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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of the ‘third wave’ cognitive and behavioral therapies. It incorporates acceptance and mindfulness strategies alongside change strategies, in recognition that change is not always possible or desirable. ACT is theoretically derived from relational frame theory (RFT) which is a behavior analytic account of the functional properties of human language. The ACT approach proposes that suffering and dysfunction arise from attempts to control or eliminate unwanted experiences. Attempts to control or avoid can lead to the paradoxical effect of greater suffering and a perception of loss of control of the focus for elimination. The aim of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility, which is defined as “contacting the present moment fully as a conscious human being, and based on what the situation affords, changing or persisting in behavior in the service of chosen values” (Hayes, Luoma, Bond, Masuda, & Lillis, 2006). Read more

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

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Values

Values

Meaningful activity is value-driven. This ACT-informed worksheet explores the key domains of values and encourages clients to reflect upon what is imp ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/values/

Exercises

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Valued Domains

Valued Domains

Values are the “principles for living” that capture what matters most to people. Elucidating values can serve many therapeutic functions, such as ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/valued-domains/

Information handouts

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Values: Connecting To What Matters

Values: Connecting To What Matters

Values: Connecting To What Matters is a practical self-help guide which introduces the reader to a cornerstone of acceptance and commitment therapy (A ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/values-connecting-to-what-matters-full-guide/

Guides

Choosing Your Values

Choosing Your Values

Values are the “principles for living” that capture what matters most to people. Elucidating values can serve many therapeutic functions, includin ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/choosing-your-values/

Exercises

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Exploring Valued Domains

Exploring Valued Domains

Values are the “principles for living” that capture what matters most to people. Elucidating values can serve many therapeutic functions, such as ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/exploring-valued-domains/

Exercises

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[Free Guide] An Introduction To Values

[Free Guide] An Introduction To Values

People’s lives feel unfulfilling or directionless if they’re not guided by values. An Introduction to Values is a practical self-help guide design ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/an-introduction-to-values/

Guides

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What Is Mindfulness?

What Is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness meditation is a traditional Buddhist practice. It is now commonly taught as a practice helpful in the management of a variety of mental he ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-mindfulness/

Information handouts

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How Does Emotion Affect Your Life?

How Does Emotion Affect Your Life?

Emotions are an essential part of being human. Everyone experiences a wide variety of emotions in response to changes in their thoughts, biology, and ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/how-does-emotion-affect-your-life/

Exercises

Unforgiveness – The Hook

Unforgiveness – The Hook

Everyone experiences hurts and transgressions. When an offence occurs, people often react with anger, fear, or sadness. When these responses persist, ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/unforgiveness-the-hook/

Information handouts

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Body Scan (Audio)

Body Scan (Audio)

The Body Scan is a mindfulness exercise encouraging present-moment awareness, with the sensations of the body being used as an anchor for mindful atte ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/body-scan-audio/

Audio

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Developing Psychological Flexibility

Developing Psychological Flexibility

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) proposes that suffering is associated with psychological inflexibility. ACT suggests that to increase psycholo ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/developing-psychological-flexibility/

Information handouts

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A Guide To Emotions (Psychology Tools For Living Well)

A Guide To Emotions (Psychology Tools For Living Well)

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help your clients to live happier and more fulfilling lives. Psychology Tools for Living Well is a self-help course ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/a-guide-to-emotions-psychology-tools-for-living-well/

Books & Chapters

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Mindfulness Of Breath (Short Version) (Audio)

Mindfulness Of Breath (Short Version) (Audio)

Mindfulness Of Breath (Short version) is a mindfulness exercise encouraging present-moment awareness, using the breath as an anchor for the attention. ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mindfulness-of-breath-short-version-audio/

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Being With Difficulty (Audio)

Being With Difficulty (Audio)

Being With Difficulty is a mindfulness exercise which gently brings present-moment awareness to bear upon thoughts and feelings that are more difficul ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/being-with-difficulty-audio/

Audio

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Mindfulness In Everyday Life (Audio)

Mindfulness In Everyday Life (Audio)

Mindfulness In Everyday Life is a short mindfulness exercise which guides clients how to bring present-moment awareness into everyday life. This audio ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mindfulness-in-everyday-life-audio/

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Mindfulness Of Breath (Long Version) (Audio)

Mindfulness Of Breath (Long Version) (Audio)

Mindfulness Of Breath (Long version) is a mindfulness exercise encouraging present-moment awareness, using the breath as an anchor for the attention. ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mindfulness-of-breath-long-version-audio/

Audio

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Mindfulness Of Sounds And Thoughts (Audio)

