New Orleans Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Addiction

Best Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Program for Addiction in New Orleans, Louisiana

Recovering from addiction is a challenging journey, but it’s possible with the right support and guidance. Longbranch Recovery and Wellness Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, offers an exceptional Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) program to help individuals overcome drug and alcohol addiction, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. As a modern and effective addiction treatment approach, ACT enhances traditional behaviorism with mindfulness techniques and commitment therapy principles. Discover the benefits of ACT and learn how Longbranch can help transform your life. Contact us today to begin your recovery journey!

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?

Acceptance and commitment therapy is the identification of personal values and utilizing them as the foundation for guiding recovery efforts. It instructs individuals on maintaining psychological flexibility through the following steps:

  • A – Accepting your reactions
  • C – Choosing a value-based direction
  • T – Taking action

ACT is a modern, evidence-based psychotherapy based on Relational Frame Therapy that combines behavioral therapies, such as dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness techniques. By fostering psychological flexibility, ACT helps individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms and move toward their goals while embracing the challenges of recovery.

Benefits of ACT Therapy for Addiction

ACT acceptance and commitment therapy provides numerous benefits for those struggling with substance use disorders, including:

  • Reducing cravings: ACT allows individuals to recognize and accept cravings without acting on them, leading to more successful outcomes in addiction recovery.
  • Improving emotional resilience: ACT teaches individuals to tolerate and accept psychological pain and negative emotions without resorting to drug or alcohol use or other temporary relief.
  • Enhancing motivation: ACT increases motivation for positive change and behavioral improvement.
  • Increasing self-awareness: ACT encourages mindfulness and self-reflection, promoting better decision-making amid challenging situations.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Benefits for Mental Illness

ACT also has an array of benefits for various mental health disorders, such as:

  • Anxiety: Act reduces worry by helping manage anxious or uncomfortable thoughts and teaches individuals how to cope with uncertainty by promoting mindfulness techniques.
  • Depression: Act encourages meaningful actions while reducing negative thinking and promoting value-driven goals.
  • PTSD: ACT supports the acceptance of trauma and helps individuals with emotional awareness and coping strategies.

Skills Developed Through ACT for Those With Drug and Alcohol Abuse

ACT focuses on equipping individuals with essential skills for overcoming addiction, including:

  • Mindfulness: Fosters present-moment awareness and non-judgmental observation of troubling thoughts and feelings.
  • Goal setting: Learning to establish realistic, achievable recovery goals.
  • Social support: Recognizing the importance of building a supportive network and fostering healthy relationships for sustained recovery.
  • Healthy coping mechanisms: Developing alternative ways to cope with stress, emotional pain, and daily challenges without relying on substances.
  • Assertiveness: Enhancing communication skills to express needs and boundaries assertively, contributing to healthier relationships and recovery.
  • Distress tolerance: Enhancing resilience in the face of distressing situations or triggers, reducing the risk of relapse.
  • Self-compassion: Practicing kindness and understanding toward oneself during the recovery process, fostering a healthier mindset.
  • Relapse prevention: Acquiring strategies to identify potential triggers and proactively address them to maintain long-term sobriety.

The primary goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility, allowing individuals to lead a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Psychological flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, accept difficult thoughts and emotions without judgment, and act according to one’s values. Many individuals try to avoid pain, but pain is part of the human experience. 

Six Core Processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

ACT is built upon six core principles that work together to promote psychological flexibility and recovery:

  1. Acceptance: Embracing internal experiences without attempting to control or avoid painful thoughts.
  2. Cognitive defusion: Detaching from negative thoughts to reduce their impact and enable individuals to act in accordance with their values.
  3. Being present: Cultivating mindfulness and engaging fully in the present moment.
  4. Self as context: Recognizing that thoughts and feelings don’t define one’s identity.
  5. Valuing: Identifying and prioritizing personal values to guide decisions and actions.
  6. Committed action: Taking deliberate, value-driven steps toward recovery goals, breaking free from creative hopelessness.

Overcome Addiction Through ACT at Longbranch Recovery and Wellness Center in New Orleans

Begin your journey toward a healthier, more fulfilling life at Longbranch Recovery and Wellness Center. Our highly skilled team is dedicated to providing the best Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Program in Louisiana to help you or your loved one overcome addiction and achieve lasting recovery. 

As part of our comprehensive treatment program, we integrate ACT with other therapies to address substance use disorder, drug abuse, and many mental health conditions. Contact us now to learn more about our ACT therapy and start your recovery journey today!