Is Somatic Experiencing Therapy Safe for All Teens?

When practiced by a qualified clinician, somatic experiencing is described as a gentle and safe approach for teens. Rather than pushing them to talk through painful memories, the work focuses on noticing small physical cues like breath, muscle tension, or heartbeat at a pace that centers the teen’s comfort and sense of steadiness.

Can This Somatic Approach to Anxiety Treatment Help Teens Who Don’t Want to Talk?

Yes. Somatic experiencing can be especially helpful for teens who struggle to talk or shut down in traditional talk therapy because it begins with the body instead of conversation. By gently increasing awareness of sensations such as tightness, breath, or posture, teens can start to feel better without having to put everything into words.

What If My Teen Has High-Functioning Anxiety or Hides Their Symptoms?

Somatic anxiety techniques are well suited to teens with high-functioning anxiety who may seem fine outwardly but carry stress in their bodies. These practices help uncover hidden tension, increase teenage body awareness, and support the development of healthier, more sustainable coping strategies.

How Quickly Do Teens Benefit from Body-Based Anxiety Relief?

Some teens feel more grounded after only a few sessions, while others need more time. The article notes that somatic exercises for anxiety, when practiced regularly, can lead to gradual but powerful changes in how a teen’s nervous system responds to stress.

Can Somatic Therapy Be Combined with Other Mental Health Support?

Yes. Families often combine somatic experiencing with other supports such as talk therapy, mindfulness, or academic coaching. Somatic work complements these approaches by promoting nervous system regulation in teens alongside cognitive and emotional growth.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Mental Health Treatment

Published: 01/19/2026 | Updated: 01/19/2026

Authored by: Meagan Burkhart,

Edited by: Jemma Strain, B.S. Psychology

Many therapeutic interventions exist for mental health treatment today, and each has its unique benefits. For teens diagnosed with a mental health condition, finding a form of therapy that addresses their symptoms–including thoughts, feelings, and behaviors–is an important part of their journey toward wellness. One form of therapy that has been shown to be effective in supporting positive behavior change is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

This article will focus on ACT as a mental health treatment option for teens. We will cover the following topics:

What acceptance and commitment therapy is and how it works
Mental health conditions treated with ACT
The application of ACT therapy techniques and exercises
Where to receive ACT therapy for teens

What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?

ACT is based on principles of behavioral analysis. The goal of ACT behavioral therapy is to change how people react to negative thoughts and feelings, rather than changing the thoughts or feelings themselves. By understanding how we interpret the meaning of troubling thoughts, ACT helps us respond differently, replacing problem behaviors with more adaptive coping skills.¹

There are six psychological processes used in ACT therapy for mental health:²

Experiential avoidance and acceptance – Avoiding uncomfortable thoughts, memories, and emotions is associated with a range of mental health problems. ACT focuses on accepting these experiences, rather than trying to change or suppress them.
Cognitive fusion and defusion – Becoming fully entangled with negative thoughts and acting on them can contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. ACT focuses on cognitive defusion, which means allowing problematic thoughts to pass without attaching too much meaning to them.
Attentional rigidity to the past and future and being present – Spending a lot of time replaying the past or worrying about what might happen in the future can cause huge emotional distress. ACT encourages teens to bring their attention back to what is happening in the present moment.
Conceptualized self and noticing self – Teens can sometimes become stuck in rigid ideas about who they are or what they’re capable of. ACT fosters a more flexible sense of self by incorporating mindfulness exercises, metaphors, and hands-on perspective-taking exercises.
Unclear, compliant, or avoidant motives and values – When behavior is driven mainly by avoidance or outside pressure, it can leave teens feeling disconnected or directionless. ACT helps teens identify what genuinely matters to them so their choices are guided by their own values.
Inaction, impulsivity, or avoidant persistence and committed action – Avoiding challenges or reacting impulsively can keep teens stuck in the same patterns. ACT helps teens take positive steps in their lives, even when those steps feel uncomfortable.

By utilizing the six processes outlined above, ACT merges acceptance and mindfulness with commitment and behavior to support lasting, positive outcomes.

