Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based therapeutic practice that encourages clients to identify what values are personally important and to take action on those values. ACT encourages clients to accept and embrace what is out of their personal control, while developing a flexibility to alter the things they can. ACT generally applies six core principles (cognitive defusion, acceptance, contact with the present moment, observing the self, values, and committed action). Therapists practicing ACT help clients to commit to goals based on their personal values with the ultimate goal of bringing more meaning to life.
Local experts in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cory Anton
Licensed Professional Counselor
Acceptance of the unknown can be daunting and overwhelming, but ultimately leads to freedom and relief. ACT is often a very helpful adjunct to ERP and CBT when treating OCD and anxiety.
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Keziah Striplin (she/her)
Clinical Social Work Associate
MSW, CSWA
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you build a meaningful life by focusing on accepting your thoughts and feelings rather than fighting against them. Through ACT, we’ll explore your values and what truly matters to you. We’ll also help you develop skills to manage difficult emotions and thoughts, enabling you to take meaningful actions aligned with your values. You’ll learn to embrace your emotions without feeling as if they are controlling you, allowing you to stay present moment.
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Jennifer Gray (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that uses mindfulness and behavioral strategies to help individuals engage in values-based actions. ACT encourages the acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than trying to eliminate them, and promotes commitment to personal goals despite these challenges.
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Emily Padilla
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach to psychotherapy that stems from traditional behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Clients learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their inner emotions and, instead, accept that these deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not prevent them from moving forward in their lives. Emily has been trained and is certified in ACT Therapy.
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Stephanie Avery (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
M.Ed.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on reducing feelings of distress through mindfulness techniques, acceptance of what is both in our control and out of our control, and refocusing on the things that are most important to us so that we can live more fulfilling value-driven lives.
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Lindsey Cullins (she/her)
Clinical Social Work Associate
MSW, CSWA
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful approach that invites you to embrace your thoughts and emotions, rather than struggle against them. In our work together, you'll learn how to create space for your feelings while focusing on what truly matters to you. ACT encourages you to live in alignment with your values, even when challenges arise. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, or life transitions, we’ll work together to build a fulfilling life guided by your goals.
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Mitch Bacon, MA, LMFT
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist
I have extensive training in ACT. I believe aligning with your values, making committed steps to action, and engaging with what matters are key to change.
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Benji Hurston (them/them)
Professional Counselor Associate
M.A. in Professional Mental Health Counseling
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Lindsey Cullins (she/her)
Clinical Social Work Associate
MSW, CSWA
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful approach that invites you to embrace your thoughts and emotions, rather than struggle against them. In our work together, you'll learn how to create space for your feelings while focusing on what truly matters to you. ACT encourages you to live in alignment with your values, even when challenges arise. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, or life transitions, we’ll work together to build a fulfilling life guided by your goals.
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Kalpana Krishnamurthy (she/her)
Professional Counselor Associate
Professional Counselor Associate
ACT helps individuals build psychological flexibility which can be really helpful in our day to day lives. ACT also focuses on helping take action toward living a life aligned with your values. I have utilize ACT tools and approaches, have attended ACT trainings, and participate in an ACT consultation group.
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Jennifer Bielenberg (she/her)
Clinical Psychologist
PsyD
I have years of specialized training in ACT and its "sibling" relational therapy, Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP).
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Sam Wilson
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW, LCSW-C
Are you ready to commit to being the person you want to be? Are you ready to leave your reservations behind on your path to becoming your authentic self? Using ACT, I can help you chart that path, combining existential techniques with proven lessons from cognitive and behavioral research.
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Ryja (Rylan Jay) Testa (he/him)
Clinical Psychologist
PhD; Psychologist Licensed in OR and CA
Over the years I have received formal training in ACT through my initial doctoral internship and followed this with additional trainings in my post-doctoral years and beyond. I have consistently used ACT integrated into my therapeutic work since 2012 and consider it to be one of my primary treatment approaches.
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Becca Flatt (She/Her)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
MSW, LCSW
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an intervention that puts the focus of treatment on acceptance of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It also focuses on values guided action which means actions that are based on the things that bring value and meaning to our lives. The way I often conceptualize ACT is the Serenity Prayer in action.
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Joshua Bogart (He/Him/His)
Professional Counselor Associate
MA
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) is a therapy approach that can guide you towards a more meaningful life. It's like having a trusted companion who can help you overcome life's obstacles with greater resilience and poise. Through ACT, you'll learn to release the things that limit you and concentrate on what truly counts. You'll discover how to be mindful of the present, acknowledge your thoughts and emotions, and take purposeful steps toward your objectives.
