Radical Acceptance

The only way out of our feelings is working through them. Accepting your feelings as they are is the first step in recovery and moving toward your authentic self. 

Radical acceptance is a concept taken from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) where you accept  reality and acknowledge the truth of what is/ has happened because fighting it only makes it worse. Radical Acceptance can be extended to our emotional experiences as well. 

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.  Don't lead your self to suffer by avoiding pain!

​In radical acceptance you give yourself permission to feel whatever it you're feeling, providing yourself  compassion as compared to beating yourself for having a normal response to adversity.  The empathy you give yourself in radical acceptance will help build confidence and esteem. 

Radical acceptance helps you get "unstuck" while strengthening your control over situations. The act of accepting a situation as is leads us to dwell less on the trouble or unfairness, and frees up time to be more proactive. 

Read more about Radical Acceptance in this article featured on PsychologyToday, Radical Acceptance: Sometimes problems can't be solved

If you or someone you love is experiencing depression or anxiety, please visit www.TherapywithRaquel.com for more information on counseling services. 

Raquel Buchanan is a marriage and family therapist associate (AMFT #85262) with Caulfield Counseling & Education. Raquel provides counseling and therapy services to individuals, families, and children in Palm Springs, Ca. Raquel specializes in working with clients who experience self-esteem or identity issues due to childhood trauma. She is supervised by David Caulfield (MFT #14552).