ACT Therapy for OCD & Anxiety in New Jersey
Bergen County Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
What Is ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a proven, evidence-based approach for managing OCD, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts. At Clear Light Therapy, we help clients throughout New Jersey and Bergen County build mental flexibility, develop a healthier relationship with their thoughts and emotions, and take meaningful action aligned with their core values. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which often focuses on analyzing or controlling thoughts, ACT teaches you to accept uncomfortable feelings, tolerate discomfort, and respond effectively, breaking the cycles of anxiety and compulsive behavior.
At its core, ACT is about developing psychological flexibility — learning to navigate intrusive thoughts and anxiety while living a values-driven, purposeful life.
How ACT Therapy Works
ACT is an evidence-based psychotherapy that focuses on helping you:
Accept intrusive thoughts and uncomfortable emotions instead of fighting or avoiding them
Separate yourself from your thoughts using cognitive defusion
Identify your core values and take action consistent with what matters most
Build mental flexibility, resilience, and long-term coping skills
Through ACT, you learn to live a values-based life while managing anxiety and OCD symptoms, creating meaningful change that lasts.
How ACT Helps Anxiety
Anxiety often persists because we try to avoid or control uncomfortable thoughts and sensations. ACT teaches you to:
Notice anxious thoughts without judgment
Observe emotions without letting them dictate behavior
Stay present and mindful in everyday situations
Take purposeful, value-driven action even when anxiety is present
By changing your relationship with anxiety, ACT helps you reduce avoidance, build confidence, and regain control over your life.
How ACT Helps OCD
OCD thrives on cycles of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. ACT breaks these cycles by teaching you to:
Accept intrusive thoughts without acting on compulsions
Practice cognitive defusion to reduce the power of your thoughts
Focus on values-based actions instead of reassurance-seeking or avoidance
Respond flexibly and confidently to uncertainty
ACT is effective for all OCD subtypes, including:
Contamination OCD
Harm OCD
Relationship OCD (ROCD)
Pure O / Intrusive Thoughts
Checking OCD
Scrupulosity
Perfectionism OCD
When combined with ERP, ACT can provide even stronger results, addressing both acceptance and exposure-based strategies.
Why ACT Works Better Than Traditional Talk Therapy
Traditional talk therapy often focuses on analyzing or controlling thoughts, which can reinforce anxiety and OCD. ACT, by contrast, emphasizes acceptance, cognitive defusion, and values-based action, teaching clients to respond flexibly to intrusive thoughts and discomfort. This approach fosters psychological flexibility, helping you break compulsive patterns, tolerate uncertainty, and live a meaningful life, despite anxiety or OCD.
Take the First Step Toward a Flexible, Values-Based Life with ACT Therapy
At Clear Light Therapy, ACT sessions are structured, collaborative, and tailored to your needs to help you accept your thoughts and emotions, break compulsive cycles, and live according to your values. Our process includes:
Assessment & Values Exploration – Identify your anxiety or OCD patterns and clarify what matters most to you.
Mindfulness & Awareness Training – Learn to observe thoughts and emotions without judgment.
Cognitive Defusion & Acceptance Exercises – Reduce the influence of intrusive thoughts and compulsive urges.
Values-Based Action Planning – Take intentional steps aligned with your core values, even in the presence of anxiety.
Integration & Maintenance – Strengthen flexibility and long-term coping skills for lasting change.