingWellington Cesar Assis Bueno, BACP
Ref 226813
Healing emotions, building clearer choices
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingKizzie Wells-Daniels, LPC
Ref 67515
Therapist for stress, parenting, and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Parenting, Anger Languages: English
View listingRebecca "Becca" Mather, BACP
Ref 236007
Compassionate, practical support for life’s pressures
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingFrank Centonze, LPC
Ref 297421
Direct, practical counseling for emotional recovery
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAdrian Jackson, BACP
Ref 271038
Compassionate counsellor using practical, person-focused methods
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingAnjanette Morton, LMHC
Ref 207471
Calm, practical support for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRev. Catherine Bogue, LCSW
Ref 168255
Compassionate guidance for life’s hard changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingMegan Warner, BACP
Ref 241754
Short-term practical counselling and coaching
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingColette Mattos, BACP
Ref 138095
Relationship and self-esteem focused counsellor
Works with: Relationship, Family, Parenting Languages: English
View listingFaye Noyland, BACP
Ref 176481
Calm, practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingKelley Sullivan, LCSW
Ref 526
Compassionate, practical therapy for real life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Spanish
View listingPatrick Gribel, LMHC
Ref 348422
Therapist focused on depth and steady change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Self esteem Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingSally Henderson, ACA, PACFA
Ref 224972
Compassionate trauma and addiction counsellor
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingJamie Finkelstein, LPC
Ref 16744
Compassionate counselor for practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingLesley Schmaltz, LCSW
Ref 95757
Calm, collaborative therapy with an experienced LCSW
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingChase Carter, LCSW
Ref 330670
Skilled LCSW focused on relationships and recovery
Works with: Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAndrew Mclay, BACP
Ref 236002
Compassionate counsellor for grief and life change
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingLisa Fairclough, BACP
Ref 160254
Practical, values-focused support for change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingFarah Southwell, LPC
Ref 203059
Practical, experienced therapist for life’s hard moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Haitian Creole
View listingLaurel Deegan, BACP
Ref 231520
Compassionate, person-centred counselling for identity and stress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingPeter Bramhill, BACP
Ref 236747
Practical, compassionate counselling for life’s challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRosalind Oliver, BACP
Ref 232595
Gentle practical therapy for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, German
View listingJatindar Bhogal, BACP
Ref 116956
Calm, experienced support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Punjabi
View listingAngela Condit, LCSW, CSW
Ref 33489
Supportive clinical social worker focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Depression Languages: English
View listingFiona Scotland, BACP
Ref 147790
Calm practical counselling for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingVictoria Dann, BACP
Ref 269010
Gentle, practical support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Parenting Languages: English
View listingAnthony Skerritt, LMHC
Ref 96096
Hopeful, practical counseling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingBrandi Garner, LPC
Ref 209377
Practical, sex-positive counseling for adults
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingAvril Harding, BACP
Ref 197916
Practical support for stress, anxiety and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingStephanie Faison, LCMHC
Ref 239705
Practical, values-focused counseling for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingAngela Lindl, BACP
Ref 155213
Calm practical therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingMelanie Duffin, BACP
Ref 241752
Practical, compassionate help for daily struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRenee LaVigne, LMSW
Ref 42769
Compassionate social worker helping people find balance
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingPuja Attul, NCPS
Ref 173304
Compassionate therapist offering practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDr. Betsy Puentes, LMFT, LPC
Ref 212361
Calm guidance for lifes tough moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingKimberley Roberts, LCSW, CSW
Ref 103862
Practical support for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJai Pitre, LCSW, CSW
Ref 144830
Practical therapy grounded in client strengths
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingSoraya Hind, BACP
Ref 115815
Support for trauma, identity and ongoing stress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Depression Languages: English
View listingAndreia Sousa Fortes, NCPS
Ref 188657
Compassionate person-centred support for change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingKitty Hall, LCSW
Ref 297453
Compassionate, practical support for life’s challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingLinda Pollack, LPC
Ref 59084
Experienced Arizona counselor focusing on coping and change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingStacy Tallman, LISW
Ref 263912
Compassionate, practical support for life's hard moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMore about acceptance and commitment therapy (act)
What Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Is
Foundations and purpose
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, commonly called ACT, grew from behavioral psychology and contemporary mindfulness practices. At its heart it asks you to shift the relationship you have with internal experiences - thoughts, emotions, sensations - so they interfere less with the life you want to lead. Rather than promising elimination of uncomfortable thoughts, ACT focuses on increasing psychological flexibility. That means helping you notice what matters to you, accept internal experiences without needless struggle, and take committed action in alignment with your values.
The approach is organized around six core processes that together support change. These processes are not techniques to be mastered in isolation but interrelated pathways that help you respond differently to stressors and setbacks. Therapists who list ACT among their approaches often use metaphors and experiential exercises to illustrate these ideas so you can apply them in everyday life.
