Here's What Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Looks Like | MedCircle

According to triple board certified neuropsychologist Dr. Judy Ho, acceptance and commitment therapy is “all about developing psychological flexibility through six skill domains to tap from whenever you have an issue.”

The goal of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is to increase psychological flexibility, or the ability to enter the present moment more fully, and to either change or persist in behavior as long as it serves your values.

So how does it work?

Acceptance and commitment therapy is divided into six modules:
1 - Acceptance
2 - Cognitive Defusion
3 - Being Present
4 - Self as Context
5 - Values
6 - Committed Action

If you are passionate about self-discovery, self-improvement, and creating a better relationship with “You,” then this is the mock therapy session for you. After experiencing what an ACT session feels like, you will understand how to (and be motivated to) traverse the research-backed road to self-discovery that acceptance and commitment therapy provides.

What to expect during the mock session:
Dr. Judy will walk Kyle through an ACT exercise to uncover how his cognitive distortions and deep-rooted thoughts impact his sense of self—and his self-worth. All of this plays a role in his current-day behavior. You’ll be able to easily ‘insert’ a challenge in your own life—and work through it—right as the session progresses.

00:00 Intro
00:33 Introducing the problem
02:24 When Kyle's thought distortions first occurred
04:04 Breaking down Kyle's thought patterns
06:24 Identifying Kyle's specific thoughts
08:46 Dr. Judy's ACT techniques
10:58 How to use "Cognitive Defusion"
13:20 Cognitive Defusion exercise
21:29 How to use "Self as Context"
24:50 How to watch more like this

Here's what an acceptance and commitment therapy session looks like.

#WorldMentalHealthDay #MedCircle

[Buzzy-bmbv]

To be as vulnerable as you were during your ‘session’ exhibits a tremendous amount of self confidence and lack/diminution of shame. Kudo’s to you. You were raised well :-). Most people, due to shame, avoid anything that is linked to vulnerability and expressing their insecurities. I imagine it took a lot of courage to speak as honestly as you did, knowing fully that your family would probably (at some time) see this video. I’m writing primarily to say that your actions reflect a very healthy sense of self, along side the ‘voices’ that everyone has about their insecurities. The only way to work through ‘issues’ is by shining a light on them, looking at them clearly and separating the wheat from the chafe. Such a wonderful experience to watch (and learn from) and I suspect it culminated with some epiphanies for you. Thanks for sharing.

[shripradabhuvankar]

Kyle, you are so brave to have done this mock session in front of the camera! Love how you bring actual beliefs, thoughts and fears during these sessions! Hats off to you for being so vulnerable and honest. My regards to you, all the way from India :)

[amycuaresma]

Feeling safe in someone’s energy is a different kind of intimacy. That feeling of peace and protection is really underrated.

[NS-uqst]

What I love about Kyle sessions is how honestly and clearly he can express what he is feeling.. It gives so much clarity to clarify my own doubts.

[hopewilliams]

Bloody hell, I just did this exercise for my OCD intrusive thoughts and it brought me so much relief beyond anything else I've learnt. Thank you!

[datenshiomega]

That was literally life changing. Not only did I relate so much (too much? ) to Kyle's issues but also this whole "simple" practical exercise to be less hurt by your own thoughts is exactly what I have been craving for without being able to get help. My different therapists were great and got me out of pure dark depression but now that my head is out of the water, I need to learn to swim and breathe and handle and these waves of suffocating thoughts. And this way more real than anything I've ever listened to. Thank you. Really.

[healing_and_humor]

Dr. Judy is my favorite therapist for Kyle. <3 She just seems to get him / get it, so easily. And the talk/listen ratio seems perfect.

[wisteria]

Kyle's decision to be honest and Dr.Judy's undivided attention and exceptionally helpful exercises help me instantly.I get this feeling that it's gonna help change my life.I very much appreciate this channel.💞

[lauracain]

You are a precious young man. Truly. Thank you for being transparent.

[kevinwhite]

I think it's really interesting that a lot of the comments on this mock therapy session are focused on "wow I have the same problem as Kyle and this has given me insight in how to deal with that problem that we both share". Whereas I'm here for the ACT example - seeing how a real person navigates through an ACT exercise of cognitive defusion. And I think seeing that process happen in someone else reinforces how I can do it with myself.

[carolynblakeney]

Thanks to MedCircle for all of this content and for the membership special. Even the complimentary content has been tremendously helpful. A month or so before the pandemic hit last year I retired unexpectedly (and several years early) in an attempt to regain my 'lost' life. The discounted membership is a boon as I am on a fixed income for a few years. (Also thanks to you Kyle, for your willingness to be the 'crash test dummy' in the mock therapy sessions!)

[brusselsprout]

The timing of this is perfect. My thoughts are not Kyle’s, and I’m navigating too if they are self inflicted or intentionally (subconsciously or consciously) inflicted upon me by others. This exercise is a great tool to have in our emotional cache to survive the upcoming holidays dealing with the family or societal dysfunctions we all experience. Thank you Kyle for openly sharing. Thank you Judy for giving your time to this matter.

[theresaromero]

Kyle, I am so proud of you. I have watched your videos for awhile, and see that you are genuine, and applaud that you have retained your empathy and compassion, throughout all the troubles that befell you. 💗

This is just how I felt. My mom had depression and anxiety and used to rage on all of us, but especially on me. She died when I was 13, after two years of illness. Daddy remarried less than three months later, and I always felt i didn’t measure up. He remarried twice more, and i always felt that way, in relation to the families. Thank had to move far away to escape the self-defeating beliefs.

[donnabann]

I like the idea of pulling in a little IFS when doing the exercise where you wrote your thought - sensing it as the voice of a "part" to whom you can be present, listen to, ask what it needs from you (maybe for the pain of losing your mom/remembering her loving/celebrating that, etc.) - bringing the cognitive into the body/mind/heart/spirit, healing and reparenting.

[lemon_q]

Amazing as always Kyle and Dr. Judy ❤
I had similar experiences also, I used to be so scared saying my most honest thoughts out loud even to myself in private. Even when I tried to write them down on paper (I wanted to write a letter) I couldn't. It went on for years. Before, I held a deep grudge against my dad and I was so scared of admitting I hate my dad. But then I finally broke down from keeping it all in, I cried and let everything go emotionally including my filter. I started to say things out loud (to myself) and wrote down everything I thought without filter. The more I said it the more I questioned why I was saying it when it was not all completely true. I realized I let those words have too much power over me and I held on it for too long.
I will try and use the "I noticed that" and "I am having the thought that" next time I am journalling to add extra layers to my bad thoughts.
More power to MedCircle!

[makaylahollywood]

My mother is my number one person - she died in 2016. I have the same feelings about other relationships. I am alone, they are together. This felt like a $250 session. Omg, it worked for me. And, I can live with the power to be me, and notice my thoughts- instead of let my thoughts notice me reacting.

[amycuaresma]

I lost my mom at 16 as well, and I very much mirror how he said that she was his favorite person by a long shot.

[madisonwalker]

Awesome video! I'm a therapist and really enjoy watching your mock therapy sessions. Thank you!

[sreddy]

Just leaving my trail praying for PTSD victims to recover and noble people to see with their own eyes what they see to.address it.

[STEVOLOVESTHAILAND]

I am just like him, lost my mommy to suicide, it’s difficult for me to hold on. I feel his pain😪