Pain Is Inevitable. Suffering Is Optional. ACT for Neurodivergent Brains.

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I sit down with Dr. Paige Victorine, a clinical psychologist and co-owner of Novo Psychological Wellness in Arlington, Virginia, to break down Acceptance and Commitment Therapy — what it actually is, why it's spelled ACT and not A-C-T, and why it might be one of the most neurodivergent-friendly therapeutic modalities out there.

We get into the passengers on the bus metaphor, why "acceptance" is one of the most poorly named concepts in mental health, and the difference between radical acceptance and just giving up. We talk about values versus goals, what it actually looks like to connect with your values when you're in survival mode, and why your special interests might be hiding the most important information about who you are.

We also cover defusion, psychological flexibility, and why you do not need a quiet mind to have a peaceful life. We get into the evolutionary reason your brain generates catastrophic thoughts, why ACT doesn't ask you to think positively, and what it looks like to use ACT specifically with neurodivergent clients — including why standard mindfulness training makes both of us unreasonably angry.

We close with the masking conversation I didn't know I needed, the concept of creative hopelessness, and how ACT approaches meaning and purpose in a way that actually works for brains that have spent years failing to meet standards that were never built for them.

Dr. Victorine's practice, Novo Psychological Wellness, offers therapy and adult assessments across PSYpact states. Find them at nouveaupsychology.com and on Psychology Today.

If you're an adult looking for therapy in New York, find me at alyssazimmerman.com.

00:00 What Is ACT? Understanding the Basics 06:15 Redefining Acceptance: Willingness vs Resignation 11:18 Changing Your Relationship with Thoughts 16:05 Psychological Flexibility: The Core of ACT 22:09 Navigating Post-Diagnosis Identity & Masking Burnout 27:15 ACT for Clinicians: Working with Neurodivergent Clients 32:34 Masking as Choice: Context Over Rules 37:18 Coping Strategies & Creative Hopelessness 42:18 Meaning & Philosophy: ACT's Existential Foundation 44:42 What to Expect in ACT Therapy 50:42 Common Misconceptions and Finding a Therapist