Mental Health Conditions Treated with ACT

Many research studies have been conducted to assess the effectiveness of ACT in promoting behavioral changes across a variety of mental health conditions. One aspect of ACT that stands out from other forms of therapy is its single framework for addressing challenges that cross over different diagnoses.^1,2

Early research focused on ACT for treating depression, psychosis, and anxiety, but the quality of studies varied. This made it hard for psychologists to properly define evidence based ACT therapy. However, more recent research has supported the efficacy of ACT for chronic pain, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and other mental health conditions.³

Below, we will discuss some of the primary mental health diagnoses in teens that may be treated with ACT.

Depression

A recent meta-analysis reviewed the results of 25 studies focused on ACT therapy for depression in adolescents. The researchers concluded that ACT significantly reduced

depression levels compared to control groups that did not receive ACT therapy. In addition, follow-up data from many of these studies also showed that improvements were maintained over time, suggesting that ACT therapy for depression may offer lasting benefits for teens who complete treatment.⁴

To understand how ACT reduced depressive symptoms, psychologists were able to objectively measure adolescents’ psychological flexibility following ACT treatment. Psychological flexibility refers to a teen’s ability to stay present and respond to difficult thoughts or emotions in healthier ways, rather than trying to avoid or control them. This is the ultimate goal of ACT therapy, and it is what makes it so effective in treating depression and other mental health conditions.^2,4

Studies also found that ACT for depression can help adolescents cope with negative emotions and cognitive distortions, which are core features of major depressive disorder. Overall, there are many different ways to deliver an evidence based ACT therapy program for depression, depending on your child’s needs.⁴

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concerns affecting children and adolescents today. While the first line of treatment for anxiety has typically been cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), ACT therapy for anxiety is increasingly used as an alternative or complementary approach. As we explained in the section above, the ultimate goal of ACT therapy is to increase psychological flexibility, and this is a key feature that differentiates ACT for anxiety from traditional CBT therapy.

ACT has been shown to be useful in treating a range of adolescent anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).⁵

There is a specific approach to ACT therapy for anxiety: the Discoverer, Noticer, Advisor, and Values (DNAV). This model simplifies the six processes of ACT discussed earlier and forms a character-driven treatment plan. For example, by acting as the discoverer, adolescents with anxiety can become curious about their own symptoms and explore new possibilities. As a noticer, they focus on mindfulness, and as an advisor, they use their newfound knowledge to make wise choices.^5,6

Trauma and PTSD

Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches have also been used to treat PTSD and trauma alongside traditional trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). ACT therapy for PTSD tackles what is known as experiential avoidance, or a tendency to avoid facing painful experiences from the past. Rather than pushing these memories or feelings away, ACT for trauma teaches skills to replace avoidance behaviors, promoting psychological flexibility. Studies have shown that increasing psychological flexibility in adolescents with PTSD or other trauma-based mental health concerns leads to improved life satisfaction and overall well-being.⁷

As noted above, acceptance and commitment therapy is designed to address a wide range of behavioral and emotional problems. While we focused on ACT for depression, anxiety, and PTSD in this section, it is important to note that ACT is also used across various other clinical populations.

Applying ACT Therapy Techniques and Exercises

As there is a growing body of research to support the efficacy of ACT therapy for mental health conditions, it can be helpful to look at some of the specific exercises and techniques commonly used in practice. In this section, we will walk through a few ACT therapy exercises related to cognitive defusion, sense of self, and mindfulness.

Leaves on a Stream

The ‘Leaves on a Stream’ ACT exercise aims to help teens let go of unhelpful or troubling thoughts. This is a visualization technique, where the therapist guides your child through a meditation in which they view their thoughts as leaves that float by on a stream, allowing them to notice the thought without holding on to it or giving it power over themselves. During this exercise, adolescents may also work on controlling their breathing to keep their attention in the present. This is a short technique that can be used at the start of a therapy session and may also be assigned as homework for your child between sessions.⁸

Noticing Thoughts

Part of ACT for mental health is developing a stronger sense of self. There are several ACT therapy techniques to address this goal, and one of the simplest is changing the language a child uses to describe themselves. During this exercise, a therapist may ask your child to describe themselves with ‘I am’ statements. Some examples might include “I am stupid” or “I am scared.”⁸

