Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in children and teens, affecting around one in eight kids. The good news is that anxiety is highly treatable, and a combination of therapies often works best. One such therapy is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a relatively new type of therapy that stemmed from traditional behaviour therapy. It focuses on developing psychological flexibility, which is the ability to stay present and live consistently with your values. This is done by combining mindfulness and self-acceptance practises with commitment and behavioural activation.
The Science Behind ACT
ACT is based on the Relational Frame Theory, a psychological theory that suggests that we interact with the world around us through relationships of various dimensions. In simpler terms, this means that we react to the world around us based on how we perceive it. So if a child is anxious, they will often perceive the world in a way that reinforces their anxiety, leading to a never-ending cycle.
ACT aims to help change how we react and relate to our feelings instead of avoiding them. The goals of ACT include overcoming negative thoughts and feelings, while living a meaningful and fulfilling life. This is done by accepting these thoughts and feelings instead of trying to fight them or get rid of them.
Benefits of ACT for Children
ACT can be really helpful for children, especially when it comes to anxiety.
It encourages them to embrace their thoughts and feelings, rather than avoid them. This can be really powerful, as it helps them to develop a greater sense of psychological flexibility. With this increased flexibility, they’re better able to cope with the difficulties and challenges that life throws their way.
ACT also aims to increase psychological flexibility by helping children to focus on what’s important to them. This could be anything from their values and beliefs to their passions and interests. And by doing so, it allows them to live more meaningful and purposeful lives.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Techniques for Anxiety Counselling
ACT is a psychotherapy that emphasises acceptance. In other words, rather than trying to fight our anxiety or feelings of unease, we learn to accept them. This might seem counterintuitive, but acceptance actually reduces our motivation to avoid situations.
There are several techniques that ACT utilises, including mindfulness, metaphor and paradox.
Mindfulness is about being present in the moment and observing our thoughts and feelings without judgement. By learning to be mindful of our anxiety, we can start to see it for what it is: just a feeling. It doesn’t control us, and we don’t have to let it dictate how we live our lives.
Metaphor is a powerful tool that can help us reframe our relationship with anxiety. For example, you might imagine your anxiety as a wave that you can ride out until it dissipates. Or you might picture it as a cloud that’s passing by. By using metaphor, we can start to see our anxiety in a new light and understand that it’s not permanent or insurmountable.
Paradoxically, by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasising acceptance, we can learn to commit to living the life we want, even in the face of anxiety. ACT helps us see that our anxiety is not who we are – it’s just something that we feel. And once we accept that, we can start to move forward with our lives.
Challenges in Applying ACT for Child Anxiety Counselling
While ACT is an evidence-based practise, there are a few challenges that need to be considered when using it to treat child anxiety.
First, it can be difficult to get children to buy into the idea of accepting their thoughts and feelings. They may see it as giving up or being lazy. It’s important to explain that accepting doesn’t mean that they’re resigning themselves to a life of anxiety. Instead, it’s about acknowledging that anxiety is a part of their life and making a commitment to do something about it.
Second, some of the techniques used in ACT (e.g., mindfulness) can be challenging for children to master. They may need a lot of practise and patience before they’re able to see results.
Lastly, it’s important to find an experienced therapist who is trained in ACT and who has experience working with children. This will help ensure that your child gets the most out of therapy and that the interventions are tailored to their individual needs.
How to Make the Most of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Child Anxiety Counselling
Here are a few ways to make the most of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in child anxiety counselling:
– Try to be as accepting as possible of your child’s personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings. This can be a challenge, but it’s important to remember that acceptance does not mean condoning or approving of everything.
– Keep the focus on creating a meaningful life, even though this may involve accepting some pain along the way. This can help your child feel more motivated to make positive changes.
– Help your child build up a repertoire of coping skills that they can use in difficult situations. This can include things like mindfulness techniques, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques.
Conclusion
So, what is ACT and how can it help child anxiety? ACT is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy that helps individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings, and to commit to actions that are inline with their values. This can be a very helpful approach for children who are struggling with anxiety, as it can help them to feel more in control of their thoughts and emotions, and to focus on what they can do, rather than what they can’t.
