Feeling Stuck? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Can Help You Move Forward

If you’ve been navigating anxiety, trauma, stress, loss, or burnout—and traditional approaches haven’t fully resonated—you’re not alone. Many high-functioning adults appear to be managing well on the outside while feeling overwhelmed, emotionally disconnected, or exhausted on the inside.

As a licensed psychologist offering online therapy for adults in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, I work with individuals facing these exact challenges. One of the most powerful approaches I use is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—a therapy model that helps people stop fighting their internal experiences and start living in alignment with their values.

What Is ACT?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based treatment that helps you change your relationship with painful thoughts and emotions—rather than trying to eliminate them. Rooted in mindfulness, values-based living, and psychological flexibility, ACT offers tools to help you move forward even in the presence of discomfort or uncertainty.

ACT is particularly effective for adults struggling with:

• Anxiety and panic

• Depression

• Trauma and PTSD

• Chronic stress and burnout

• Perfectionism and overthinking

• Life transitions and identity shifts

• Health-related stressors and emotional fatigue

• Grief and loss

How ACT Works

ACT doesn’t ask you to “think positive” or force your way past emotional pain. Instead, it helps you build psychological flexibility: the ability to be with your thoughts and feelings—without being ruled by them—so you can take meaningful action in your life.

The six core components of ACT include:

• Acceptance – Allowing space for difficult emotions and memories without judgment

• Cognitive Defusion – Creating distance from unhelpful thoughts so they lose their grip

• Present Moment Awareness – Practicing mindfulness to stay grounded here and now

• Self-as-Context – Learning to observe your internal experience from a stable sense of self

• Values Clarification – Identifying what truly matters to you

• Committed Action – Taking purposeful steps aligned with your values

These tools empower adults to step out of avoidance patterns, perfectionistic cycles, and trauma-driven responses—and into lives guided by clarity and intention.

Why ACT Might Be the Right Fit for You

In my trauma-informed, telehealth practice, I often use ACT with adults who:

• Feel stuck in anxious thought loops or emotional avoidance

• Are managing demanding careers or caregiving roles

• Want to heal from trauma without having to relive it over and over

• Struggle with guilt, emotional numbness, or self-judgment

• Feel disconnected from who they are or what matters to them

Rather than focusing on symptom elimination alone, ACT supports deeper healing through presence, values, and personal meaning. It’s a compassionate and flexible model that integrates well with other modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based interventions.

ACT in Online Therapy

ACT is highly effective in virtual therapy settings. Whether you're located in Boston, Providence, Burlington, or anywhere in MA, RI, or VT, I offer secure, convenient online sessions that allow you to access high-quality care from the comfort of your home or office.

ACT’s experiential tools and reflective exercises translate seamlessly to online therapy, making it easy to engage in meaningful work—even remotely.

Reconnect With What Matters

If you’ve been trying to control or suppress your thoughts and emotions—and it’s not working—ACT offers a different path. It’s not about waiting for life to feel perfect. It’s about learning how to show up, even in the messiness, with more courage, presence, and self-trust.

Ready to explore a new way of living? I invite you to schedule a free consultation. Together, we’ll explore how ACT and trauma-informed therapy can help you reconnect with your values, reduce emotional struggle, and create a more meaningful life.