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What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
At GBAC, we use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support individuals in overcoming substance use and mental health challenges. ACT is a proven approach that helps people accept difficult emotions, thoughts, and experiences without letting them control their lives. Instead of trying to avoid or change these feelings, ACT encourages individuals to focus on living in line with their values and taking meaningful action toward a better life.
Why ACT Matters for Recovery
Life can be difficult, and many people turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with tough emotions, anxiety, depression, or trauma. ACT helps individuals face these challenges by teaching them to accept their feelings rather than avoid or numb them with substances. ACT provides tools like mindfulness and helps people make decisions that align with their values, leading to a more meaningful and authentic life. By embracing both acceptance and change, ACT helps build emotional strength, improve relationships, and support lasting recovery.
Benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Emotional acceptance. Learn to accept difficult emotions rather than avoiding or fighting them, reducing emotional distress.
- Better coping skills. Practical techniques to manage stress, anxiety, and tough situations through mindfulness and values-based action.
- Stronger relationships. Connecting with your values and setting healthy boundaries leads to better communication.
- Lower relapse risk. Staying focused on what truly matters helps during cravings or stressful situations.
- Increased self-awareness. A better understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors builds confidence to manage recovery.
What the Research Shows
Across 20 meta-analyses, 133 studies, and over 12,000 participants, ACT has consistently shown to be an efficacious treatment. It can improve symptoms for people with generalized anxiety disorder and may be a particularly good fit for older adults with the condition. Research suggests ACT is about as helpful as other established therapies like CBT, with roughly 70% of people who receive it showing more improvement than the average person who doesn’t. ACT’s core effect, improved psychological flexibility, is linked to reduced depression and anxiety symptoms across a wide range of ages and conditions.
Who We Treat With ACT
ACT is part of how we support treatment for alcohol, opioid, benzodiazepine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, prescription drug, marijuana, and polysubstance addiction, with the focus adapted to each person’s specific triggers and the emotional patterns underneath their use.
Where ACT Fits Into Treatment
ACT is woven into individual therapy, group therapy, day treatment (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP), and continues into aftercare support once a formal program ends.
Does Insurance Cover ACT?
Many private plans cover medically necessary treatment, though deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and authorization requirements vary by plan. We work with most major insurers and verify your benefits for free; checking doesn’t commit you to treatment.
What the Admission Process Looks Like
It starts with an initial consultation covering your emotional and behavioral needs and your therapy goals, which helps determine whether ACT is a good fit. From there, our admissions team handles the paperwork and coordinates with your insurance provider.
Finding ACT Therapy Near Boston
We’re located in Needham, MA, serving Dedham, Boston, Waltham, West Roxbury, and surrounding communities. Call (877) 920-6583, or verify your insurance online.
Frequently asked questions
What is ACT, and how does it help with recovery?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps you accept difficult emotions and thoughts rather than avoiding or numbing them, while committing to actions that align with your values, which supports recovery by replacing avoidance with meaningful engagement.
Is ACT effective for both addiction and mental health?
Yes. ACT is well studied for generalized anxiety and depression as well as substance use, and the skills, acceptance, mindfulness, values-based action, apply across both.
How is ACT different from CBT?
CBT focuses on identifying and restructuring unhelpful thought patterns. ACT focuses on changing your relationship to difficult thoughts and feelings, accepting them, rather than trying to eliminate them, while committing to value-driven action.
Do residents of Waltham and West Roxbury use GBAC's ACT program?
Yes. We're based in Needham, MA, and see clients from across the area, including Waltham, West Roxbury, Dedham, and Boston.
Is ACT covered by insurance in Massachusetts?
Many private plans cover medically necessary treatment, though deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and authorization requirements vary by plan. We verify your benefits for free before you commit to anything.