Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, usually called ACT, teaches a different relationship with cravings than most people expect from therapy. Instead of fighting thoughts or trying to talk yourself out of a craving, ACT teaches you to notice it, let it exist, and act according to what actually matters to you anyway. It’s recognized by the American Psychological Association and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as an evidence-based approach for substance use disorders.
At Ray Recovery, ACT is one of several therapies we use across our outpatient programs in Hudson and Uniontown, serving clients throughout Akron, Canton, and the surrounding Northeast Ohio communities.
Call 888-598-6299 or reach out online to talk with our admissions team about whether ACT fits your situation.
How ACT Works
ACT is built around six core skills, sometimes called processes, that work together to build what’s known as psychological flexibility, the ability to stay present and act deliberately even when a craving, memory, or emotion is trying to pull you off course.
Acceptance. Letting a thought or feeling exist without fighting it or trying to push it away.
Cognitive defusion. Learning to observe a thought (“I need to use”) as just a thought, not a command you have to follow.
Being present. Staying grounded in the current moment instead of getting pulled into past regret or future anxiety.
Self-as-context. Understanding that you are not your thoughts or your addiction. You’re the person having those thoughts, which is a different thing.
Values. Getting clear on what actually matters to you, whether that’s your kids, your work, your health, or something else, so recovery has a real reason behind it.
Committed action. Taking real steps toward the life you actually want, even on days when motivation is low.
Notably, ACT doesn’t target substance use directly. It targets the emotional avoidance that usually drives it, the discomfort, shame, or anxiety someone has been trying to numb. By addressing that underlying pattern, ACT reduces the pull toward substance use indirectly, which is part of why it tends to hold up well over time.
ACT vs. CBT vs. DBT: What’s the Difference?
These three therapies often get confused, and most people benefit from a combination of them rather than just one. Here’s the practical difference:
| Therapy | What it focuses on | Best fit for |
|---|---|---|
| CBT | Identifying and changing negative thought patterns | Clients who respond well to structure and direct thought work |
| DBT | Emotional regulation and interpersonal skills | Clients with intense emotions or relationship conflict |
| ACT | Accepting thoughts and feelings, acting on values anyway | Clients who feel overwhelmed by trying to control their thoughts, or who haven’t responded well to traditional talk therapy |
A randomized controlled study of women in addiction treatment found that while CBT was more effective at reducing anxiety sensitivity right after treatment, ACT outperformed CBT at the six-month follow-up, with participants showing lower rates of continued drug use (26.7% compared to 43.8% in the CBT group) and better overall mental health outcomes. This is a meaningful finding: ACT’s benefits often show up more clearly over time rather than immediately.
Request A Callback
"*" indicates required fields
Who ACT Helps Most
ACT tends to work especially well for people who:
- Have tried to white-knuckle their way through cravings and found it doesn’t hold up long-term
- Feel like therapy that focuses on “fixing” their thoughts hasn’t worked for them before
- Are dealing with shame or self-criticism that keeps cycling back around to substance use
- Want to reconnect with a sense of purpose or direction, not just stop using
ACT is also used as part of dual diagnosis treatment for clients managing addiction alongside anxiety or depression, since it addresses the emotional avoidance that often connects the two.
What ACT Looks Like in Treatment
ACT sessions happen individually and in group settings as part of our Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization programs. Your treatment plan is built after a clinical assessment identifies what’s actually driving your substance use, and ACT is included when it’s a good match, often alongside CBT, group therapy, or trauma therapy depending on what else is present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ACT the same as CBT?
No. Both are grounded in similar research traditions, but CBT works by changing the content of negative thoughts, while ACT works by changing your relationship to those thoughts without needing to change them first.
Can ACT be combined with other therapies?
Yes. ACT is commonly paired with CBT, group therapy, or medication-assisted treatment as part of a broader plan, rather than used alone.
Does ACT work for severe addiction?
ACT has research support across a range of substance use disorders and is recognized by SAMHSA as an evidence-based practice. Severity is one factor your clinical team considers when building your treatment plan, alongside any co-occurring mental health conditions.
Does insurance cover ACT therapy?
Yes, when it’s part of a covered treatment program. We work with Anthem, Humana, Medicare, and Ohio Medicaid, among others. Verify your benefits for free before starting.
Get Started
If cravings and old thought patterns keep pulling you back, ACT might be part of what actually helps you move forward. Call 888-598-6299 or start your pre-assessment to talk with our team about your options.
