2 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Tucker Hardy
Overview and History
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; pronounced like act) was created in 1986 by Steve Hayes and is known as the first “third wave” behavioral therapy. Contrasting most Western psychotherapies, the goal of ACT is not symptom reduction, but rather transforming the relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings so that the client no longer perceives them as “symptoms” (Harris, 2011). ACT accomplishes this through the increase of psychological flexibility – the ability to contact the present moment more fully as a conscious human being, and to change or persist in behavior when doing so serves valued ends (Hayes, 2005). ACT can be very brief (1 or 2 sessions) up through long-term work (20+ sessions) and is accomplished in a variety of ways that include metaphor, paradoxes, and experiential exercises with room for creativity and playfulness (Dewane, 2008).
Effective For:
| General Stress | Chronic Pain | |
| Anxiety | Substance Abuse | |
| Depression | ||
| OCD |
Core Principles and Terms
Acceptance: Actively embracing unpleasant feelings, sensations, urges, and other private experiences without unnecessary attempts to change their frequency or form.
Cognitive Defusion: Techniques that attempt to the modify the undesirable functions of thoughts and experiences, rather than trying to alter their form, frequency or sensitivity. Noticing thoughts rather than being lead by thoughts.
Being Present: Ongoing non-judgmental contact with psychological and environmental experiences in the here-and-now with the goal of experiencing the world more directly, fully, and increasing the flexibility of behaviors in response.
Self as Context: Connecting with sense of self that is a transcendent, unchanging, observer. From this perspective, it is possible to experience directly that you are not your thoughts, feelings, memories and other private experiences. These experiences change constantly and are peripheral aspects of you, but they are not the essence of who you are.
Values: Clarifying and choosing various life directions; what sort of person you want be; what kind of life do you want to have. Language of “should” or of other’s wishes should be redirected to more personal language and self exploration.
Committed Action: Goal setting that is guided by your chosen values, and taking effective action create behavioral patterns to achieve them. Think realistic and achievable actions.
(Dewane, 2008; Harris, 2011; Hayes, 2005)
Critiques and Limitations
Resources
https://www.psychologytools.com/professional/therapies/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy-act/
https://www.actmindfully.com.au/free-stuff/worksheets-handouts-book-chapters/
https://positivepsychology.com/act-worksheets/
Feedback/Errata