Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is a derivative of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In this approach to therapy, we can learn to stop doing battle with our negative feelings.  We can learn to accept them as a legitimate reaction to past experiences, We can learn to use mindfulness, behavioral modification, and lifestyle choices to fully integrate ourselves. To feel better and make better choices!

I have pursued music my whole life. I know those of us who dedicate ourselves to art have a unique mindset. It matters not if you are a professional artist or an enthusiastic amateur.  Having the courage to live your life in a creative and artistic way can take a lot of courage. There can be a lot of pressure to perform, to meet certain standards. As Martha Graham says: “It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions.  It is your business to keep it yours clearly, directly, to keep the channel open. NO artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” Creativity takes a tremendous amount of energy, and it is very easy to go a little too far with the dissatisfaction part of the above quote.   I am familiar with the artistic temperament, familiar with the ever elusive perfection that can all too easily haunt us. I believe acceptance is always the key. Acceptance gives us permission to stop fighting with ourselves and see the reality of a situation. It gives permission to look at ourselves objectively, with kindness and empathy. We can be gentle both with ourselves and our creations.