Contextual Behavioral Science (ACT & RFT)

Our team utilizes Contextual Behavioral Science, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory (RFT). These approaches focus on building psychological flexibility and improving life satisfaction. Discover how ACT and RFT at Gorog Health can help you navigate challenges, enhance your well-being, and create meaningful change.

What is this Type of Therapy?

Contextual behavior science is the scientific and practical approach to analyzing human behavior that aims to predict and influence behavior across all domains and levels of analysis. At the root, CBS proposes that social, neurological, and behavioral factors influence behavior.

In the mental health field, contextual behavior science has led to the development of two approaches to psychotherapy that have gained popularity in recent years: Acceptance and Commitment Theory (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory (RFT).

Acceptance and Commitment Theory – Rooted in its philosophy is the idea of radical acceptance of one’s suppressed thoughts and feelings. As the saying goes, “What you resist, persists” is applicable here. When a patient can accept their thoughts and feelings without casting a negative judgment on the idea or emotion – they become more congruent in who they are and can take affirmative action.

Relational Frame Theory – RFT is a psychological theory that involves changing the relationship between a person and their thoughts. Instead of believing thoughts as literal truths, individuals learn to see them as mental events. For instance, someone with social anxiety might relate a joke as a personal attack – or, more primitively, as a failure on their part to socially calibrate. RFT helps identify these patterns, which is the first step to overcoming them.

Each approach is helpful for different purposes in therapy and can often be mixed. As tools for treating a patient, they are used interchangeably throughout the therapy process.

How does it work?

ACT works by allowing patients to fully accept their thoughts and feelings about an event or situation. This allows them to become more aligned and is a guide to clarifying life goals and values.

RFT works by clarifying whether “mental events” or subconscious associations they experience have merit or not.

How does it help?

ACT and RFT help patients to understand themselves better and to clarify values and goals. Here are some more benefits included in this approach:

  • Greater awareness of their social anxiety triggers
  • The ability to change the relationship between a person and their thoughts
  • Acceptance of what anxious thoughts/feelings come up
  • More clarified, meaningful goals that are aligned with their core values

What is it used for?

ACT and RFT can be used to treat different issues in a therapy setting:

  • General Anxiety Disorder
  • Mood Disorders
  • OCD
  • PTSD
  • Eating Disorders
  • Substance Abuse
  • Stress Management
  • Relationship Issues

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps individuals accept their thoughts and feelings by focusing on taking actions aligned with their values.

What Makes Us Qualified for This Type of Treatment?

Dr. Gorog spent two years obtaining her Master’s in Clinical Counseling and then went on to obtain her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, which is the highest level of preparation and training a mental health professional can complete to offer the most comprehensive mental health treatment and therapy. Her doctorate program included 5 years of full-time study involving coursework, research, a practicum, a dissertation, and one year on a doctoral internship. Currently, she has now over 12 years in experience and practice as a mental health professional.

What Can Patients Expect?

Patients, in general, can expect to be asked a lot of questions. As opposed to other psychotherapy models, ACT and RFT focus on a person holistically. As such, questions about their background, current situation, thoughts, and feelings are all valid and necessary.

What are the steps of this type of therapy?

While RFT is more of a framework for psychotherapy, the steps for ACT include:

What Does A Timeline Look Like?

How long symptoms take to resolve depends on the severity of the psychological issue. For people who’ve suffered a near-death experience and suffer from PTSD might take longer than someone who faces social anxiety. It also depends on the individual’s willingness, to be honest and be flexible in the therapeutic process.

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About Dr. Nordberg

Dr. Nordberg specializes in insomnia, chronic pain management, and psychosocial support for chronic health conditions, including anxiety, depression, stress, grief, trauma, anger, ADHD, and life transitions. She uses research-backed methods like ACT, CBT, and MI, and is trained in biofeedback and relaxation training. With a background in clinical and health psychology, Dr. Nordberg offers holistic, collaborative care. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from Southern Methodist University and her B.A. from University of Southern California. Her extensive experience spans VA hospitals, academic medical centers, and community clinics.

She is currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship in Health Psychology at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center and is supervised by Dr. Gorog.

About Dr. Gorog

Founder of Gorog Health, Dr. Lauren Gorog is a licensed Clinical Health Psychologist specializing in a holistic approach to mental healthcare. With over 12 years of experience, Dr. Gorog integrates mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), biofeedback, and somatic techniques like yoga and diaphragmatic breathing to address mental health issues and promote overall wellness. She offers tailored treatment for insomnia, chronic pain, eating disorders, and more, coordinating care with medical providers to enhance your well-being.

Dr. Gorog earned her Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, which included extensive training and research. As a member of the Colorado Psychological Association, she remains current with ongoing professional development.