Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Addiction in Los Angeles

What is Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) empowers you to develop a new relationship with challenging thoughts and emotions.^[1] Rather than avoiding or suppressing difficult feelings, ACT teaches you to observe them without judgment while continuing to move toward what matters most in your life. This powerful approach combines mindfulness practices with value-driven action to reduce the hold that substance use has on your daily functioning. The therapy recognizes that attempts to control or eliminate unwanted thoughts and feelings often lead to increased distress and continued substance use as an escape mechanism. Instead, ACT creates space for these experiences while helping you take steps aligned with your deepest values.

At iRely Recovery, our caring therapists guide you through ACT’s core components in both individual and group settings, helping you decrease avoidance behaviors, increase meaningful engagement with life, and create sustainable recovery. This strength-based approach incorporates ACT principles throughout your treatment journey, from detox through residential care and beyond. We find this therapeutic approach particularly effective for addressing the underlying emotional struggles that often fuel substance use patterns, allowing for transformative change that extends well beyond symptom reduction.

Acceptance and commitment therapy was developed by psychologist Steven Hayes, Ph.D., and has been validated in over 300 clinical trials. A landmark study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence (Smout et al., 2010)^[5] found ACT reduced methamphetamine use and improved psychological flexibility at a rate comparable to standard CBT, with gains maintained at follow-up. A meta-analysis by A-Tjak et al. (2015)^[6] confirmed ACT’s effectiveness across substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. It is one of the evidence-based therapies offered at iRely across all levels of care.

How (and Why) ACT for Substance Use Works

ACT addresses addiction at its roots by targeting psychological inflexibility — the rigid patterns of thinking and behavior that keep people trapped in cycles of substance use.^[2] When faced with difficult emotions, cravings, or thoughts about using, many people turn to substances as a way to escape these experiences. ACT disrupts this pattern by teaching you to make room for discomfort while still making choices aligned with recovery. This approach recognizes that the struggle to control or eliminate unwanted internal experiences often paradoxically increases their intensity and impact on behavior.

The six core processes of ACT that build recovery include:^[3]

• Cognitive Defusion: Clients learn to observe a craving as a passing thought (“I notice I’m having the urge to use”) rather than a command that must be obeyed. Defusion creates distance between the thought and the behavior.
• Acceptance: Resisting cravings and painful emotions often intensifies them. ACT teaches clients to make room for discomfort without acting on it – a foundational skill for navigating early recovery.
• Present-Moment Awareness: Mindfulness practices bring attention to the present moment, reducing rumination about past use and anxiety about an uncertain future – two of the most consistent relapse triggers.
• Self-as-Context: A client’s identity is not their addiction, their diagnosis, or their history. ACT builds a stable sense of self that is not threatened by setbacks or cravings.
• Values Clarification: Recovery becomes sustainable when it is connected to what matters most: relationships, health, purpose, freedom. ACT helps clients name their values and use them as a compass rather than a set of rules.
• Committed Action: Clients take concrete steps toward their values even when fear, shame, or cravings are present. This is behavioral change driven by meaning, not willpower alone.

Instead of simply fighting against addiction, you’ll learn to move toward values-based living, creating a life so rich and fulfilling that substance use no longer serves a purpose. This shift from avoidance to engagement represents a fundamental change in how you relate to difficult experiences.

The Efficacy of ACT for Addiction

Most studies show that ACT effectively manages substance use disorders with
significant evidence of reduced substance use or complete discontinuation with sustained abstinence.^[4]
The literature conclusively supports ACT’s success as either a standalone treatment or in combination with other therapeutic approaches. At iRely Recovery, we leverage these evidence-based findings to deliver treatment protocols that maximize your chances for lasting recovery. Our integrated approach combines ACT principles with personalized care plans tailored to your specific needs and challenges.

What to Expect From ACT Therapy in Los Angeles

ACT programming at iRely runs within our residential, PHP, and IOP treatment tracks. Sessions are one-on-one with a licensed therapist and typically 50 minutes. Most clients begin ACT work within their first week of treatment.

What to expect in an ACT session at iRely:

1. A brief mindfulness check-in to ground the session
2. Exploration of specific thoughts or urges that came up during the week
3. Defusion and acceptance exercises tailored to the presenting pattern
4. Values mapping work, updated as treatment progresses
5. A committed action goal assigned before the next session

ACT at iRely is always part of a broader clinical plan, integrated with other evidence-based modalities including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care – selected based on each client’s clinical profile.

During your recovery journey with us, our specialized ACT approach transforms how you relate to substance use challenges through structured, evidence-based interventions tailored to your unique situation:

• Comprehensive assessment: Our team evaluates your substance use history, mental health concerns, and treatment goals to create a personalized care plan.
• Development of psychological flexibility: Learn to respond differently to cravings and negative thoughts associated with drug abuse and alcohol dependence.
• Defusion techniques: Master strategies to create distance from unhelpful thoughts that drive opioid and other substance misuse.
• Present moment awareness training: Build mindfulness skills to stay grounded during challenging situations instead of seeking escape through substance abuse.
• Values clarification exercises: Identify what matters most to you beyond the temporary relief of drug use.
• Committed action planning: Develop concrete steps toward behavioral health goals aligned with your personal values.
• Relapse prevention strategies: Learn practical tools to maintain recovery even when facing triggers.
• Integration with other services: When appropriate, ACT and addiction treatment work alongside medication-assisted treatment (methadone, etc.) for comprehensive care.
• Recovery support network development: Connect with community resources and support systems for sustained health after formal treatment programs.

ACT for Addiction at iRely Recovery

It’s no secret that most treatments fail because they ignore what’s driving your addiction. At iRely Recovery, we cut through the ineffective approaches and target what matters – building a life worth staying sober for.

Our ACT-based program gives you practical tools to face cravings head-on while creating meaningful change. Call our admissions team to learn about how our evidence-based approach can transform your relationship with recovery. The life you deserve is waiting — so let’s start building it together.

ACT for Addiction vs. ACT for General Anxiety

Many Los Angeles therapists offer ACT for anxiety, depression, or everyday stress. ACT for substance use disorder requires additional clinical training because the psychological dynamics are different:

• Cravings operate on a shorter, more intense cycle than general anxiety and require specific defusion strategies
• Shame and guilt about past use create unique barriers to the acceptance work that differ from standard self-compassion protocols
• Withdrawal physiology affects cognitive flexibility, which changes how and when defusion exercises are introduced in early recovery

At iRely Recovery, our therapists hold specialized training in addiction treatment alongside their ACT training. This is a meaningful clinical distinction when comparing treatment options across Los Angeles.

Insurance and Cost for ACT Therapy in Los Angeles

iRely Recovery accepts most major PPO insurance plans. Our admissions team verifies your benefits before treatment begins, so there are no surprises at intake. For clients without insurance coverage or with high out-of-pocket costs, we offer financing options and can discuss private-pay rates directly.

To verify your insurance for ACT therapy in Los Angeles, call our admissions line: (818) 869-2112

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Why Choose iRely Recovery for ACT Therapy in Los Angeles

• Licensed therapists with addiction-specific ACT training
• ACT integrated across residential, PHP, and IOP levels of care
• Rated 5.0 by 47 verified Google reviewers
• Located in Los Angeles, serving clients across LA County and the San Fernando Valley
• Dual-diagnosis capable: ACT for co-occurring anxiety, depression, or PTSD alongside substance use disorder