Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that helps people address and cope with psychological distress by focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, and committed action. The goal of ACT is not to eliminate difficult feelings or thoughts but to help individuals learn how to live a rich, meaningful life while accepting the presence of those challenges.

ACT operates around six core processes:

• Acceptance – Encourages embracing thoughts and feelings without trying to change or avoid them, especially if they are uncomfortable.
• Cognitive Defusion – Involves separating oneself from thoughts and emotions to reduce their negative impact. Instead of seeing thoughts as absolute truths, people learn to observe them without judgment.
• Being Present (Mindfulness) – Promotes focusing on the present moment with openness and curiosity, as opposed to dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
• Self-as-Context – Helps individuals realize that they are more than their thoughts and feelings. This concept promotes seeing oneself as the observer of experiences rather than being defined by them.
• Values Clarification – Encourages people to identify and commit to their core values, which act as a compass for decision-making and meaningful living.
• Committed Action – Involves taking steps toward value-driven goals, even in the presence of uncomfortable feelings or thoughts.

ACT is particularly effective for managing anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, and even ADHD. By shifting focus from eliminating negative experiences to building psychological flexibility, ACT fosters resilience in individuals.

Since you’re homeschooling children with ADHD, OCD, and other challenges, ACT strategies like mindfulness and values-based action could be useful for helping them develop coping mechanisms and emotional regulation skills. It can be adapted to suit different developmental levels as well!