Purpose 🎯
Help clients differentiate between situations they can influence and situations requiring acceptance.
Increase tolerance for uncertainty and reduce excessive attempts to control outcomes.
Activity Steps:
- Identify current anxiety-provoking concerns.
- Help clients identify where their energy is most effective by separating situations they can control, influence, or practice accepting.
Let’s Talk About It 🗣️
Create three circles:
Circle of Control
Things I can directly change through my actions, choices, or behaviors.
Circle of Influence
Things I can impact but cannot fully control.
Circle of Acceptance
Things outside my control that require flexibility, distress tolerance, and acceptance.
Ask:
- Where is your anxiety asking you to spend your energy?
- Are you trying to control something that cannot be controlled?
- What action would move you forward?
- What would acceptance look like here?
If the Conversation Gets Stuck 💡
- What does your anxiety predict will happen if you let go of control?
- What are you gaining from holding onto this struggle?
- What would you focus on if you released the need for certainty?
Telehealth / Whiteboard Version ⚖️
Draw three connected circles on a shared screen or whiteboard. Sort current stressors together and identify one small action step for each controllable concern.
Why This Works 🌱
This activity helps clients reduce anxiety by shifting attention away from impossible control attempts and toward effective coping responses.
Clinical Pearl 🧠
Many anxious clients confuse preparation with control. Validate the desire to feel safe while helping them recognize when control efforts increase distress.
Documentation Language 📝
Therapist utilized an acceptance-based intervention to assist client in identifying controllable, influence-based, and uncontrollable stressors. Client explored anxiety patterns, uncertainty tolerance, and adaptive coping strategies.
- Identify one action step for controllable concerns.
- Practice acceptance-based coping for uncontrollable concerns.
Clinical Focus: ACT Principles, Uncertainty Tolerance, Emotional Regulation.