DIRECTIONS FOR USE (When to use)
- Use when you feel overwhelmed by our own thoughts, your mind is endlessly replaying the past or rehearsing the future, making it impossible to actually "arrive" in the room you are currently sitting in.
- Use when you feel like you’re failing if you aren’t constantly "doing," and when you finally try to pause, you’re flooded with the feeling that you’re doing something wrong.
- Use when you feel you must first "fix" yourself or eliminate every difficult emotion before you are allowed to pursue the life you actually want.
- Use when you are exhausted from the effort of masking, translating and explaining yourself, and meeting expectations of others.
- Use when you feel friction and resistence to something, feel stuck, and want to move through.
- F.E.A.R: When we are Fused with our thoughts, Evaluating experiences through judgement and feeling, Avoiding discomfort, and Reasoning about behaviors unhelpfully.
SUPPLEMENT FACTS
Active Formulation: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (pronounced as the word "act" )
Origins & Evolution: Grounded in Relational Frame Theory, ACT is a third-wave evolution of traditional CBT (Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy) that emphasizes changing one’s relationship with thoughts, rather than organizing life around trying to control or eliminate them.
Historical Roots: Although ACT was developed within Western behavioral science, its understanding of pain and suffering echoes many insights found in Buddhist philosophy, particularly the idea that attempts to avoid or control suffering often intensify it. ACT can be understood as a Western psychological translation of this ancient observation, reframing it through concepts such as experiential avoidance and psychological flexibility.
Clinical Efficacy: ACT has a strong and growing scientific evidence base showing it can be effective for a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, substance use, and stress-related problems, and other health challenges.
Primary Mechanism: Focuses on building Psychological Flexibility. Instead of trying to force your thoughts or environment to change, this process helps you stay grounded in the present moment. It’s about learning to be "stretchy" enough to hold onto your values and keep moving forward, even when life feels heavy or uncomfortable.
Key Distinction: Symptom relief is not the primary target but it is often a meaningful byproduct. It often emerges naturally when people stop organizing their lives around avoiding discomfort and begin living in alignment with what truly matters.
INGREDIENTS
The "Hexaflex" Complex:
- Present Moment: Awareness of the here-and-now.
- Acceptance: Opening up to unwanted personal experiences without defense.
- Defusion: Learning to observe thoughts as thoughts, rather than automatically engaging with them or allowing them to dictate behavior.
- Self-as-Context: The part of you that notices experiences--thoughts, emotions, sensations--without being defined by them.
- Values: One’s deepest, true desires and chosen life directions (e.g. freedom, love).
- Committed Action: Behavior that aligns with and serves personal values.
Additional Ingredients:
- Metaphors: Such as "Passengers on the Bus" or "Demons on the Boat", "The Quicksand", and the "Struggle Switch".
- Mindfulness: Such as "Leaves on a Stream", Grounding 5-4-3-2-1 Technique, mindful breathwork, and body scan.
USER’S MANUAL
The Two Mountains: I am not sitting on a pedestal telling you how to climb. I am on my own mountain, just across the way. I can see a path for you not because I’m a "master climber," but because I have a different perspective.
WARNINGS:
If you want to delete your feelings, this isn't the right bottle. This supplement targets Experiential Avoidance (trying to run from pain!).
Initial doses may feel intense. Confronting what you’ve been running from is brave work, and it can be bumpy.
But this supplement does not require you to relive trauma details to be effective.
Active Participation Required.
Drug Interactions (Synergy):
Combining different supplements is common practice, but every formula is specifically tailored to your unique needs and goals.
For example, ACT often pairs well with EMDR for trauma processing, or parts work when internal conflict is high.
Dosage Instructions: Do not wait for a crisis to apply. Take small, "mindful micro-doses" daily to build the psychological muscle needed for larger challenges.
Storage: Keep within reach during moments of high "F.E.A.R." Store in a place of self-compassion.
These supplement descriptions are provided for educational and reflective purposes. They describe how different therapeutic approaches may be used and integrated within my clinical work, rather than offering a standardized or one-size-fits-all treatment. All formulations are customized based on individual needs, consent, readiness, and the therapeutic relationship.