The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast Wounded Healers: Steve Hayes, from Panic to ACT
Feb 9, 2026
Steve Hayes, clinical psychologist and originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), shares how his own panic disorder shaped ACT. He recounts the limits of traditional treatments and a visceral breakthrough that changed his approach. He explains turning toward anxiety, safety behaviors, and how acceptance and metacognitive shifts inform resilience and recovery.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ACT's Roots And Core Shift
- ACT evolved from language theory and CBT roots, focusing on how we relate to thoughts rather than their content.
- Clinging to abstract internal rules can worsen problems despite solving many adaptive tasks.
Three-Year Panic Struggle
- Steven Hayes described a three-year struggle with panic that began during a faculty meeting and worsened with safety behaviors.
- He eventually hit bottom and spent his life investigating the processes that led to recovery.
Accept Practical Compromises Temporarily
- Use pragmatic compromises like short-term beta blockers if needed, but plan to address them later.
- Hayes views such compromises as acceptable starting points if you knowingly address avoidance.
