Synopses & Reviews
The college years are very stressful for many people, so it comes as little surprise that college-aged youth often suffer from diagnosable psychiatric disorders. Even among college students whose distress is not clinically diagnosable, the college years are fraught with developmental challenges that can trigger bouts of psychological suffering. Is it any wonder, then, that suicide is the second leading cause of death in this age group?
In Mindfulness and Acceptance for Counseling College Students, clinical researcher Jacqueline Pistorello explores how mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) are being utilized in higher education settings around the world to treat student mental health problems like severe depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders, and/or to help students thrive--both in and out of the classroom.
This book offers easy-to-use programs for college counselors, therapists, instructors, administrators, and even high school counselors who are looking for tools to help high school students prepare for the transition to college. Counselors with extensive experience with mindfulness and acceptance approaches can learn new ways of adapting these approaches to interventions with college students, and counselors interested in these approaches but lacking experience can learn about these effective therapies. Finally, college administrators and staff can gain ideas for implementing mindfulness practices in various campus contexts to help p romote student mental health or academic engagement.
In addition to chapters by Steven C. Hayes, the founder of acceptance and commitment therapy, this book also contains an online Appendix with helpful original handouts, Power Point slides, and links to podcasts and lectures to help implement mindfulness-based approaches on different campuses. It is a wonderful resource for any pro- fessional who works with college students and who is interested in promoting psychological well-being.
The Mindfulness and Acceptance Practica Series
As mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies gain momentum in the field of mental health, it is increasingly important for professionals to understand the full range of their applications. To keep up with the growing demand for authoritative resources on these treatments, The Mindfulness and Acceptance Practica Series was created. These edited books cover a range of evidence-based treatments, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy. Incorporating new research in the field of psychology, these books are powerful tools for mental health clinicians, researchers, advanced students, and anyone interested in the growth of mindfulness and acceptance strategies.
Review
Russ Harris is an open, centered, and engaged teacher of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and, in ACT Made Simple, he succeeds in delivering a transparent account of a complex and powerful treatment. I recommend this book to mental health and medical providers and to their teachers.”
Patricia J. Robinson, Ph.D., coauthor of Behavioral Consultation and Primary Care and The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression
ACT Made Simple is simply the most accessible book written to date for therapists interested in learning ACT. Russ Harris explains ACT concepts in a style that is both engaging and straightforward. His advice on overcoming therapy roadblocks is invaluable and will be useful to both novice and experienced ACT practitioners.”
Jason B. Luoma, Ph.D., psychologist at Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center
Perhaps the most elegant, easily digestible book on using the principles of mindfulness and acceptance to improve your own life and the lives of others. Inside are a litany of creative exercises and strategies that are ready for immediate use. But none of the benefits would be possible without the supportive, entertaining voice of Russ Harris. There is something new to be learned with each reading.”
Todd B. Kashdan, Ph.D., professor of psychology at George Mason University and author of Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life
ACT aims to increase psychological flexibility. Learn from this book and you'll be doing ACT rather than just talking about doing ACT. And youll be doing it with greaterflexibility.”
Hank Robb, Ph.D., ABPP
Lets face it: psychological concerns are complex. If modern behavior therapy is to rise to the occasion of reducing human suffering, it will require a similarly intricate and comprehensive approach. ACT attempts to provide a multifaceted treatment model to address these complexities, and ACT Made Simple has risen to the occasion by reducing the difficulties in understanding the unique ACT approach. Harriss expressive style is matchless. Comprehensive scientific and clinical literature rarely reads this well. This is a clear, understandable introduction to a powerful intervention approach. Many practitioners who are new to ACT will want to start with ACT Made Simple.”
Daniel J. Moran, Ph.D., BCBA, coauthor of ACT in Practice
This much-needed book is a must for mental health clinicians interested in learning ACT. True to his physician roots, Harris has taken a very practical approach to understanding ACT. He does a wonderful job of taking complicated ACT concepts and making them easy to understand. His writing is full of wit, self-disclosure, and down-to-earth communication. Readers of this book will finish it with a much better understanding of core ACT principles and interventions.”
Kirk D. Strosahl, Ph.D., coauthor of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression
For newcomers to ACT, there is no better place to start than with this book. Russ Harris masterfully makes ACT come alive with an accessible writing style and illustrative examples of its application in alleviating a wide range of types of human suffering. Practical tips and homework assignments throughout will actively engage you to go beyond merely reading about ACT and begin to apply it to your own life and in your work with clients. For those who may have been holding out for ACT for Dummies, the wait is over. This book is for you!”