What Issues ACT Is Commonly Used For
Practical applications
ACT is applied in many settings because it addresses how you relate to difficult internal experiences rather than promising to remove them. People often explore ACT when they are dealing with persistent anxiety, low mood, or stress that interferes with work, relationships, or daily routines. It is also commonly used alongside approaches to manage chronic pain and long-term health conditions where pain or discomfort is present but behavior change can improve quality of life. Therapists who list ACT among their approaches also work with issues such as obsessive thinking, substance use concerns, grief, workplace burnout, and performance anxiety.
Because ACT emphasizes values and committed action, it is also chosen by people looking to clarify what matters to them and to take practical steps toward those aims. You might seek ACT if you want tools to keep moving forward while still experiencing fear or sadness, or if you are looking for an approach that combines mindfulness with behavior change strategies.
What a Typical Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Session Looks Like
Structure and techniques you can expect
A typical ACT session tends to be collaborative and experiential. You and the therapist will explore a current struggle together, paying attention to the thoughts and feelings that arise. Rather than focusing solely on changing the content of your thoughts, the work often centers on changing how you relate to those thoughts - noticing them, gently distancing from them, and deciding what action fits with your values despite them.
Sessions often include brief mindfulness exercises to increase present-moment awareness and experiential metaphors that illustrate key ideas. You may be invited to notice sensations in the body, label thoughts as passing events, or participate in guided imagery to clarify values. The therapist will typically help you translate insights into small, achievable actions to practice between sessions. Homework is common and tends to be practical - short exercises in noticing, values clarification tasks, or incremental steps toward meaningful activities. Over time, the aim is for you to build a flexible relationship with internal experiences so you can pursue a meaningful life even when discomfort is present.
How ACT Differs From Other Common Approaches
Key distinctions
Although ACT shares features with cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies, it emphasizes different targets and goals. Traditional cognitive-behavioral techniques often work directly on changing thought content by identifying and challenging distorted beliefs. ACT, by contrast, focuses on the function of thoughts and the response they trigger. Instead of trying to prove a thought wrong, ACT helps you notice a thought's presence and choose actions that align with your values despite that thought.
Compared with psychodynamic approaches, which may explore the origins of patterns in early experience, ACT is typically more present-focused and action-oriented. When compared to other mindfulness-informed methods, ACT explicitly combines mindfulness with values-driven behavioral change. Therapists who list ACT among their approaches may integrate elements from multiple schools to suit your needs, but the distinctive emphasis remains on acceptance, defusion from unhelpful thinking patterns, and committed action toward valued goals. This orientation can feel especially practical for people who want a therapeutic pathway that prioritizes living in accordance with personal values while learning new ways to respond to inner experiences.
Who Is a Good Candidate for ACT and How to Choose a Therapist
Deciding if ACT might work for you and finding the right provider
ACT may suit you if you are seeking tools to handle difficult thoughts and feelings without letting them derail your life, and if you are motivated to clarify values and take action toward them. It can be helpful when symptoms are long-standing or when previous attempts to control or eliminate internal experiences have not brought lasting relief. That said, the best approach for you depends on your personal goals, the nature of your concerns, and your preferences for therapeutic style.
When looking for a therapist who uses ACT, focus on fit and approach rather than assuming universal suitability. Read therapist profiles to learn how they describe their use of ACT and which populations or issues they commonly work with. Pay attention to listed credentials, languages spoken, cultural background, and areas of clinical focus so you can identify therapists whose experience aligns with your needs. Consider whether you prefer one-on-one sessions, group formats, or a mix of in-person and remote work, and look for information about session length and fees.
It is reasonable to contact a therapist to ask brief questions about how they typically integrate ACT into their work, what a first few sessions might involve, and how they measure progress. Many people find it helpful to ask how values are assessed in therapy and what kinds of between-session activities are suggested. The relationship you build with a therapist - a sense of ease, understanding, and shared purpose - often matters as much as any single technique. Using the listings above to compare focus areas and approaches can help you narrow options so you can select someone whose style and experience feel like a good match for the work you want to do.
Bringing ACT Into Everyday Life
Applying principles outside of sessions
One of the strengths people report with ACT is the emphasis on translating insight into action. Outside sessions, you may practice short mindfulness exercises, experiment with noticing thoughts without immediately reacting to them, and take small steps toward values-driven goals. These practices do not promise instant relief from unpleasant feelings, but they can expand what you are willing to do in the presence of discomfort. Over time, many people find that living by clarified values - even amid difficult emotions - leads to a stronger sense of direction and meaning.
If you are curious about ACT, using therapist profiles to learn more about how practitioners describe their approach is a helpful first step. Reading about how ACT is used for particular concerns, and what a typical session looks like, can make it easier to choose a therapist whose methods and focus align with your goals. The process is collaborative - you bring your life and values, and the therapist offers tools and support to help you act in service of what matters most to you.