Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Children, Teens, and Young Adults in Portland, OR

What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people develop a healthier relationship with difficult thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Rather than trying to eliminate anxiety, sadness, uncertainty, or other uncomfortable emotions, ACT teaches skills for responding to these experiences with greater flexibility and self-compassion.

ACT helps children, teens, and young adults learn how to make room for difficult emotions while continuing to engage in the relationships, activities, and goals that matter most to them. Through ACT, young people develop skills for living according to their values rather than allowing fear, self-doubt, or emotional discomfort to dictate their choices.

What to Expect During Therapy

ACT is an active, collaborative, and engaging therapy. Treatment begins with understanding your child's strengths, values, goals, and the challenges that are interfering with their well-being.

Together, we work to:

• Develop awareness of thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations

• Reduce struggles with difficult feelings

• Build psychological flexibility

• Strengthen coping skills

• Increase willingness to face fears and challenges

• Clarify personal values

• Take meaningful action toward important goals

• Build confidence, resilience, and self-compassion

When working with children and adolescents, I often incorporate age-appropriate activities, games, metaphors, creativity, and humor to make concepts easier to understand and apply in everyday life. Parents and caregivers of younger children are frequently included in treatment to help support progress outside of sessions.

My Approach to ACT

My approach combines ACT with other evidence-based therapies when appropriate, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Parent Management Training, SPACE, and family-based interventions.

As a licensed child and adolescent psychologist in Portland, OR, I strive to create a supportive, affirming environment where children, teens, young adults, and families feel understood, respected, and empowered. ACT provides practical tools for managing life's challenges while helping young people build lives that are meaningful, connected, and aligned with their values.