ACT Therapy: A Powerful Approach to Anxiety Relief
Anxiety can feel like a constant loop, worry, fear, “what if” thinking, and the urge to escape uncomfortable emotions. Many people in Englewood, Teaneck, Fort Lee, Tenafly, Hackensack, Ridgewood, Paramus, and throughout Bergen County find themselves trying to think their way out of anxiety, forcing positive thoughts, or using quick coping strategies that only provide temporary relief. While these efforts make sense, they often keep the anxiety cycle going.
This is where ACT therapy (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) becomes a powerful approach to anxiety treatment and long-term mental health.
What Is ACT and How Is It Different From CBT?
ACT is known as a third-wave therapy, meaning it builds on traditional CBT but takes a new direction.
While CBT often focuses on identifying and changing distorted thoughts, ACT recognizes something most people intuitively know:
We can’t fully control or rewrite our thoughts — at least not sustainably.
If you’ve ever tried to replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you probably noticed that:
the negative thoughts kept returning
the “battle in your mind” made you feel more anxious
changing the thought didn’t change the feeling
ACT offers a different path. Instead of trying to eliminate or fix thoughts, ACT helps you change your relationship with them.
How ACT Helps Break the Anxiety Cycle
Anxiety thrives when we avoid discomfort, ignore emotions, or try to push away thoughts. ACT teaches something far more helpful:
1. Curiosity Instead of Avoidance
ACT encourages you to get curious about your internal experience — your thoughts, sensations, and emotions.
Instead of asking, “How do I make this feeling go away?” ACT asks:
What is this feeling trying to tell me?
Can I make room for this emotion instead of fighting it?
Curiosity reduces fear and creates space for healing.
2. Acceptance of Thoughts (Not Agreement)
Acceptance in ACT doesn’t mean you approve of the thoughts.
It means you stop letting them dictate your behavior.
You learn to notice thoughts like “I can’t handle this” or “Something bad will happen” without letting them control your actions.
3. Psychological Flexibility
This is the heart of ACT and a major predictor of long-term mental health.
Psychological flexibility means:
being open to your internal experiences
staying present instead of getting lost in worry
taking actions aligned with your values, even when anxiety is present
When you’re psychologically flexible, anxiety no longer determines what you do or don’t do.
4. Values as Your North Star
Instead of being driven by fear, ACT teaches you to be guided by your values.
Values are the qualities that matter most to you — compassion, courage, connection, health, learning, family, integrity.
In any difficult moment, ACT asks:
“What action moves me toward the person I want to be?”
Acting on your values brings clarity, meaning, and resilience, especially during moments of emotional intensity.
Why ACT Works for Anxiety When Other Approaches Don’t
Many people in Bergen County come to us after trying coping strategies, mindfulness apps, talk therapy, or positive thinking without long-term improvement.
These approaches often fail because:
attempting to “get rid of” anxiety increases anxiety
avoiding or suppressing emotions strengthens them
trying to control thoughts keeps you stuck in the cycle
talk therapy alone doesn’t change emotional patterns
ACT works because it goes with the nervous system, not against it.
It helps you:
stop fighting your thoughts
stop trying to avoid discomfort
build resilience and self-trust
act according to your values instead of fear
Over time, anxiety loosens its grip — not because it disappears, but because it no longer controls you.
ACT Therapy in Englewood and Bergen County, NJ
At Clear Light Therapy in Englewood, NJ, we specialize in ACT therapy as part of our anxiety treatment for clients across Teaneck, Fort Lee, Tenafly, Hackensack, Ridgewood, Paramus, and the greater Bergen County region. Whether you struggle with chronic worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, or intrusive thoughts, ACT can help you build a healthier, more flexible relationship with your inner world.
We offer both in-person therapy in Englewood and virtual sessions throughout New Jersey.
Ready to Break the Anxiety Cycle?
You don’t need to fight your thoughts or force positivity.
With ACT therapy, you can build the skills to experience your emotions with more ease, stay grounded during stressful moments, and take action based on your values — not your fears.
If you’re searching for ACT therapy, anxiety treatment, or mental health support in Bergen County, we’re here to help.
