ACT for adults who are tired of wrestling their thoughts
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be useful when your mind keeps pulling you into the same loops. I use ACT with adults and couples who want a practical way to look at what thoughts are doing and what they want to stand for instead.
How I use it
Nicole Obih, LCSW
ACT with me is about noticing what your mind keeps saying, how that affects your choices, and where you want more room to act on purpose. I may ask you to slow down with a thought, name what it does to you, and look at what you keep moving toward or away from. For individuals, that often means looking closely at inner habits and daily decisions. For couples, it can also mean noticing the stories each person brings into the relationship and how those stories shape the conversation.
We can work with what shows up without letting it run the whole room.
Who it tends to suit
People often come to ACT feeling caught in loops they can't think their way out of. They may be overwhelmed by worries, self-criticism, avoidance, or a sense that life is passing while they keep bracing for the next problem. Sometimes the work is about not getting pulled off course by every thought that shows up. Sometimes it's about getting clearer on what matters while life is still messy. In session, I use ACT in a very grounded way, tied to the concerns you're bringing in, not as a script.
- I keep getting hooked by my own thoughts.
- I know what I should do, but I still freeze.
- I spend a lot of time fighting how I feel.
- I want to live differently, but I'm stuck.
What the first sessions look like
In the first sessions, we talk about the thought patterns, reactions, and habits that keep showing up. We'll also look at what matters to you, because ACT only makes sense when it's connected to your real life.
What I use it for
- AnxietyPeople feeling keyed up, overwhelmed, or constantly braced
- DepressionPeople feeling low, numb, worn down, or stuck
- Racial TraumaPeople carrying the effects of racism and repeated harm
- DiscriminationPeople worn down by bias, exclusion, or unfair treatment
- Identity ShiftsPeople sorting through changes in gender, sexuality, or self-understanding
- Major Life TransitionsPeople facing change, loss, or a new chapter
Questions people ask
What is ACT therapy like in a session?
We spend time noticing the thoughts and reactions that keep repeating and what they lead you to do. The conversation stays tied to your actual life, not abstract ideas.
Is ACT good for anxiety and depression?
It can be a useful way to work with both when the mind keeps getting stuck in loops. We would talk about what that looks like for you specifically.
Do you use ACT with couples?
Yes. With couples, ACT can help each partner notice the stories and reactions they bring into conflict or distance.
Do I have to know a lot about ACT before starting?
No. We can talk through it together in plain language as we go.
About Celestial Shift Therapy
Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, navigating complex identity questions, or carrying the weight of past trauma? Maybe you're facing life changes that shake your sense of self or struggling with internalized shame that keeps you from living as yourself.
Talk it through with Nicole
Tell us what has been going on and we will take it from there.