Acceptance and Commitment Therapy — better known as ACT (pronounced like the word “act”) — is increasingly recognized in the world of ABA as a powerful tool for promoting meaningful, values-driven behaviour change. But despite its name, ACT is not separate from behaviour analysis — in fact, it’s deeply rooted in it.
ACT represents a natural evolution within our science, one that embraces the complexity of human experience without abandoning the rigor and principles of behaviourism. It’s part of a broader movement known as contextual behavioural science, which focuses on understanding behaviour in context — both internal and external — and helping individuals act in ways that are flexible, effective, and aligned with their values.
A Behaviour Analytic Origin Story
ACT was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Steven C. Hayes — a behavioural scientist and a lifelong contributor to the field of behaviour analysis. While ACT is sometimes categorized within clinical psychology due to its widespread adoption by psychotherapists, its origins are undeniably behaviour analytic.
ACT was created in response to limitations Hayes observed in traditional cognitive and behavioural approaches, especially when it came to addressing language, cognition, and persistent psychological suffering. Rather than try to eliminate difficult thoughts or emotions, ACT teaches people to respond to them differently — with openness, awareness, and a commitment to valued action.
This shift was made possible by another major contribution from Hayes and colleagues: Relational Frame Theory (RFT) — a behavioural account of human language and cognition that helps explain how our verbal behaviour can contribute both to growth and to suffering. ACT is, in many ways, the applied branch of RFT.
ACT in ABA: A Framework, Not a Therapy
In ABA, we often refer to our use of ACT as Acceptance and Commitment Training rather than therapy — to clarify that we are not operating as psychotherapists, but as behaviour analysts using evidence-based tools to build behavioural flexibility.
ACT is not a set of strategies — it’s a framework for understanding and influencing behaviour in complex, verbally-able individuals. It offers us a way to support clients when traditional teaching procedures fall short — especially when those clients are struggling with internal experiences like anxiety, avoidance, perfectionism, or rigid rule-following.
The Six Core Processes of ACT
ACT focuses on developing psychological flexibility — the ability to stay present, respond to internal experiences without avoidance, and act in ways that are consistent with one’s values.
This is supported through six interrelated processes:
- Acceptance – Willingness to experience uncomfortable thoughts or emotions instead of avoiding them.
- Cognitive Defusion – Gaining perspective on thoughts so they lose their control over behaviour.
- Present Moment Awareness – Being here, now — not caught up in past regrets or future worries.
- Self-as-Context – Seeing oneself as the observer of experience, not defined by labels or narratives.
- Values – Clarifying what truly matters.
- Committed Action – Moving toward those values through purposeful behaviour, even when it’s hard.
Why ACT Matters in ABA
In practice, ACT helps us better support learners with complex repertoires — particularly those who:
- Avoid tasks due to fear of failure or aversive thoughts
- Get stuck in rigid patterns of behaviour or rule-following
- Experience emotional dysregulation or distress
- Struggle with flexible perspective-taking or social cognition
ACT allows us to teach behaviour change in a way that’s aligned with personal values and real-world relevance. At Flourish, we use ACT-informed tools within our scope as behaviour analysts to support meaningful, person-centered programming.
Not Therapy — Still Transformative
It’s important to be clear: ACT in ABA is not psychotherapy. We do not treat mental health diagnoses or offer clinical counselling. Instead, we use the ACT framework to teach skills like toleration, self-awareness, and value-driven decision-making — all within a behaviour analytic model.
We focus on observable, measurable behaviour and the environmental contingencies that influence it. ACT simply gives us a more precise and compassionate way to understand and shape those behaviours — especially when language and cognition are involved.
In Summary
ACT is not a departure from ABA — it is its natural evolution. Built by behaviour analysts for behaviour analysts, ACT reflects our field’s deepening commitment to supporting not just behaviour change, but behavioural meaning.
It helps us ask: What matters to this person? What is getting in the way? And how can we support action that brings them closer to a life worth living — on their terms?
At Flourish, we are proud to use ACT-informed practices as part of our commitment to values-based, flexible, and dignified behavioural care.
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References
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Hayes, S. C., Barnes-Holmes, D., & Roche, B. (2001). Relational Frame Theory: A Post-Skinnerian Account of Human Language and Cognition. Springer Science & Business Media.