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What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of therapy that works to help patients acknowledge their relationship with their thoughts and feelings. By learning to understand your thoughts instead of changing them, you are better able to allow yourself to adjust your behaviors to better match your values.
ACT focuses on the premise that it’s normal to have negative thoughts and emotions. Those don’t make you a bad person. It’s brooding or overanalyzing those negative thoughts that can affect your mental and physical health. With the help of ACT, you can recognize that those emotions are part of being human, but they don’t have to take over your whole life and shouldn’t stop you from meeting your goals, sticking to your values, or moving forward in your life.
The main tenets of ACT include acceptance, cognitive defusion (distancing yourself from negative thoughts and beliefs), being present, seeing yourself as a whole person, and committed action.
With ACT and the help of Dr. Colleen McGuire, you can rewire your brain to ensure those negative thoughts don’t take over and that you can achieve more mental clarity and reduce the symptoms of certain mental health conditions.
Patient
Testimonial
“I cannot recommend Dr. Colleen McGuire highly enough. She has been an incredible support in helping me manage my mental health, and her care has truly been life-changing. From the very beginning, she created a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental space where I felt heard, valued, and understood.”
Conditions Treated By ACT
ACT can help manage a wide variety of different mental illnesses and challenging life situations, including the following:
- Addiction
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Stress
- And more
What to Expect from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
During your first session, you’ll meet with Dr. McGuire. She’ll want to learn more about you and your goals for therapy (what do you want your life to look like?). She’ll also give you information about herself and what you can expect from therapy. At this stage, she’ll also determine if ACT is the right option for you. If so, she’ll also give you a planned timeline and what you may work on in each session.
In each session after your first, you’ll focus on learning more about yourself and what your values are. Depending on the session and what you want to work on, You may focus on setting or achieving certain goals, how to be mindful, defining your values, exploring your thoughts and feelings, adjusting certain behaviors, and/or taking actions that align with your values. Dr. McGuire may also give you homework or actions to take in between sessions so you can apply what you learned to your life.
Sessions typically last about an hour. How long you need ACT therapy will depend on your individual needs.
Schedule a Consultation
Accepting yourself and committing to taking actions that meet your values can completely transform your life. And with the help of Dr. McGuire, you don’t have to take this transformative journey alone. To get started, schedule a consultation at Cottonwood Psychiatry today. Call our Denver office or message us via our online contact form.
Dr. Colleen McGuire
Dr. Colleen McGuire, DO, is a Board-Certified Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine specializing in Psychiatry with a background in Anthropology and Music from the University of New Mexico, pre-med studies in Denver, and a medical degree from Touro University in California. She completed her residency at the University of Colorado, serving as Chief Resident, and has held key roles such as Attending Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at Denver Health, as well as working in various inpatient, outpatient, and telepsychiatry settings. Dr. McGuire specializes in trauma, midlife hormonal issues, and alternatives to medication, utilizing therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Known for her empathetic, client-centered approach and strong collaborative relationships, she is licensed in multiple states and enjoys mentoring nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Outside of work, she is a classical pianist, swimmer, and animal lover who values personal growth and creativity.
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Start your journey toward the life you’ve always wanted with the help of Dr. McGuire at Cottonwood Psychiatry, and contact us today. Fill out our contact form below.
Please note that we do not do after-hours calls. If you are in an emergency situation please call an emergency hotline.
Dr. Colleen McGuire, DO, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with a holistic approach to mental health. She completed her medical training at Touro University and residency at the University of Colorado, where she served as Chief Resident. Specializing in trauma, midlife hormonal issues, and alternatives to medication, Dr. McGuire integrates therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Licensed in multiple states, she is known for her empathetic, client-centered care and dedication to mentoring. Outside work, she enjoys piano, swimming, and spending time with animals.