According to the ACT approach, the problems that most burden the patient are caused by an attempt to avoid unpleasant inner experiences. This is achieved by employing various strategies such as withdrawal or flight, emotional numbing, arguing/reasoning, exaggerated safety behaviour, stress-reducing rituals etc. These applied strategies, however, not only have the disadvantage that they do not work or only work for a limited time, but are also associated with significant negative consequences for the patient's lifestyle.

This therapy mainly focuses on helping you to reduce your dysfunctional control attempts by increasing your willingness to experience even unpleasant sensations for what they are, rather than what they appear to be. You will learn techniques that enable you to look carefully at your or her own thoughts without fusing with them, i.e. without believing them or unavoidably aligning your behavior according to those thoughts.
In ACT, the clarification of values and life goals plays a key role in the therapy, from which meaningful action is then derived.