Counseling How

ACT Counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland and Windsor

Make room for hard feelings and move toward what matters

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in Fort Collins, Loveland and Windsor at Foundations Counseling helps people stop fighting painful thoughts and feelings and spend their energy on what matters to them, using mindfulness, values work and small committed steps. It is private pay, about $200 per session, with a free consultation and a first appointment usually within 48 hours.

What is acceptance and commitment therapy at Foundations?

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in Fort Collins, Loveland and Windsor at Foundations Counseling helps people stop fighting painful thoughts and feelings and spend their energy on what matters to them, using mindfulness, values work and small committed steps. It is private pay, about $200 per session, with a free consultation and a first appointment usually within 48 hours.

What is acceptance and commitment therapy?

ACT (said as one word, like the verb) is a form of talk therapy built on a simple idea: trying hard to avoid painful thoughts, memories and feelings often keeps people stuck. The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science describes acceptance and commitment therapy as an approach that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. In plain words, psychological flexibility means being able to notice what is happening inside you, make room for it, and still choose actions that fit the person you want to be.

What does an ACT session look like?

ACT sessions are conversations, with a few more exercises than you might expect. Your counselor may use metaphors and short experiential exercises to help you practice skills such as:

• Stepping back from thoughts: noticing a thought like "I always mess this up" as a thought, rather than a fact you have to obey.
• Making room for feelings: letting anxiety, sadness or grief be present without letting it make every decision.
• Clarifying values: naming what you care about in relationships, work, health and community.
• Committed action: choosing one small, concrete step toward those values and checking in on how it went next session.

Some Foundations counselors blend ACT with other approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or mindfulness practices, depending on what fits you.

What can ACT help with?

People often come to ACT when they feel stuck: worry that will not quiet down, low mood, perfectionism, avoidance, grief, or a life that has shrunk around a problem. Counselors who use ACT see it alongside anxiety counseling and depression counseling. The research picture is still developing. A Canadian health technology review of ACT for PTSD, anxiety and depression found that results were somewhat conflicting depending on the population and study design, and that in survivors of interpersonal trauma, ACT reduced symptoms of PTSD and depression. Your counselor can talk with you about whether ACT, another approach, or a mix makes sense for what you are facing.

How is ACT different from CBT?

Both are practical and focused on the present. Traditional CBT often works by examining a distressing thought and testing whether it is accurate. ACT spends less time arguing with the thought and more time changing your relationship to it, so the thought has less pull on what you do next. Neither is right for everyone, and many people find parts of both useful.

Who will I work with?

Several Foundations counselors list ACT as one of the approaches they use. You can meet them in the team section on this page, or tell us what you need when you reach out by calling 970.227.2770 or booking online, and we will match you with a counselor who fits. Your first meeting with that counselor is a free consultation. If the match does not feel right, our Counselor Match Guarantee means we will help you find another Foundations counselor who is a better fit.

Sessions are in person at our offices in Fort Collins (Central), Fort Collins (Southeast), Loveland and Windsor, or through online counseling anywhere in Colorado.

What does ACT counseling at Foundations not cover?

Foundations offers one on one outpatient talk therapy. It is not crisis care, and it is not a replacement for a physician or psychiatrist. If you have questions about medication, please talk with your doctor. If you are thinking about suicide or are in emotional distress, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, day or night. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

Ready to talk?

If you want a place to start on your own, read what to do if you are feeling stuck in life. When you are ready, book a free consultation or call 970.227.2770 and tell us what you are hoping will change.

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GUARANTEED COUNSELOR MATCH

ACT asks you to try some new and sometimes uncomfortable exercises, so it helps to trust the person guiding you. If your first match does not feel right, we will help you find another Foundations counselor. How the Counselor Match Guarantee works.

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HOW WE WORK WITH ACT

Your counselor will help you notice the patterns that keep you stuck and connect your next steps to what you care about.

• Values work: naming what matters most and what you want your days to reflect.
• Mindfulness and defusion skills: stepping back from hard thoughts instead of wrestling with them.
• Small committed actions, often alongside CBT skills.

All Therapies

Do You Feel...

What brings people to counseling rarely arrives as one clear moment. More often it builds quietly: a feeling that lingers, a pattern that keeps repeating, a sense that something is off. If any of these sound familiar, reaching out to Foundations is a simple first step.

Fighting Your Own Thoughts

Spending so much energy trying to push away worries, memories or self-criticism that there is little left for the life you actually want to live.

Stuck in Avoidance

Do you keep steering around situations, conversations or feelings that make you uncomfortable? Over time, avoidance can shrink your world even as it promises relief.

Losing Touch With What Matters

Feeling like your days are driven by worry, obligation or autopilot, and you are no longer sure what you value or how to live by it.

A Harsh Inner Voice

Thoughts like "I always mess this up" can feel like facts. Learning to notice them as thoughts can loosen their grip on your choices and your mood.

Living With What Cannot Be Fixed

Coping with chronic pain, a long term health condition or a loss you cannot undo, and struggling with frustration, fear or grief over what has changed.

Waiting to Feel Ready

Are you putting your life on hold until anxiety fades or confidence arrives? Many people find they can take meaningful steps even while hard feelings are present.

Exhausted From Coping

Trying every strategy to control anxiety or sadness and feeling worn out when nothing makes the feelings go away for good.

Caught Up in Rumination

Replaying the past or rehearsing the future over and over, so that it is hard to be present with the people and moments right in front of you.

Small Steps Feel Impossible

Knowing what you want to change but feeling unable to start, or starting and stopping again, and wanting a gentler, steadier way to follow through.

Guaranteed Counselor Match Learn More

Colorado Licensed Counselors

Appointment Scheduling Within 48 Hours

Counselor Match Concierge

Expert In-house Counselor Training

All Counselors Are Employees

In-person Or Online

Local Company & Ownership

Community Involvement

Pay Per Session

First Visit Free

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Find the Right Match

We understand that the journey to emotional well-being begins with connecting you to the right counselor. That's why we proudly offer our unique Counselor Match Guarantee. We don't just pair you with any counselor; we meticulously match you with someone who aligns with your specific needs, preferences, and goals for healing and growth. If the initial pairing needs to be corrected, we encourage you to explore our diverse and experienced team until you find the perfect fit.

Your comfort and progress are paramount, so we ensure you always have a supportive and confidential environment to pursue your journey of self-discovery and healing. Choose us as your trusted partner in this transformative experience—because your well-being deserves the utmost care.

Begin your journey today and take the first step towards a brighter, more fulfilling tomorrow. Let us guide you to emotional wellness with our dedicated and compassionate counseling services.

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