Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

The current article describes the application of a behavioral psychotherapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is argued that PTSD can be conceptualized as a disorder that is developed and maintained in traumatized individuals as a result of excessive, ineffective attempts to control unwanted thoughts, feelings, and memories, especially those related to the traumatic event(s). As ACT is a therapeutic method designed specifically to reduce experiential avoidance, it may be a treatment that is particularly suited for individuals with PTSD. The application of ACT to PTSD is described, and a case example is used to demonstrate how this therapy can be successfully used with individuals presenting for life problems related to a traumatic event.