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Kaia Stamiris (She/They)
Licensed Professional Counselor
MA, LPC
I have taken 2 training courses in the ACT model (in 2021 and 2023), and have benefited from ACT concepts on a personal level as well! I apply the model flexibly and especially enjoy guiding clients through exercises to facilitate defusion from thoughts (i.e. stepping back into the "observing self").
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Teresa Zahariades, LCSW (she/her)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I have trained with Steven Hayes, Ph.D, the co-creator of ACT, attended ACT bootcamps and continue self-study daily with ACT principles.
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Megan Bucknum (She/Her)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW CADC I
ACT is an engaging form of therapy that includes processing/reflection, learning skills, practicing skills both inside and outside of sessions, and clarifying what matters to you. If you find you have tried everything to stop painful thoughts or feelings, but the struggle continues, this may be a helpful approach. I hope you leave our sessions with a plan of action— something you can take with you and do between sessions that will make a positive difference.
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Camille Keith (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
MS, LPC, NCC
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps you focus on the parts of your life you can control. I can support you in getting clear about your values and help you make more intentional choices. You will learn grounding skills to help you cope with stress. We may use metaphors or mindfulness practices to help you understand where you are getting stuck and practice new ways of responding to difficult situations.
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Michael Ianello (he/him/his)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC
ACT has two basic principles for therapist and client to follow. One, accept that we have unwelcome thoughts sometimes and that these thoughts are out of our control. Two, commit to a life which is focused on core values defined by you. In other words, "Embrace your imperfections and learn how to trust that you know what's best." ACT is a research and evidence based approach which has been shown to assist with the following: Anxiety, Depression, Social Insecurity, Perfectionism, ADHD and more.
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Sprout Therapy PDX
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC, LMFT, LCSW, Associates
We specialize in supporting clients with depression, whether it's situational, persistent, or associated with other mental health conditions. Drawing from a variety of therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness techniques, we collaborate with you to navigate through the complexities of depression to effectively manage and alleviate the symptoms of depression, fostering a path towards greater emotional well-being & resilience.
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Sakura Counseling (She/He/They)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC
Our clinic employs Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to guide clients in embracing their emotions, clarifying values, and committing to positive actions. Through mindfulness and acceptance techniques, clients learn to manage distress, cultivate psychological flexibility, and align their actions with their values, ultimately leading to improved well-being and a more fulfilling life journey.
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Kyle Butler
Professional Counselor Associate
I've used Acceptance and Commitment Therapy since I started practicing and have studied it for years. I love its therapeutic approach that helps individuals embrace their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling overwhelmed by them.
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Kelly Aldinger (she/her)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
PMHNP-BC, MSW, RYT
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Deborah Nichols LPC, NCC (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC, NCC
Trained in part one and part two ACT training to work with our thoughts, how we respond to the situations and elements of our lives that we may not be able to change.
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Sibylle Dehart (she/her)
Student Counselor
As part of my internship, I am currently being trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
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Emily Kittelson
Licensed Professional Counselor
MS, LPC
I was first trained in how to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to treat substance use and mental health disorders while in my graduate school internship. I consider Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to be the newest wave of CBT that provides a more holistic approach to wellbeing. I use a client-centered approach that uses cognitive techniques to help build flexibility of thought.
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Samantha Tracy (She/Her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
MA, LPC
Key concepts of ACT will help you to expand your awareness to discover what you value, practice being in the present moment, step back and detach from your difficult thinking habits, accept what's happening inside by opening up and give space to emotional experiences, learn to live by what is important and meaningful to you and commit to doing what it takes to live a vital life.
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Majken Elek, MA
Licensed Professional Counselor
ACT is an evidence-based intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness mixed in different ways with commitment and behavior-change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. The goal is not to get rid of of difficult feelings; but allow them to be present and what life throws at us in order to move toward valued behavior.
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Breanna Torres (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
MA, NCC
I often utilize techniques such as mindfulness, self-compassion, externalization and values work throughout therapy.
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Katie Clark, LMHC, LPC (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
NCC
ACT is a mindfulness based method of treating anxiety and other disorders and challenges. It's empirically supported and proven to be effective.
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Alissa Holmes (she/her)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW
I have undergone multiple trainings in ACT, which incorporates many principles of CBT as well as mindfulness-based techniques. In ACT, we use acceptance and mindfulness techniques in combination with behavioral changes to help you live a meaningful life based on your personal values. ACT skills are designed to increase your psychological flexibility - meaning you become better able to deal with change while living fully in the present moment.
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Vy Pham (she/her)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an approach that uses a person’s motivating values, mindfulness, and acceptance to help them move through difficult experiences. ACT liberates us from suppressing unwanted thoughts and emotions, and instead guides us towards acceptance and then action. It accepts that suffering is part of life however does not define it. Using ACT, we will explore what brings us joy and how to move towards the life we desire for ourselves.
