At New Horizons Therapy NY, our therapists utilize ACT to help you develop a new relationship with your OCD. Instead of fighting your thoughts and urges, you'll learn to accept them, defuse their power, and focus on living a life that aligns with your values.

 

How ACT Helps with OCD:

• Mindful Awareness: ACT helps you cultivate mindful awareness of your obsessions and compulsions without judgment. This allows you to observe them without getting caught up in their content or feeling compelled to act on them.

• Cognitive Defusion: You'll learn techniques to "defuse" from your thoughts, recognizing them as just thoughts, not truths or commands. This creates distance between you and your obsessions, reducing their power to trigger compulsions.

• Acceptance: ACT encourages you to accept your obsessions and the anxiety they provoke, rather than trying to fight or suppress them. This reduces the struggle and frees up energy to focus on what matters.

• Values Clarification: You'll explore your core values – what truly matters to you in life – and use them as a compass to guide your actions.

• Committed Action: ACT empowers you to take actions that align with your values, even in the presence of obsessions and urges. This helps you break free from compulsive behaviors and move towards a fulfilling life.

 

Benefits of ACT for OCD:

• Reduced OCD symptoms: Experience a decrease in the frequency and intensity of obsessions and compulsions.

• Increased psychological flexibility: Respond to OCD triggers with greater adaptability and choice.

• Improved quality of life: Engage in activities you enjoy and pursue your goals with greater freedom.

• Enhanced self-awareness: Develop a deeper understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

• Greater self-acceptance: Cultivate a more compassionate and accepting relationship with yourself, even with OCD.

 

ACT and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP):

ACT is often used in conjunction with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, a gold-standard treatment for OCD. While ERP focuses on gradually confronting feared situations and resisting compulsions, ACT provides a complementary framework for accepting difficult thoughts and feelings and taking committed action towards a meaningful life.

 

Take the First Step Towards Freedom:

If you're ready to break free from the cycle of obsessions and compulsions, contact New Horizons Therapy NY to learn more about how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help you. Our experienced therapists will guide you on a journey towards greater peace, freedom, and a life aligned with your values.