The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast

Wounded Healers: Steven Hayes Part II

Feb 16, 2026
Steven Hayes, psychologist and originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, shares how a personal panic attack sparked decades of research and shaped ACT. He discusses his book's broad impact and how personal struggle informed clinical teaching. Conversations cover the therapy's roots, its relation to exposure, and the risks of revealing one’s own mental-health history.
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ANECDOTE

Carpet Moment That Sparked ACT

  • Steven Hayes' panic attack on a shag carpet pushed him to embrace panic rather than avoid it.
  • That moment seeded what became Acceptance and Commitment Therapy after many years of theory and testing.
INSIGHT

Science Translates Cultural Wisdom

  • Hayes combined wisdom traditions and modern science to formalize processes behind common cultural therapies.
  • He argues science lets those timeless processes be used in healthcare settings that demand evidence.
ADVICE

Use Personal Recovery To Build Credibility

  • Tell your own recovery story when appropriate because it builds credibility and connection with anxious clients.
  • Use lived experience to normalize symptoms and motivate exposure work in therapy.
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