How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Can Help with Grief

ACT is an evidence-based psychological approach that helps individuals process grief by fostering acceptance, mindfulness, and values-driven action. Unlike traditional grief therapies that focus primarily on symptom reduction, ACT emphasizes living a meaningful life alongside pain, rather than trying to eliminate or avoid it.

How ACT Helps with Grief Acceptance of Loss
Grief often brings overwhelming emotions such as sadness, guilt, and anger. ACT encourages individuals to acknowledge and accept these emotions rather than suppressing or avoiding them. By allowing grief to exist without judgment, people can reduce the struggle against their pain.

Defusion from Painful Thoughts
People grieving may experience intrusive thoughts such as “I should have done more” or “I will never be happy again.” ACT helps individuals “defuse” from these thoughts by recognizing them as mental events rather than absolute truths. This prevents thoughts from controlling emotions and behaviors.

Mindfulness
Mindfulness is another core component of ACT, helping individuals focus on the present rather than being consumed by past regrets or future anxieties. By practicing mindfulness, noticing thoughts and feelings, those grieving can learn to sit with their pain without becoming overwhelmed by it.

Self-as-Context
This principle helps individuals recognize that they are more than their grief. Instead of being completely defined by their loss, ACT helps them see themselves as observers of their experiences, allowing them to navigate grief with more psychological flexibility.

Committed Action and Values-Based Living
ACT encourages individuals to engage in meaningful activities that align with their values, even while experiencing grief. For example, someone who values connection might seek support from loved ones, or someone who values helping others might find purpose in volunteering. This approach helps individuals rebuild their lives in a way that honors their loss while continuing to live meaningfully.ACT is an evidence-based psychological approach that helps individuals process grief by fostering acceptance, mindfulness, and values-driven action. Unlike traditional grief therapies that focus primarily on symptom reduction, ACT emphasizes living a meaningful life alongside pain, rather than trying to eliminate or avoid it.

How ACT Helps with Grief Acceptance of Loss
Grief often brings overwhelming emotions such as sadness, guilt, and anger. ACT encourages individuals to acknowledge and accept these emotions rather than suppressing or avoiding them. By allowing grief to exist without judgment, people can reduce the struggle against their pain.

Defusion from Painful Thoughts
People grieving may experience intrusive thoughts such as “I should have done more” or “I will never be happy again.” ACT helps individuals “defuse” from these thoughts by recognizing them as mental events rather than absolute truths. This prevents thoughts from controlling emotions and behaviors.

Mindfulness
Mindfulness is another core component of ACT, helping individuals focus on the present rather than being consumed by past regrets or future anxieties. By practicing mindfulness, noticing thoughts and feelings, those grieving can learn to sit with their pain without becoming overwhelmed by it.

Self-as-Context
This principle helps individuals recognize that they are more than their grief. Instead of being completely defined by their loss, ACT helps them see themselves as observers of their experiences, allowing them to navigate grief with more psychological flexibility.

Committed Action and Values-Based Living
ACT encourages individuals to engage in meaningful activities that align with their values, even while experiencing grief. For example, someone who values connection might seek support from loved ones, or someone who values helping others might find purpose in volunteering. This approach helps individuals rebuild their lives in a way that honors their loss while continuing to live meaningfully.

Most importantly, this work will take place in a group setting, fostering support through shared experiences and relationship building. This environment allows us to connect, share, and grow together, a way to process the isolation that complicated grief often times causes.