Finding Freedom Through Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT): Building Psychological Flexibility With Healing Stones Therapy

Negative thoughts, self-doubt, anxiety spirals, and inner criticism are part of the human experience—but many people feel overwhelmed by them, as if every thought demands attention or action. At Healing Stones Therapy, serving Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Oklahoma, we help clients step off the mental rollercoaster through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based treatment that teaches us how to accept our internal experiences while living a life rooted in personal values.

Whether you are navigating sports anxiety, sports performance challenges, eating disorders or disordered eating, or generalized anxiety, ACT offers a powerful, compassionate approach to living with greater freedom and intention.

What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a mindfulness-based behavioral therapy that focuses on:

• Accepting what we cannot control, including difficult emotions and intrusive thoughts
• Defusing from unhelpful thoughts rather than getting swept up in them
• Clarifying deeply held values
• Taking committed action aligned with the life you want to build

Instead of trying to eliminate unpleasant thoughts or feelings (which often causes more suffering), ACT teaches people how to change their relationship to these experiences.

You learn to say, “This thought is here—but I don’t have to follow it.”

Why ACT Works: You Don’t Need to Control Your Thoughts

One of the central teachings of ACT is this:

Your mind makes noise. Thoughts are chatter. You don't need to believe all of them.

Human brains create thousands of thoughts every day—many of which are negative, repetitive, unrealistic, or rooted in old learning. Trying to control or eliminate thoughts actually increases their intensity.

ACT helps clients understand that:

• Thoughts are just mental events, not commands
• We can let thoughts come and go like clouds passing in the sky
• We don’t need to “hook” onto every thought
• We can choose which thoughts deserve our attention
• We can observe thoughts without acting on them

This shift—called cognitive defusion—is one of the most liberating parts of ACT.

ACT for Sports Anxiety & Performance

Athletes often struggle with:

• performance anxiety
• perfectionism
• self-criticism
• fear of failure
• pressure to meet expectations

Traditional approaches try to “fix” or suppress anxiety, but ACT helps athletes:

• experience nerves without letting them control performance
• focus on values like resilience, commitment, and grit
• reduce mental “hooking” into unhelpful thoughts during competition
• stay present and grounded using mindfulness
• redefine success with a healthier, sustainable mindset

ACT helps athletes stay psychologically flexible—allowing them to perform with clarity, presence, and confidence.

ACT for Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating

Eating disorders often involve:

• obsessive or intrusive thoughts
• body-based shame
• rigid rules
• intense internal criticism
• emotional avoidance

ACT offers a non-judgmental approach that helps clients:

• relate to difficult thoughts without obeying them
• build tolerance for uncomfortable emotions
• stop battling with the mind and body
• reconnect to core values like health, connection, authenticity, and self-compassion
• take small, values-driven steps toward recovery

Paired with somatic awareness and trauma-informed care, ACT is a powerful tool for shifting long-standing patterns.

ACT for Anxiety & Everyday Stress

Anxiety often comes from trying to control the uncontrollable—thoughts, sensations, outcomes, or other people’s perceptions.

ACT helps clients:

• stop resisting anxiety and start making room for it
• understand that anxiety is a normal part of being human
• develop psychological flexibility (the core skill of ACT)
• learn grounding and mindfulness skills
• translate personal values into meaningful action

When clients stop battling anxiety and instead work with their internal experience, anxiety loses its power.

The Role of Values: How Do You Want to Show Up in the World?

At the heart of ACT is the idea of living by values, not by fear or self-judgment.

Values are not goals—they are ongoing directions.

Examples include:

• kindness
• bravery
• balance
• family
• perseverance
• personal growth
• health
• authenticity

When you clarify your values, you gain:

• a compass for decision-making
• motivation for behavior change
• a deeper sense of meaning
• a way to measure progress that isn’t perfection-based
• the ability to show up intentionally even when life feels messy

Values help clients move toward the life they want, even when difficult thoughts or emotions show up.

The Human Imperfect Experience: Where Psychological Flexibility Begins

ACT teaches that suffering is not a personal flaw—it is a shared human experience. Psychological flexibility means:

• acknowledging thoughts and feelings without judgment
• choosing actions based on values, not fear
• allowing imperfections, mistakes, and uncertainty
• staying present rather than getting lost in the mind’s chatter

This flexibility becomes a pathway to freedom, authenticity, and emotional resilience.

ACT at Healing Stones Therapy

Healing Stones Therapy supports clients across Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Oklahoma with:

• ACT-informed treatment
• warm, personable, and relational therapy
• trauma-informed and somatic approaches
• support for adolescents through older adults
• specialized care for athletes, anxiety, and eating disorders
• a focus on overall well-being and quality of life

Our therapists don’t strive for perfection—we strive for presence, compassion, and connection. ACT helps us walk alongside you as you build a life that reflects who you truly want to be.

Ready to Start ACT Therapy?

If you’re seeking support with anxiety, performance issues, trauma, or eating-related concerns, ACT offers a grounded, evidence-based path toward clarity and freedom. Give us a call and get started today!