ACT vs CBT (And Why I Actually Prefer Acceptance And Commitment Therapy As An Anxiety Therapist)

This video dives into the differences between ACT vs CBT in therapy. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, also known at ACT, is the much gentler approach to creating meaningful, value-driven life change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, takes the perspective of "Good thoughts" and "Bad thoughts" and guides us through changing the thoughts we wish we didn't think. As an anxiety therapist, I use both CBT and ACT everyday in my practice, but I have noticed a few patterns over the years which have led me to pull much more from ACT than I do from CBT.

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ACT Meditation Practices

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DISCLAIMER
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material in this video are for educational and entertainment purposes only. No material in this video is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding medical conditions, mental health conditions or treatment.

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VIDEO DETAILS

[briroger]

Katie, I am so grateful for this video! I am a baby counselor trying to figure out what theories I resonate with, and I could not agree more with your wise words on how CBT can cause mistrust of the self and even shame (Good v. Bad thoughts). When you said ACT is more of a "gentle and compassionate" approach, this very much spoke to my soul! I'm excited to explore the ACT resources you provided. Thank you!!!

[happybitter]

Thank you! My therapist is moving Away from private practice and so I’ve started looking for someone new. I had a consultation today with someone who says she uses ACT and I couldn’t find a helpful description that compared the two until I came across this video. Thank you!

[chazlon]

Great video. I can only see myself usiing both. I recognize that thoughts will happen no matter what, I view them as separate from myself (as cloud bubbles or as passengers I can drop off from my "mindbus") and then add some thoughts that are more helpful or accurate. I move toward valued behaviors, etc... Sometimes I'll just do one of those things depending on context and how much time I have.

[windmill]

Good topic, you spoke well. Personally I like both CBT and ACT, it’s good to have both available to show clients. I don’t preempt what I’ll use as it’s not one size fits all. I gauge what they want to achieve and work together to put what they want that helps in their toolkit.

For clients who struggle with what’s true/self doubt when practicing CBT, it’s likely their body is so use to high levels of anxiety and uncomfortable to let go of that. Takes time (but not a long time) for this to improve. Getting to a low-moderate level anxiety is good thing (as high impacts functioning), need to help people recognise not to have “all or nothing thinking” about reducing anxiety completely.
I find ACT is great to help with this.

Hope that’s of help. Your video helped my reflect on things. Thanks. Keep up your great work.

[stevensvideosonyoutube]

Thank you Katie. I look forward to learning more.

[alastairbowie]

Cool video. I am quite interested in things like ACT along with Hypnotherapy as subjects currently. Thanks for sharing!


Cheers.

[JacoEsterhuizen]

Interesting and valuable video - thanks Katie!

[tiffanychildwithin]

I know this is an older video but was excited to stumble upon it as a Cincinnati counseling grad school (at an online program but have friends doing Xavier's program and almost went there too!). After an incredibly invalidating experience with CBT, I ended up discovering ACT and it was a huge turning point in my own therapy. I'll be seeing clients soon and my supervisor and I decided ACT would be a great framework for me to focus on. =)

[marikazhgenti]

Thank you for sharing.This was super helpful for me❤

[marikazhgenti]

I'm really fond of CBT, however, always had the doubts you mentioned in the video.

[ПетрВасильев-уп]

When you practice ACT you react to negative intrusive thoughts just as thoughts, but they don't disappear, you just cope with them more easily. In CBT you reshape your irrational negative beliefs and then negative automatic thoughts which were created by these beliefs disappear. For me ACT is like a first aid kid, but CBT is a real treatment.

[lilabostwick]

Are you open to being interviewed/giving advice to a fresh MSW graduate?

[Thequantummirror]

Hi do you think that cbt and act can be combined together!?

[AB-Mamma]

Have you used CPT? Is that a part of CBT?

[Hg]

The abuse of new clinicians is ridiculously underreported. 😕

[melliecrann-gaoth]

Savage case load you were given. Nothing manageable or fair about that- the irony

[Sereneis]

Easier would be if u said accept what u cannot change