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Katie Playfair, LPC (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC (OR and Tx) LMHC (WA)
I use both mindfulness and values interventions from ACT to help clients develop lifelong skills to live with their own brains (that are sometimes doing super unpleasant things) more effectively.
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Julio Iñiguez (he/him)
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist
LMFT, CGACII, CADCI
ACT helps us learn what is important to you by clarifying your values. We use your values to take committed action that helps you experience more satisfaction and integrity in your life. We get acquainted with your ways coping and the impact these have on your life without judgment. In this process you develop the psychological flexibility that will help you become more resilient and confident in you life, and help you gain clarity in what's important to you and how to go after it.
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Heather Lokteff
Licensed Professional Counselor
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy aims to become more cognitively flexible, more engaged in the present, take committed action steps towards change, and become more connected to your personal values. It centers around finding ways to live more intentionally in the moment and act in ways that are more helpful to yourself.
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Wes Harris (he, his, him)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC, CADC I
I have expertise in ACT and have spent a lot of time in ACT consultation groups and taking advanced trainings. I am passionate about this approach and working with clients who are open to learning more or putting their experiences with ACT into practice.
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Amanda Roberson (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
ACT is an acceptance based model created by Steven Hayes that teaches about the importance of living in accordance with values and accepting what we cannot change. As a client participating in ACT therapy, you would be expected to identify values, discuss barriers that prevent living in accordance with values, practice acceptance of things outside of your control, and make lifestyle changes.
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Rebecca Garetz (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC, CYT
I use ACT to practice bringing distance to our thoughts so that we can implement compassion and acceptance practices that align with our values in our daily lives.
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Kate Keating (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
MA, LPC
I have taken an post-graduate course on ACT and am drawn to the gentle, compassionate nature of the approach. I think you'll find it to be transformative.
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Josh Clark (he/him)
Clinical Psychologist
PhD, ABPP-CN
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on changing our relationship to our thoughts and feelings. With ACT, I will teach you how to generate more present moment awareness, get unglued from obsessive or depressive thoughts, and engage more in value-driven activities. ACT is very successful in treating depression, anxiety, chronic pain, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychosis.
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Paige Cameron (She/Her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
MA, LPC C6978 EMDR Certified Therapist 339470
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Caroline Vetter (she/her)
Clinical Psychologist
Oregon license #3481 & California license #32615
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Neil Panchmatia (he/they)
Licensed Professional Counselor
MS, NCC, Licensed Professional Counselor
I use tenets of ACT in my work as it holistically encapsulates the essence of true healing: learning skills while being holistically congruent with oneself.
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Cayla Panitz (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC
I use ACT to inform my work with people across various areas of concern. I help people apply the principles of connecting with their current experiences, identifying the ways in which the relationships to our emotions and thoughts impact our lives and disconnect us from our values. I then help people change the relationships they have with their emotions and thoughts and move towards their values.
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Forrest Pandit-Kerr
Professional Counselor Associate
MS, CRC
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is my most used therapy. It offers significant value by teaching individuals to accept their thoughts and emotions, develop mindfulness skills, clarify personal values, and take committed action towards living a meaningful life. Note that acceptance in this context does not mean saying "it's ok," but rather learning how to tolerate the experience so you can move forward. I believe it is a valuable tool for the aspects of life outside of our control.
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James Whalen (He/Him)
Professional Counselor Associate
R7227
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy teaches us to learn how to sit with our distress and accept it, in order to help us relate to our thoughts and feelings in ways that don't increase the suffering that's natural to your situation. It helps us learn to live our lives according to our values, with the understanding that we have control of our behavior and not our thoughts. ACT is most helpful for clients with anxiety and depression.
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Lesley Smith (they/she)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW
This is the primary modality I use. I took a course on ACT during my Master's program and an intensive training on 2018. I attend a monthly ACT consult group and continue to access books and other resources on ACT.
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Cassandra Miasnikov (She/They)
Professional Counselor Associate
#R10187
Dungeons & Dragons therapy is a modality I've used in group therapy sessions online for over a year to help clients explore who they want to be, build self-esteem, practice assertiveness, & improve emotional regulation. Not only has it been highly effective, it’s been fun for everyone involved! I tailor interventions to meet the unique needs of each client. My approach also draws from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) & play therapy.
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Darin Bergen (he/him)
Clinical Psychologist
PsyD
My background in ACT shows up when I help people connect with what they value most and how to live those values in their daily life. I have participated in extensive training in ACT over the years. I am a past President of the Oregon chapter of the Association for Contextual and Behavioral Sciences (OACBS), the international organization for ACT practitioners.
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