Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in tampa, FL
Learn how to respond differently to difficult thoughts and emotions with ACT Therapy
Everyone experiences difficult thoughts, emotions, and stress at times. For some people, the struggle comes from trying to control or eliminate those internal experiences. The harder we try to push away anxiety, frustration, or painful thoughts, the more stuck those experiences can feel.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a behavioral therapy that focuses on building psychological flexibility, or the ability to stay present and take meaningful action even in the presence of uncomfortable thoughts or emotions.
ACT teaches people that thoughts and feelings do not have to control behavior. Instead of trying to eliminate anxiety, frustration, or self-doubt, individuals learn skills that help them respond to those experiences in ways that align with their values and goals.
ACT Therapy in Tampa & Online Florida
ACT Therapy focuses on helping people change how they respond to internal experiences rather than trying to remove those experiences completely.
At Tampa Psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is used with children, teens, and adults to help people move forward even when difficult thoughts or emotions are present.
Signs ACT Therapy May Help You or Your Child
If you feel like your mind gets stuck in the same loops of worry, overthinking, or self-criticism, you’re not alone. Many people spend a lot of energy trying to control their thoughts or push uncomfortable feelings away. When those strategies stop working, it can start to feel frustrating or exhausting. You don’t have to keep dealing with that on your own. ACT Therapy helps people step back from those patterns and learn new ways of responding when difficult thoughts or emotions show up.
For children and teens, these struggles often appear through big emotions, frustration, avoidance, or behavioral challenges at home or school. For adults, it may look like constant mental pressure, perfectionism, anxiety, or feeling disconnected from the things that matter most. ACT focuses on helping you or your child respond to those internal experiences with more flexibility, so thoughts and emotions don’t have to control what happens next.
CBT Therapy in Tampa, Fl
You don’t have to keep fighting your thoughts.
Many people spend years trying to control their thoughts or push difficult emotions away. When that doesn’t work, it can start to feel exhausting or discouraging. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy takes a different approach. Instead of trying to eliminate uncomfortable thoughts or feelings, ACT helps you learn how to step back from them and focus on what truly matters in your life.
By developing psychological flexibility, you can begin responding to challenges in new ways and move forward even when difficult emotions show up.
CBT Therapy in Tampa, Fl
What Conditions Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help Treat
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapy used to treat a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges in children, teens, and adults. Because CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behavior, it can be especially helpful when patterns of worry, negative thinking, avoidance, or emotional overwhelm begin interfering with daily life. CBT helps people understand these patterns and develop practical strategies for responding to situations in more effective ways.
Concerns CBT may help with:
anxiety
panic attacks
excessive worry
social anxiety
perfectionism
depression
negative thinking patterns
stress and burnout
ADHD-related challenges
emotional regulation difficulties
school avoidance
behavioral challenges in kids and teens
intrusive thoughts
phobias
adjustment difficulties
life transitions
Our CBT Therapists
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Dr. Kristin Edwards
Licensed Psychologist
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Dr. Melissa Miranda
Licensed Psychologist
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Dr. Morgan Lago
Licensed Psychologist
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Dr. Kim Knap
Licensed Psychologist
What Therapy Is Like at Tampa Psychology
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. Many people worry they will be judged, pressured to talk about things before they are ready, or given advice that doesn’t actually fit their life. That’s not how we approach therapy.
Our goal is to understand the full picture of what you or your child are experiencing. In the early sessions, we spend time learning about patterns that may be contributing to stress, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or behavioral challenges. This includes looking at the environments, expectations, and experiences that shape how someone thinks, feels, and responds to situations.
Our work is collaborative. Instead of simply talking about problems, we work together to identify the patterns that are keeping those challenges going and develop practical strategies that support meaningful change. For children and teens, this often includes parent involvement so the strategies learned in therapy can be supported at home.
Therapy is not about forcing people to “think positive” or pretending difficult emotions do not exist. It is about helping people understand their internal experiences and build the tools needed to respond to challenges with more flexibility and confidence.
Common Questions About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that helps people understand how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence one another. When certain thinking patterns become rigid or overly negative, they can contribute to anxiety, stress, depression, and behavioral challenges. CBT helps individuals recognize these patterns and develop more flexible, effective ways of responding to situations.
CBT is one of the most widely researched therapy approaches and is commonly recommended for anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD-related challenges, panic, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and stress-related difficulties.
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How does CBT work?
CBT focuses on identifying patterns that maintain distress and learning practical skills that support change. During therapy, individuals learn how automatic thoughts influence emotional reactions and behavior. A therapist helps clients examine these patterns and experiment with new ways of thinking and responding.
CBT often includes structured strategies such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral experiments, gradual exposure to avoided situations, and emotion regulation skills. These tools help individuals build confidence and develop healthier responses to everyday challenges.
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How long does CBT take to work?
CBT is often considered a structured and goal-focused therapy approach. Many people begin noticing changes within several weeks as they start applying new strategies between sessions. However, the length of therapy varies depending on the individual’s goals, the challenges they are addressing, and how long the patterns have been present.
Some people benefit from short-term CBT focused on a specific concern, while others choose to continue therapy longer to support broader personal growth and skill development.
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Is CBT effective for anxiety?
Yes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is widely considered one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. Research consistently shows that CBT can help reduce symptoms of generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
CBT helps individuals understand how anxious thoughts and avoidance behaviors reinforce anxiety. Through structured strategies, people gradually build tolerance for uncertainty and learn how to respond differently when anxiety arises.
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Can CBT help children and teens?
Yes. CBT is commonly used with children and adolescents and is adapted to match their developmental level. Therapy may include visual tools, activities, and structured exercises that help young people understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
For younger children, parent involvement is often an important part of treatment. Parents may learn strategies that help reinforce coping skills and emotional regulation outside of therapy sessions.
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What happens during a CBT therapy session?
During CBT sessions, the therapist and client work together to understand the situations, thoughts, and behaviors contributing to distress. Sessions often include discussion, skill-building exercises, and collaborative problem solving.
Clients are typically encouraged to practice strategies between sessions so they can apply what they are learning in everyday situations. This practice helps reinforce new thinking and behavioral patterns over time.
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Is CBT only focused on positive thinking?
No. CBT is not about forcing positive thinking or ignoring difficult experiences. Instead, it focuses on developing more accurate and balanced ways of thinking. The goal is to reduce overly harsh or distorted thought patterns while helping individuals respond to challenges in a more constructive way.
Many people find that CBT helps them move away from self-criticism and toward a more flexible and realistic perspective.
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Who can benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT can be helpful for children, teens, and adults experiencing anxiety, stress, emotional overwhelm, attention-related challenges, behavioral difficulties, or persistent negative thinking patterns.
Because CBT focuses on practical skills, many people find it helpful not only for managing symptoms but also for improving confidence, resilience, and everyday problem-solving.
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Start Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
If anxiety, stress, negative thinking patterns, or emotional overwhelm are interfering with daily life, support is available. Tampa Psychology offers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children, teens, and adults both in person in Tampa and through telehealth.