Mindfulness Of Sounds And Thoughts (Audio)

Mindfulness Of Sounds And Thoughts is a mindfulness practice exercise that encourages relating to thoughts as ‘just thoughts’ that come and go in ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mindfulness-of-sounds-and-thoughts-audio/

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Mindful Attention (Audio)

Mindful Attention (Audio)

The Mindful Attention exercise is an audio track from the Psychology Tools For Overcoming PTSD Audio Collection. This audio track was originally recor ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mindful-attention-audio/

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Thinking Versus Sensing (Audio)

Thinking Versus Sensing (Audio)

Thinking Versus Sensing is a short mindfulness exercise to demonstrate the difference between thinking about our experience and sensing it directly. E ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/thinking-versus-sensing-audio/

Audio

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Raisin Exercise (Audio)

Raisin Exercise (Audio)

The Raisin Exercise is a short mindfulness exercise encouraging present-moment awareness of the senses, connecting with taste, touch and smell while y ... https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/raisin-exercise-audio/

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Links to external resources

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Assessment

  • Valued Living Questionnaire (Version 2) | Wilson, Groom | 2002
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Case Conceptualization / Case Formulation

Guides and workbooks

Information Handouts

Information (Professional)

Presentations

Self-Help Programmes

Treatment Guide

Video

  • The Struggle Switch | Russ Harris
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  • The Three Main Parts Of Your Brain | Russ Harris
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  • The Limbic Brain And Its Role In Trauma | Russ Harris
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  • The 3 Happiness Myths | Russ Harris
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  • The Stageshow Metaphor | Russ Harris
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  • The Values-Focused vs The Goals-Focused Life | Russ Harris
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  • The Unwelcome Party Guest – An Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Metaphor | Joe Oliver
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  • Learning ACT: An Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Skills Training Manual | Luoma, Hayes, Walser | 2007
    • Part 1: Introduction
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    • Part 2: Developing Acceptance/Willingness
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    • Part 3: Undermining Cognitive Fusion
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    • Part 4: Getting In Contact With The Present Moment
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    • Part 5: Distinguishing Conceptualized Self From Self-As-Context
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    • Part 6: Defining Valued Directions
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    • Part 7: Building Patterns Of Committed Action
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    • Part 8: The ACT Therapeutic Stance
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    • Part 9: Bringing It All Together
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  • Animation: Demons on the Boat metaphor – which outlines how an alternative, more accepting stance towards difficult thoughts, emotions or sensations can facilitate action towards values YouTube
    Primary Link

Worksheets

  • Worksheets from the Happiness Trap including Values, Defusion, and Experiential Avoidance exercises | Russ Harris | 2008
    Primary Link Archived Link

Recommended Reading

  • Cullen, C. (2008). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): A third-wave behaviour therapy. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 36(6), 667
    Primary Link
  • Harris, R. (2006). Embracing your demons: An overview of acceptance and commitment therapy. Psychotherapy in Australia, 12(4), 2-8
    Primary Link
  • Hayes, S. C., Pistorello, J., & Levin, M. E. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy as a unified model of behavior change. The Counseling Psychologist, 40(7), 976-1002
    Primary Link
  • Larmar, S., Wiatrowski, S., & Lewis-Driver, S. (2014). Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: An Overview of Techniques and Applications. Journal of Service Science and Management, 7(3), 216
    Primary Link

What Is Acceptance And Commitment Therapy?

ACT Processes

Luoma, Hayes, and Walser (2007) describe some of the assumptions made by the ACT approach:

  • Acceptance is the active and aware embrace of private events that are occasioned by our history, without unnecessary attempts to change their frequency or form, especially when doing so would cause psychological harm.
  • Defusion is theprocess of creating non-literal contexts in which language can be seen as an active, ongoing, and relational process that is historical in nature and present in the current context.
  • Self-as-context is a continuous and secure ‘I’ from which events are experienced, but which is also distinct from those events.
  • Contact with the present moment is an ongoing, nonjudgmental contact with psychological and environmental events as they occur.
  • Values are verbally constructed, global, desired, and chosen life directions.Values are what truly matter to us and are distinct from goals in that they cannot be ‘achieved’ butrather ‘moved toward or away from.’
  • Committed action is the step-by-step process of acting to create a whole life, one of integrity, which is true to one’s deepest wishes and longings.

References

  • Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, processes and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(1), 1–25.
  • Luoma, J. B., Hayes, S. C., & Walser, R. D. (2007). Learning ACT: An acceptance & commitment therapy skills-training manual for therapists. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

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