Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, known as "ACT" and pronounced as the word 'act' is one of the recent mindfulness-based therapies shown to be effective with a diverse range of clinical conditions. In contrast to the assumption of 'healthy normality' of Western Psychology, ACT assumes that the psychological processes of a normal human mind are often destructive and create psychological suffering.
Symptom reduction is not a goal of ACT, based on the view that ongoing attempts to get rid of 'symptoms' can create clinical disorders in the first place.
Created in 1986 by Steve Hayes, ACT utilises an eclectic mix of metaphor, paradox, and mindfulness skills, along with experiential exercises and values-guided behavioural interventions. The approach has proven effective with a diverse range of clinical conditions, depression, OCD, workplace stress, chronic pain, the stress of terminal cancer, anxiety, PTSD, anorexia, heroin abuse, marijuana abuse, and even schizophrenia.
The goal of ACT is to create a rich and meaningful life, while accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it. 'ACT' is a good abbreviation, because this therapy is about taking effective action guided by our deepest values and in which we are fully present and engaged. It is only through mindful action that we can create a meaningful life. Of course, we will encounter all sorts of barriers, in the form of unpleasant and unwanted 'private experiences' (thoughts, images, feelings, sensations, urges, and memories). ACT teaches mindfulness skills as an effective way to handle these private experiences.
Mindfulness skills are 'divided' into four subsets:
-- Acceptance
-- Cognitive defusion
-- Contact with the present moment
-- The observing self.
The range of ACT interventions to devleop these skills is vast and continues to grow, ranging from traditional meditations on the breath through to cognitive defusion techniques.
Description provided by Russ Harris M.D., a medical practitioner and psychotherapist in private practice in Melbourne. He provides training in ACT and is the author of 'The Happiness Trap', published March 2007.
Back to Types of Therapy
At a glance
- Temenos Journal (26)
- Time (15)
- Friendship (4)
- Dreams (3)
- Authenticity and Play (1)
- Progress and Process (1)
- Bliss and Awareness (1)
- Poetry (3)
- Conversations (2)
- Reviews (10)
- Books (3)
- Films (8)
- Music (1)
- Library (64)
- Anxiety and Depression (5)
- Burnout and Balance (4)
- Career and Calling (2)
- Communication (1)
- Culture and Society (7)
- Education and Ethics (2)
- Emotions (5)
- Family and Parenting (15)
- Grief and Loss (4)
- Human Condition (9)
- Personality and Identity (3)
- Health and Wellbeing (1)
- Relationships (13)
- Trauma (4)
- Therapy (20)
- Professional Training (3)
- Conferences (1)
- Practitioners (1)
- Good Therapy News (2)
- Philosophical Enquiry (14)
- Forum Questions (174)
- July 2022 (1)
- November 2019 (1)
- September 2019 (1)
- June 2017 (1)
- May 2017 (2)
- September 2016 (1)
- August 2015 (1)
- July 2015 (1)
- November 2014 (1)
- October 2014 (2)
- June 2014 (2)
- May 2014 (1)
- April 2014 (2)
- January 2014 (1)
- November 2013 (3)
- October 2013 (1)
- September 2013 (2)
- August 2013 (5)
- June 2013 (17)
- April 2013 (1)
- August 2012 (1)
- June 2012 (1)
- January 2012 (2)
- November 2011 (1)
- November 2010 (1)
- June 2010 (1)
- May 2010 (1)
- February 2010 (1)
- January 2010 (1)
- February 2009 (4)
- June 2008 (1)
- May 2008 (1)
- March 2007 (1)
- December 2006 (2)
- September 2006 (1)
- July 2006 (3)
- May 2006 (1)
- March 2006 (2)
- February 2006 (1)
- November 2005 (2)
- October 2005 (2)
- September 2005 (2)
- August 2005 (10)
- July 2005 (3)
- May 2005 (3)
- April 2005 (1)
- March 2005 (4)
- February 2005 (1)
- January 2005 (3)
- December 2004 (2)
- November 2004 (6)
- September 2004 (1)
- July 2004 (2)