Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Once in a while, there is a unique contribution to psychotherapy. Even more rare is the grounding of that contribution in sound philosophy, on the one hand, and firm data, on the other.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy represents such an effort. In a truly creative leap forward, Hayes and his colleagues present a new approach to behavior change that is ‘must' reading for everyone in the field of psychotherapy or behavior therapy, as well as students entering the profession."--David H. Barlow, PhD, ABPP
"The pragmatic and reasonable approach described in this book will be of great interest to therapists from any disciplinary background. It will also serve as an excellent text in graduate-level counseling and psychotherapy courses."--Arthur Freeman, EdD, ABPP
"Presents an innovative approach to helping clients accept their thoughts and feelings and overcome experiential avoidance.... The authors delineate a solid clinical rationale and provide clear guidelines for ACT implementation. A real strength of this book is the chapters on each stage of treatment, which detail a wealth of strategies and interventions and include excellent exercises, therapist-client dialogues, and pointers for practice."--Leslie S. Greenberg, PhD
Review
"A 'must read' for everyone in the field of psychotherapy or behavior therapy, as well as students entering the profession.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is one of those rare books grounded in both creative, innovative theory and solid data. The significantly revised second edition reviews the growing body of research support for ACT and presents new developments in case conceptualization and treatment implementation."--David H. Barlow, PhD, ABPP, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, Boston University, and Founder and Director Emeritus, Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
"Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Second Edition, presents new data and clinical insights and expresses the theoretical foundations of ACT in a fresh way. The original book was an extraordinary achievement; the second edition is even better. It shows exactly how basic science and therapeutic application can combine in the service of new and effective methods to alleviate suffering. This book is essential reading for all students and practitioners in clinical psychology, counseling, and psychiatry."--Mark Williams, DPhil, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Oxford University; Director, Oxford Mindfulness Center, United Kingdom
"Presents an influential approach to helping clients accept their thoughts and feelings and overcome experiential avoidance....The authors delineate a solid clinical rationale and provide clear guidelines for ACT implementation. A real strength of this book is the chapters on each stage of treatment, which detail a wealth of strategies and interventions and include excellent exercises, therapist-client dialogues, and pointers for practice."--Leslie S. Greenberg, PhD, Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Psychology, York University, Canada
"In the dynamic field of mindfulness-based therapies, this impressive book is a landmark contribution. The authors offer a sophisticated and wise approach to human transformation, one that has been validated by clinical research and honed by a wide range of clinical applications. This second edition is ideally suited for graduate-level courses in psychotherapy as well as for mental health practitioners. It offers a balance of rich theoretical context and clear, accessible guidance for applying ACT to a range of emotional and behavioral difficulties."--Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance
"This second edition is perfectly timed, given the explosion of developments in the underlying theoretical principles and empirical research associated with this approach to treatment. The book is beautifully written and is an outstanding resource for clinician and researcher alike, whether novice or experienced. The principles of functional contextualism and relational frame theory are laid out in an easily understandable yet in-depth manner. The book's presentation of the core principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy--including practical guidance for implementing them in clinical practice--is simply superb. This is an excellent text for graduate students in clinical psychology."--Michelle G. Craske, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Psychology and Director, Anxiety Disorders Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles
Synopsis
The prevailing view among therapists as well as clients is that a more vital life can be attained by overcoming negative thoughts and feelings. Yet despite efforts to achieve this goal, many individuals continue to suffer with behavior disorders, adjustment difficulties, and low life satisfaction. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a unique psychotherapeutic approach that addresses this issue by altering the very ground on which rational change strategies rest. Within a coherent theoretical and philosophical framework, ACT illuminates the ways clients understand and perpetuate their difficulties through language. The book shows how interventions based on metaphor, paradox, and experiential exercises can enable clients to break free of language traps and make contact with thoughts, feelings, memories, and physical sensations that have been feared and avoided. Detailed guidelines are presented for helping clients recontextualize and accept these private events, develop greater clarity about personal values, and commit to needed behavior change. Providing in one volume a scientifically sound theory of psychopathology and a practical treatment model, and illustrated by a wealth of clinical examples, this is an important resource for practitioners and students in the full range of behavioral health care fields.
Synopsis
Most therapists and clients believe that a more vital life can be attained by overcoming negative thoughts and feelings. Yet despite efforts to achieve this goal, many individuals continue to suffer with behavior disorders, adjustment difficulties, and low life satisfaction. This volume presents a unique psychotherapeutic approach that addresses the problem of psychological suffering by altering the very ground on which rational change strategies rest. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses in particular on the ways clients understand and perpetuate their difficulties through language. Providing a comprehensive overview of the approach and detailed guidelines for practice, this book shows how interventions based on metaphor, paradox, and experiential exercises can enable clients to break free of language traps, overcome common behavioral problems, and enhance general life satisfaction.
Synopsis
Since the original publication of this seminal work, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has come into its own as a widely practiced approach to helping people change. This book provides the definitive statement of ACT—from conceptual and empirical foundations to clinical techniques—written by its originators. ACT is based on the idea that psychological rigidity is a root cause of a wide range of clinical problems. The authors describe effective, innovative ways to cultivate psychological flexibility by detecting and targeting six key processes: defusion, acceptance, attention to the present moment, self-awareness, values, and committed action. Sample therapeutic exercises and patient-therapist dialogues are integrated throughout. New to This Edition *Reflects tremendous advances in ACT clinical applications, theory building, and research. *Psychological flexibility is now the central organizing focus. *Expanded coverage of mindfulness, the therapeutic relationship, relational learning, and case formulation. *Restructured to be more clinician friendly and accessible; focuses on the moment-by-moment process of therapy.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 289-297) and index.
About the Author
Steven C. Hayes, PhD, is Nevada Foundation Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 15 books and more than 250 scientific articles, his interests cover basic research, applied research, methodology, and philosophy of science.
Kirk D. Strosahl, PhD, is Research and Training Director for the Mountainview Consulting Group, where he provides consultation and training on integrative primary care medicine, outcomes management in applied delivery systems, clinical management of the suicidal patient, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Kelly G. Wilson, PhD, is Associate Director of the Center for Contextual Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has directed a National Institute on Drug Abuse grant since 1993, examining both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and 12-Step facilitation treatment of substance abuse.
Table of Contents
I. Foundations and the Model1. The Dilemma of Human Suffering2. The Foundations of ACT: Taking a Functional Contextual Approach3. Psychological Flexibility as a Unified Model of Human FunctioningII. Functional Analysis and Approach to Intervention4. Case Formulation: Listening with ACT Ears, Seeing with ACT Eyes, with Emily K. Sandoz5. The Therapeutic Relationship in ACT6. Creating a Context for Change: Mind versus ExperienceIII. Core Clinical Processes 7. Present-Moment Awareness, with Emily K. Sandoz8. Dimensions of Self9. Defusion10. Acceptance11. Connecting with Values12. Committed ActionIV. Building a Progressive Scientific Approach13. Contextual Behavioral Science and the Future of ACT