What is ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) for Eating Disorders?

​

Eating disorders have been difficult to treat because individuals closely link their disorder to their identity. ACT is an effective treatment for eating disorders because it encourages a more flexible and inclusive sense of self that is anchored in the life-affirming direction of one’s values.

​

As humans, we try to avoid or escape uncomfortable or unwanted feelings- leading us to do things that we might not otherwise choose. The more we fight our feelings, the worse it gets. Life can turn upside down when we try to make them go away. Part of the solution is to allow our feelings (or uncomfortable internal experiences) in, so we can improve our lives. 
 

We can also get entangled with our thoughts in a way that isn’t helpful. We sometimes listen to them and lose touch with our current reality. We can do things that are ineffective and often cause harm. The goal is to step out of the entanglement of our thoughts – or observe them for what they are—without letting them dictate our actions. We will focus on what you value and what is really important to you so we can help you work towards what you care about in life. 

​

Imagine that you are working towards things you may care about (friendships) and difficult thoughts and feelings come up- “I am ugly, people don’t like me.” So instead of spending time with people or getting to know them, you start to exercise to feel better about yourself or your situation. Meanwhile, you end up losing friends and feeling more isolated. We all get stuck in traps like this. You can either try to change your thoughts and feelings about whether you are attractive or likable OR take the power away from these thoughts and feelings, so they don’t decide-you do.

​

In ACT, we focus on the acceptance or willingness to have unwanted thoughts, feelings or body sensations. Unlike CBT, the aim is not to change the content of thoughts/feelings, but to decrease the extent to which they exert undue influence over behaviour. The focus is on personal values as a guide for behavioural choices.​