Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Embracing Your Thoughts, Choosing Your Path
Life often feels like a constant struggle to “get rid” of uncomfortable thoughts, painful memories, or anxious feelings. We tell ourselves, “I’ll start that project when I feel more confident,” or “I’ll join that social group when my anxiety goes away.” At Biltmore Psychology and Counseling, we use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you stop waiting for the “perfect” feeling and start living a rich, meaningful life right now.
ACT is a unique, action-oriented approach that teaches you how to change your relationship with your difficult thoughts so they no longer have the power to hold you back.
Is ACT Right for Me?
The Goal: Psychological Flexibility
The core objective of ACT is to develop “psychological flexibility”—the ability to stay in the present moment and move toward your goals, even when difficult emotions are present. We achieve this through the six core processes of the ACT Hexaflex:
- Acceptance: Making room for unpleasant feelings and sensations instead of trying to suppress them.
- Cognitive Defusion: Learning to see thoughts as just “words and pictures” rather than absolute truths that must be obeyed.
- Being Present: Connecting with the “here and now” rather than ruminating on the past or worrying about the future.
- Self-as-Context: Accessing a part of yourself that is separate from your thoughts and experiences (the “observing self”).
- Values: Clarifying what is most important to you—what you want your life to stand for.
- Committed Action: Taking concrete steps toward your values, even when it feels uncomfortable.
ACT is an evidence-based treatment that has shown remarkable success across a wide range of concerns. We find it particularly effective for:
- Anxiety and OCD: Learning to handle intrusive thoughts without letting them dictate your actions.
- Depression: Reconnecting with vitality and meaning even when motivation feels low.
- Chronic Pain & Medical Issues: Finding ways to live a full life while managing physical discomfort or health limitations.
- Work-Life Balance: Identifying your core values to ensure your time and energy are spent on what truly matters.
- Performance Anxiety: Helping athletes and professionals stay focused on their “why” during high-pressure moments.
Our Approach: Moving Toward Meaning
At BPC, our therapists use ACT to help you build a toolkit for a life well-lived. Rather than spending your sessions “fixing” your thoughts, we work on:
- Values Clarification: We help you identify your “North Star”—the qualities of being that make your life feel purposeful.
- Metaphor & Mindfulness: We use creative metaphors and experiential exercises to help you gain a new perspective on your internal struggles.
- Action Plans: We don’t just talk about change; we create practical, value-based goals to help you take action in your daily life.
Stop Fighting. Start Living.
In a free, no-obligation 10-min consultation we can help you determine whether our services would be the right fit for you.
The struggle with your mind doesn’t have to be the centerpiece of your life. At Biltmore Psychology and Counseling, we are ready to help you unhook from the struggle and commit to the life you deserve.
Contact us to schedule a free phone consultation.
Stop Fighting. Start Living.
In a free, no-obligation 10-min consultation we can help you determine whether our services would be the right fit for you.
The struggle with your mind doesn’t have to be the centerpiece of your life. At Biltmore Psychology and Counseling, we are ready to help you unhook from the struggle and commit to the life you deserve.
Contact us to schedule a free phone consultation.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) FAQ
Not at all. In ACT, acceptance means “taking what is offered.” It’s about acknowledging your current internal experience (e.g., feeling nervous) so you don’t waste energy fighting it, freeing you to use that energy to take meaningful action.
Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) often focuses on “challenging” and “changing” the content of your thoughts. ACT focuses on changing your relationship to your thoughts. We aren’t concerned with whether a thought is true or false, but rather whether it is helpful for the life you want to lead.
ACT uses mindfulness, but it doesn’t necessarily mean sitting on a cushion for 20 minutes. We teach “micro-mindfulness” skills that you can use in the middle of a meeting, a difficult conversation, or a stressful commute.
That is perfectly normal! Many of us have spent so much time in “survival mode” that we’ve lost touch with what we actually care about. Your BPC therapist will guide you through specific exercises to help you rediscover what brings you a sense of vitality.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Melissa Estavillo
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology,
Arizona School of Professional Psychology
M.A. Clinical Psychology,
Arizona School of Professional Psychology
B.S. Psychology,
Grand Canyon University
Dr. Linda DeBiase
Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Lake Forest College
B.A. Psychology
California School of Professional Psychology,
Clinical Psychology
Dr. Nikki Kemper
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology,
Midwestern University
Masters in Clinical Psychology,
Midwestern University
Nicole Elliott, LPC, PMH-C
M.C. Counseling,
Arizona State University
B.A. English (Literature),
Arizona State University
Elizabeth Felix, LPC
M.A. Professional Counseling, Ottawa University
M.A. Human Resources and Substance Abuse,
Ottawa University
B.A. Psychology,
Ottawa University
Heather Wheeler, LCSW
Masters in Social Work,
Arizona State University
B.A. Psychology,
Arizona State University
Laura Reed, LPC
M.S. Professional Counseling,
Grand Canyon University
B.S. Psychology,
Grand Canyon University
Rebecca Fregoso, LPC
M.S. Counseling,
University of Phoenix
B.A. Psychology,
California State University
Kirsten Eby, LPC, ATR-BC
M.S. Art Therapy Counseling
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
M.A. Teaching, Elementary
American University
B.A. Psychology & Sociology
Tulane University
Dr. Melissa Estavillo
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology M.A. Clinical Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology B.S. Psychology, Grand Canyon University
Dr Linda DeBiase
Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Lake Forest College, B.A. Psychology California School of Professional Psychology, Clinical Psychology
Dr Nikki Kemper
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, Midwestern University Masters in Clinical Psychology, Midwestern University
Nicole Elliott, LPC
M.C. Counseling, Arizona State University B.A. English (Literature), Arizona State University
Elizabeth Felix, LPC
M.A. Professional Counseling, Ottawa University M.A. Human Resources and Substance Abuse, Ottawa University B.A. Psychology, Ottawa University<
Heather Wheeler, LCSW
Masters in Social Work, Arizona State University B.A. Psychology, Arizona State University
Laura Reed, LPC
M.S. Professional Counseling, Grand Canyon University B.S. Psychology, Grand Canyon University
Rebecca Fregoso, LPC
M.S. Counseling, University of Phoenix, B.A. Psychology, California State University
Kirsten Eby, LPC, ATR-BC
M.S. Art Therapy Counseling Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville M.A. Teaching, Elementary American University B.A. Psychology & Sociology Tulane University
Our Location in Phoenix, AZ
Address:
6245 N 24th Parkway, Suite #106 Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Phone: (480) 999-7070
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
