Why Acceptance Commitment Therapy Matters for Therapists, Too
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified coach, AAMFT clinical supervisor, host of the Love, Happiness, and Success Podcast and founder of Growing Self.
If you’re a therapist who regularly uses acceptance commitment therapy with clients but finds it harder to apply those same principles to your own life or career, you’re not alone. Many of the clinicians I work with experience this same tension. In fact, struggling to turn our own clinical wisdom inward is far more common than most therapists realize.
Therapists spend their days helping others face fear, clarify values, and take meaningful action. Yet when it comes to our own energy, boundaries, or professional direction, many of us stay stuck far longer than we’d like. Over time, we notice the misalignment. We feel the fatigue. Still, we keep going.
In a recent episode of Love, Happiness, and Success for Therapists, I sat down with clinical psychologist Dr. Diana Hill to explore why this happens, how acceptance commitment therapy can support therapists personally, and what it looks like to evolve our work without abandoning the profession or losing ourselves in the process.
When the Work Takes More Than It Gives: Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Burnout
One of the realities of being a therapist is that the work is profoundly relational and emotionally demanding. We bring empathy, presence, and attunement to others all day long. As a result, by the time the workday ends, there often isn’t much left.
Diana describes what she calls the “leftovers” problem. Therapists pour their best energy into clients and then give whatever remains to their partners, families, and themselves. Over time, this pattern leads to chronic depletion. Clients may even sense it, pulling back or attempting to take care of the therapist instead.
This isn’t a personal failure. Rather, it reflects a structural issue within a profession that quietly rewards overgiving. Research supports this reality. Studies on acceptance and workplace mental health show that greater psychological acceptance predicts better well-being and job satisfaction, even in high-stress roles (Bond & Bunce, 2003).
Here, acceptance commitment therapy gives therapists language and tools to pause, notice what’s happening, and respond with intention rather than self-criticism.
The Stories That Keep Therapists Stuck (and How ACT Helps)
Another theme that emerged in our conversation involves the powerful stories therapists carry about who they’re “supposed” to be.
I’m a therapist, so I should sacrifice…
I should be able to handle this, or I should be grateful, or I should already know how to do this better.
These internal rules often drive burnout and self-doubt. Acceptance commitment therapy emphasizes psychological flexibility, not only with thoughts and emotions, but also with identity itself. As Diana explains, growth often requires loosening our grip on outdated self-definitions.
Importantly, meaningful change doesn’t always come from adding more. Instead, it often begins by letting go of beliefs that no longer fit. This same insight underlies why therapists benefit from their own growth work, as explored in Why Therapists Need to Grow Too and Therapy for Therapists: Preventing Burnout Through Personal Growth and Self-Care.
Therapist Genius, Identity, and the Future of the Field
We also explored the idea of “therapist genius,” the unique blend of skills, presence, and perspective each clinician brings into the room. Unfortunately, many therapists underestimate this value and flatten themselves into rigid protocols.
As the field changes, especially with the rise of AI, this matters more than ever. What cannot be automated is attunement, depth, and the ability to create transformative human moments. Diana shared vivid examples of what she calls “magic moments” in therapy, moments rooted in presence rather than technique.
Acceptance commitment therapy supports this approach by focusing on core processes instead of scripts. ACT invites therapists to bring more of themselves into the work, not less. Extensive research has demonstrated how ACT’s core processes support flexibility, values-based action, and long-term well-being (Hayes et al., 2006).
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Beyond Manuals: Process-Based Therapy and Career Evolution
Our conversation also touched on the evolution of ACT into process-based therapy. Rather than following rigid session-by-session manuals, process-based approaches help clinicians identify the patterns that keep a client stuck and intervene with flexibility and wisdom.
This framework mirrors what many therapists face professionally. Careers are not linear. Growth often includes second chapters, consulting roles, group work, retreats, or new ways of practicing that better align with values and energy. For therapists navigating business decisions, this perspective aligns closely with The Entrepreneurial Mindset for Therapists and practical guidance like How To Start a Private Therapy Practice (Without Burning Out or Going Broke).
For clinicians approaching burnout, this moment may not signal failure. Instead, it may be an invitation to evolve.
Research reinforces this idea. ACT-based interventions have been shown to reduce stress and increase psychological flexibility in helping professionals (Brinkborg et al., 2011).
Isolation, Self-Care, and Sustainable Practice
Therapists often work in isolation, especially in private practice. Over time, this isolation amplifies stress and self-doubt. Articles such as Don’t Go It Alone! Therapist Isolation and How to Build Community and Self-Care for Counselors: Why Self-Care Is Important for Your Career and Well-Being highlight why sustainable practice requires both community and intentional care.
Similarly, understanding How Being a Therapist Changes You can normalize the emotional impact of this work and reduce shame around needing support. Many therapists also benefit from revisiting values and purpose, as explored in Helping Therapy Clients (and YOU!) Find Career Clarity and Purpose.
Across all of these themes, acceptance commitment therapy offers a unifying lens: notice what’s happening, choose values-aligned action, and build a professional life that supports your humanity.
About the Guest: Dr. Diana Hill
Diana Hill, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, international trainer, and a leading expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is the author of Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most and the host of the Wise Effort Podcast. Diana’s work bridges clinical science, values-based living, and sustainable professional growth for therapists, leaders, and organizations.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If this conversation stirred questions about your energy, direction, or sustainability, support exists. One of the primary ways I support therapists who want to stay engaged, energized, and fulfilled over the long haul is through The Growth Collective for Therapists.
It’s a professional home created for clinicians who want real consultation, thoughtful mentorship, and community with others who truly understand the weight of this work. The Growth Collective offers the support of a high-quality group practice while allowing you to keep your independence, values, and financial autonomy.
xoxo,
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
Resources:
Bond, F. W., & Bunce, D. (2003). The role of acceptance and job control in mental health, job satisfaction, and work performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(6), 1057–1067. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.6.1057
Brinkborg, H., Michanek, J., Hesser, H., & Berglund, G. (2011). Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of stress among social workers: A randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 49(6–7), 389–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2011.03.009
Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, processes, and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006
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