ACT Therapy in Columbia, MO: How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Helps Teens and Young Adults
If you're a teen or young adult struggling with anxiety, feeling stuck, or wondering how to build a meaningful life, you've probably heard about different types of therapy. Maybe you've tried some approaches that felt like they were trying to "fix" you or eliminate all your difficult feelings.
That's where Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) comes in differently.
As a therapist who's devoted over seven years to studying and practicing ACT, I've seen firsthand how this approach helps young people stop fighting with their minds and start living according to what truly matters to them. At Aspire Counseling in Columbia, Missouri, I work primarily with teens and young adults navigating the complex transition into adulthood — and ACT has proven incredibly effective for this exact population.
Let me share what ACT is really about and why it might be the approach you've been looking for.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
ACT is a type of therapy for teens and young adults that helps you develop psychological flexibility. This means learning the ability to stay present with your experiences and take action guided by your values, even when life gets difficult.
Rather than trying to eliminate anxiety or negative thoughts, ACT teaches you how to have a different relationship with these experiences so they don't control your life.
The core idea is simple but powerful: suffering often comes not from having difficult thoughts and feelings, but from getting stuck fighting against them or letting them dictate our choices. ACT helps you learn to accept what you can't control while committing to actions that move you toward the life you want to live.
This approach was developed by psychologist Steven Hayes and has over 40 years of research backing its effectiveness. What makes ACT unique is that it's not about symptom reduction first — it's about helping you build a rich, meaningful life even in the presence of difficult emotions.
For teens and young adults especially, this is revolutionary. You're already dealing with natural life transitions, identity questions, and societal pressures. ACT doesn't pathologize these normal human experiences. Instead, it gives you tools to navigate them skillfully.
How Does ACT Actually Work?
ACT works by teaching you six core processes that build psychological flexibility. Think of these as skills you can develop, just like learning to drive or play an instrument. The more you practice them, the more natural they become.
These processes include:
Learning to be present in the moment.
Accepting difficult thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Seeing your thoughts as just mental events rather than absolute truths.
Connecting with your values.
Taking committed action toward those values, even when it's uncomfortable.
The therapy process itself is highly experiential. Rather than just talking about your problems, we'll use exercises, metaphors, and mindfulness practices to help you experience these concepts. You might notice thoughts about your thoughts, explore what really matters to you through values exercises, or practice being present during difficult emotions.
At Aspire Counseling, we often combine ACT with Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and EMDR therapy to meet the needs of young people dealing with anxiety, trauma, or major transitions.
What Makes ACT Different from Other Types of Therapy?
ACT differs significantly from other approaches because it focuses less on “fixing” your thoughts and more on changing your relationship with them.
Traditional cognitive therapies often try to challenge or reframe irrational thoughts. ACT recognizes that difficult thoughts and feelings are normal parts of human experience. The goal isn't to think more positively, but to hold thoughts more lightly and choose actions based on your values.
This is particularly relevant for teens and young adults. You're supposed to feel uncertain sometimes. You're supposed to question things. You're supposed to experience anxiety about the future. ACT doesn’t treat these as problems to be solved, but as natural parts of growing up that you can learn to navigate skillfully.
Unlike approaches that may feel clinical or detached, ACT is humanistic. It honors your experience while empowering you to make choices aligned with what matters most to you.
Is ACT Effective for Anxiety and Depression?
Yes, ACT has strong research support for treating anxiety, depression, and many other concerns. For anxiety, ACT teaches you that trying to control or eliminate anxious thoughts often backfires. Instead, you learn to make room for anxiety while pursuing your values.
With depression, ACT helps you reconnect with what gives your life meaning and take small steps toward those values, even when motivation is low.
At Aspire, ACT often pairs well with anxiety treatment and depression counseling, allowing us to address both symptom relief and deeper identity growth.
What Can I Expect in ACT Therapy Sessions?
ACT sessions are interactive and experiential. In our first few sessions, we’ll explore what brought you to therapy and what you want to change. From there, we’ll begin values clarification, metaphors, mindfulness practices, and small values-based commitments.
Homework may include noticing difficult thoughts with defusion exercises or practicing mindfulness between sessions. These aren’t busywork — they’re ways to strengthen skills in real life.
Is ACT Right for Teenagers and Young Adults?
Absolutely. ACT aligns naturally with the developmental tasks of this stage: building identity, autonomy, and direction in life. Teens and young adults often find ACT approachable because it doesn’t pathologize them — it validates their experience while teaching concrete skills.
ACT also fits well into online therapy in Missouri, which Aspire offers for busy students and young professionals.
Getting Started with ACT in Columbia, Missouri
If you’re ready to see whether ACT could help, the first step is reaching out. At Aspire Counseling, we offer a free consultation so you can learn more, ask questions, and decide if ACT is right for you.
ACT isn’t about waiting until you feel better before living better. In fact, the opposite is often true — when you start living according to your values, emotional relief often follows.
About the Author
Written by Jessica Oliver, the founder of Aspire Counseling. Jessica has completed training in ACT and incorporates it throughout her clinical practice. She is also committed to bringing on therapists at Aspire Counseling who specialize in providing various evidence based therapies including ACT. Our most recent clinician to join the team is Jordan Lascuola, LPC, a therapist specializing in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for teens and young adults in Columbia, Missouri. Jordan has over 100 hours of ACT training and is passionate about helping young people navigate life transitions, anxiety, and identity development through values-based living.
