ACT Treatment Plan

What is an ACT Treatment Plan?

An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Treatment Plan is a structured approach used by mental health professionals in treating various clinical issues such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, mood disorders, chronic pain, and substance abuse. It aims to help the client cognitively reframe their relationship with their emotions and align behavior with personal values.

ACT falls under the umbrella of behavioral therapies and emphasizes psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and committing to valued actions to help individuals lead more fulfilling lives. Through mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, clients learn to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment, focusing on the present moment rather than regrets or anxieties.

How does the ACT Treatment Plan template work?

This resource offers mental health professionals a structured guide for creating an ACT Treatment Plan, with the aim of decreasing the emotional distress associated with health issues. Here's how it works:

Step 1: Access the template

To access the template, click the "Use template" button on this page. This link will open the template in the Carepatron app, where it can be tailored to the ACT therapist's needs. Alternatively, click the "Download" button to access a ready-to-go PDF version.

Step 2: Input assessment details

Start by filling in essential patient information. Record the assessment date and a brief summary of your observations, including any mental health conditions, diagnoses, primary symptoms, complaints, or life dissatisfaction, and key behavioral patterns or cognitions. It may also be relevant to include why an ACT approach has been selected to treat the client.

Step 3: Identify treatment goals

Describe the intended outcomes for this therapy plan, considering the client's specific circumstances and needs. Divide these objectives into primary and secondary goals, where primary goals are the priority.

Step 4: Plan ACT treatment techniques

Next, plan out key strategies, techniques, and exercises to implement during therapy sessions, organizing each into the appropriate section.

Step 5: Other ACT treatment details

In the relevant sections, describe any other relevant treatment details, such as additional notes on patient medication, concurrent treatment approaches, appointment frequency and number, and referrals.

ACT Treatment Plan components

Acceptance and commitment therapy comprises six core processes that guide the therapeutic approach. These principles include:

Cognitive defusion

Cognitive defusion techniques aim to help clients identify and distance themselves from painful thoughts. Clients learn to create psychological distance from their thoughts, recognizing that thoughts are mental events rather than objective truths. Cognitive defusion techniques may include naming thoughts or using metaphors.

Acceptance

Clients practice accepting their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without judgment or resistance, acknowledging and allowing experiences to come and go. Developing acceptance of thoughts and feelings (as opposed to suppressing or attempting to correct or change these cognitive patterns) aims to reduce the distress associated with feeling 'out of control' of one's internal experiences.

Being present

Present-moment awareness is instrumental to the success of ACT. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapies teach clients relaxation and mindfulness practices, such as mindful breathing, body scans, and observation of thoughts and emotions without judgment. Being aware of one's feelings, both physical and mental, promotes self-compassion and understanding.

Self as context

'Self as context' is a core principle of acceptance and commitment therapy that helps clients recognize that they are not just the sum of their thoughts, emotions, or experiences. This essential cognitive reframing is also called the 'observing self' and helps with perspective-taking and awareness, as well as helping emotional responses to thoughts and experiences become more proportionate.

Values clarification

Clients identify their deepest values and what matters most to them, with the overarching goal of feeling like they are living a meaningful life. Choosing qualities to work towards in any given moment helps establish a clear sense of direction and purpose and enhances a positive identity.

Behavioral activation and commitment

ACT emphasizes committing actions aligned with one's values, even under challenging emotions or experiences. Fostering this behavioral commitment helps maintain cognitive progress achieved during ACT therapy.

Benefits of using the ACT Treatment Plan template

This template provides practitioners with a simple method for planning comprehensive and holistic ACT therapeutic techniques. By realigning the client's behavior with their deepest values and fostering mindfulness skills, practitioners can help decrease anxious thoughts and enhance the sense of living a meaningful life. Here are some of the key advantages:

Structured approach

The structured format of this template makes it easy for practitioners to create holistic ACT Treatment Plans that cover each of the essential ACT principles. This resource is a simple way to ensure comprehensive therapeutic programs by breaking down the treatment planning stage.

Ease-of-use

The simple, easy-to-follow layout makes it convenient for therapists, counselors, psychologists, and social workers who want to implement ACT interventions with their clients. Furthermore, this layout has been specifically designed for flexibility, meaning it is highly useful for treating clients with a diverse range of needs.

Thorough planning & documentation

This resource guides professionals to accurately and thoroughly document their treatment plans and objectives for clients experiencing mental health issues. This promotes comprehensive planning in which all relevant factors are considered. It also provides counselors and therapists with a record of their original plan to refer back to.

Common ACT technique types

ACT aims to enhance psychological flexibility, which is the ability to be open, aware, and engaged with the present moment to lead a more fulfilling life. Types of techniques to foster psychological flexibility include:

• Commitment training: Clients set specific goals for implementing behavioral changes that align with their values. Techniques such as goal setting and visualization exercises practice and reinforce their commitment to behavioral changes.
• Values-based behavioral activation: Clients engage in activities consistent with their values, building a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment over time.

• Mindfulness skills: Mindfulness practices aim to increase awareness, focus, and control over thoughts, feelings, and the body. Examples include body scanning, breathing exercises, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.

• Acceptance techniques: Acceptance techniques target experiential avoidance behaviors, in which the person attempts to suppress, control, or avoid unwanted or uncomfortable emotions, thoughts, and sensations. These techniques help clients become comfortable with confronting and experiencing these feelings.
• Experiential exercises: Therapists use metaphors and experiential exercises to enhance the client's understanding of ACT concepts by simulating relevant experiences.  
• Psychoeducation: Therapists provide information about ACT principles and techniques to help clients understand how they can achieve their goals. This helps to engage clients with the other therapeutic techniques.
• Self-awareness and perspective-taking: These techniques (e.g., visualization or imagination tasks) aim to help clients develop self-awareness and gain perspective on their thoughts and experiences. They learn to keep their thoughts, emotions, and experiences without identifying with them.