Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages clients to:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasizes the importance of accepting unpleasant sensations and emotions rather than trying to control or suppress them. This therapeutic approach helps clients recognize their feelings as a natural part of the human experience, rather than something to be fought against. By promoting acceptance, ACT encourages individuals to create space for their emotions, which can lead to a greater ability to engage in meaningful activities and pursue their values, even in the presence of discomfort.

In contrast, the other options suggest different approaches to managing emotions. Controlling and changing emotions might provide a temporary sense of relief but doesn’t address the underlying issues or lead to long-term emotional flexibility. Suppressing negative feelings is counterproductive and can result in increased emotional distress over time. Relying solely on medication for relief can overlook the importance of psychological processes and coping strategies that ACT aims to develop. Therefore, embracing discomfort rather than avoiding it is central to achieving psychological flexibility and resilience in ACT.