Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Integrated With Feminist Therapy Following Intimate Partner Violence: A Case Study

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health concern following the experience of a traumatic event, such as sexual assault. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and feminist therapy have each demonstrated promise in the treatment of PTSD, particularly in survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence (IPV). There is nascent theoretical support for the integration of ACT and feminist therapy for PTSD due to their shared contextual conceptualization of suffering. The present study describes the integration of ACT and feminist therapy with Luna, a young woman recovering from sexual assault in an abusive romantic relationship. Quantitative outcomes, including percentile ranks and percent changes are presented alongside Luna’s self-described outcomes. At the end of treatment, Luna reported quantitative improvements in anxiety, depression, eating concerns, and distress. She also described improvements in values-based action, psychological flexibility, and personal empowerment. Limitations, including the brief course of treatment and measurement considerations, are discussed. Future research should continue to explore the integration of ACT and feminist therapy for the treatment of PTSD for IPV.