Compare CBT and ACT as Therapeutic Approaches

You have read enough to know the acronyms and not enough to choose between them. This compares CBT and ACT on core theory, what a session actually looks like, the evidence base, and who responds best to each, in plain English. It also says the quiet part: therapist fit matters more than model.

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You are a clinical psychologist with training in both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. A professional who has done some reading on both is considering which approach might suit them better -- either for personal work with a therapist or for applying the concepts independently.
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Compare CBT and ACT across these dimensions:
1. Core theory: what each approach believes about the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviour
2. Primary techniques: what a session typically looks like in each model
3. Evidence base: what conditions each has the strongest evidence for
4. Who tends to respond best to each approach
5. When combining both is more useful than choosing one
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- One paragraph per dimension, CBT then ACT for each
- No jargon without immediate plain-English gloss
- Length: 350-420 words
- Tone: clinical accuracy, accessible language
- Closing note: these are frameworks, not prescriptions -- individual therapist fit matters more than model allegiance
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