After writing down the statements, an ACT therapist will encourage your child to alter the language, specifically by leading each statement with “I am having the thought that…” By adding that simple phrase, teens learn to separate themselves from problematic thoughts and become aware of how often they judge themselves in everyday life.⁸

Labelling Emotions

Mindfulness based therapy ACT exercises can include breathwork, labelling emotions, and body scanning. Labelling emotions may involve using an emotion wheel, which is an illustration depicting a range of emotions grouped into related categories to help teens better describe how they are feeling. Being able to identify specific emotions and understanding their impacts throughout the day is an important part of mindfulness. This also encourages teens to express their feelings, rather than suppress them or judge them.⁸

The ACT therapy exercises discussed above are just a few examples of what your child may experience during ACT behavioral therapy. By practicing these skills outside of structured therapy sessions, your child can become more comfortable implementing the skills they need to manage mental health concerns.

Where to Receive ACT Therapy for Teens

Depending on the severity of your child’s mental health concern, different levels of mental health treatment may be recommended. For teens experiencing severe behavioral and emotional symptoms, an ACT therapy inpatient program can be beneficial. When receiving inpatient mental health treatment, your child will have 24/7 support and medical monitoring to ensure their safety, while also having the chance to participate in different therapeutic interventions. Inpatient mental health treatment typically takes place in either a general hospital or a psychiatric hospital.

If your teen needs 24/7 support for managing their mental health concerns, but does not require the medical monitoring offered in a hospital, residential treatment may be another option. Residential mental health facilities allow teens to receive constant support in a comfortable environment, with a strong emphasis on regular participation in therapy. ACT therapy residential treatment programs can take place in group settings so that adolescents can learn from their peers, share experiences, and build trust in a safe environment.

Whether your child requires inpatient mental health treatment, residential treatment, or outpatient therapy, Mission Prep has a variety of options to fit their needs. Our ACT mental health treatment programs can be delivered in multiple settings to meet your child wherever they are in their wellness journey.

Mission Prep: Providing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Help for Teens

Mission Prep is a leader in mental health treatment for teens. With programs designed to target a variety of mental health conditions, we are equipped to deliver evidence-based therapy options to help your child manage their symptoms and build new resilience. ACT therapy programs through Mission Prep, along with other therapeutic interventions, aim to improve your child’s daily life. If you are ready to begin your child’s treatment with Mission Prep, call us today. A member of our team will answer any questions you may have and provide recommendations for treatment options.

References

Ruiz, F. J. (2010). A review of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) empirical evidence: Correlational, experimental psychopathology, component and outcome studies. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 10(1), 125-162.
Hayes, S. C., Pistorello, J., & Levin, M. E. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy as a unified model of behavior change. The Counseling Psychologist, 40(7), 976-1002. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000012460836
Smout, M. F., Hayes, L., Atkins, P. W., Klausen, J., & Duguid, J. E. (2012). The empirically supported status of acceptance and commitment therapy: An update. Clinical Psychologist, 16(3), 97-109. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-9552.2012.00051.x
Yu, X., Zhao, B., Yin, T., Qu, H., Zhang, J., Cheng, X., & Chen, X. (2025). Effect of acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescent depression: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1506822. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1506822
Petersen, J.M., Pimentel, S.S. (2024). Acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescent anxiety. Current Treat Options in Psychiatry, 11, 366–372 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40501-024-00335-8
Shao, S., Zhang, Y., Yang, M., Li, C., Zhao, R., Liu, Z., … & Cui, L. (2024). The effectiveness of the DNA-V program on reducing anxiety among Chinese adolescents: Outcomes of the face-to-face and web-based versions. Journal of School Psychology, 106, 101357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2024.101357
Loftus, S. T., Wetzler, K., Paquette, K., Christopherson, C. D., Skolnik, M. C., & Nelson, R. S. (2024). Group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for PTSD in a HMO psychiatry clinic: An open trial. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 54(4), 327-334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-024-09628-8
Olusoga, P., & Yousuf, S. (2023). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In Applying cognitive behavioural therapeutic approaches in sport (pp. 26-43). Routledge.