Robert Zettle, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Wichita State University and author of ACT for Depression
For those of you who train or supervise nurses, physicians, social workers, or other professionals unffamiliar with psychological lingo, ACT Made Simple is a must. Russ Harris has succeeded in the challenge of translating difficult psychological concepts embedded in ACT into plain, colorful, diverse language that anyone working clinically will understand. Each section is simply organized, easy to follow, and user-friendly. Harris has included highly useful sections of practical tips and common pitfalls that even the trained ACT therapist will find useful. I highly recommend ACT Made Simple as a primer for ACT training.”
JoAnne Dahl, Ph.D., author of The Art and Science of Valuing in Psychotherapy
ACT Made Simple is just that. Dr. Harris has, once again, written a very accessible book that should be read by all clinicians wanting to learn, engage, or otherwise implement ACT in their practices. This book is a must for ACT readers. My thanks to Dr. Harris for making ACT so user-friendly and understandable.”
Robyn D. Walser, Ph.D., author of The Mindful Couple
Review
“Russ Harris is an open, centered, and engaged teacher of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and, in ACT Made Simple, he succeeds in delivering a transparent account of a complex and powerful treatment. I recommend this book to mental health and medical providers and to their teachers.”
— Patricia J. Robinson, Ph.D., coauthor of Behavioral Consultation and Primary Care and The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression
Review
“ACT Made Simple is simply the most accessible book written to date for therapists interested in learning ACT. Russ Harris explains ACT concepts in a style that is both engaging and straightforward. His advice on overcoming therapy roadblocks is invaluable and will be useful to both novice and experienced ACT practitioners.”
— Jason B. Luoma, Ph.D., psychologist at Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center
Review
“Perhaps the most elegant, easily digestible book on using the principles of mindfulness and acceptance to improve your own life and the lives of others. Inside are a litany of creative exercises and strategies that are ready for immediate use. But none of the benefits would be possible without the supportive, entertaining voice of Russ Harris. There is something new to be learned with each reading.”
— Todd B. Kashdan, Ph.D., professor of psychology at George Mason University and author of Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life
Review
“ACT aims to increase psychological flexibility. Learn from this book and you'll be doing ACT rather than just talking about doing ACT. And you’ll be doing it with greaterflexibility.”
— Hank Robb, Ph.D., ABPP
Review
“Let’s face it: psychological concerns are complex. If modern behavior therapy is to rise to the occasion of reducing human suffering, it will require a similarly intricate and comprehensive approach. ACT attempts to provide a multifaceted treatment model to address these complexities, and ACT Made Simple has risen to the occasion by reducing the difficulties in understanding the unique ACT approach. Harris’s expressive style is matchless. Comprehensive scientific and clinical literature rarely reads this well. This is a clear, understandable introduction to a powerful intervention approach. Many practitioners who are new to ACT will want to start with ACT Made Simple.”
— Daniel J. Moran, Ph.D., BCBA, coauthor of ACT in Practice
Review
“This much-needed book is a must for mental health clinicians interested in learning ACT. True to his physician roots, Harris has taken a very practical approach to understanding ACT. He does a wonderful job of taking complicated ACT concepts and making them easy to understand. His writing is full of wit, self-disclosure, and down-to-earth communication. Readers of this book will finish it with a much better understanding of core ACT principles and interventions.”
— Kirk D. Strosahl, Ph.D., coauthor of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression
Review
“For newcomers to ACT, there is no better place to start than with this book. Russ Harris masterfully makes ACT come alive with an accessible writing style and illustrative examples of its application in alleviating a wide range of types of human suffering. Practical tips and homework assignments throughout will actively engage you to go beyond merely reading about ACT and begin to apply it to your own life and in your work with clients. For those who may have been holding out for ACT for Dummies, the wait is over. This book is for you!”
— Robert Zettle, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Wichita State University and author of ACT for Depression
Review
“For those of you who train or supervise nurses, physicians, social workers, or other professionals unffamiliar with psychological lingo, ACT Made Simple is a must. Russ Harris has succeeded in the challenge of translating difficult psychological concepts embedded in ACT into plain, colorful, diverse language that anyone working clinically will understand. Each section is simply organized, easy to follow, and user-friendly. Harris has included highly useful sections of practical tips and common pitfalls that even the trained ACT therapist will find useful. I highly recommend ACT Made Simple as a primer for ACT training.”
— JoAnne Dahl, Ph.D., author of The Art and Science of Valuing in Psychotherapy
Review
A valuable addition to your ACT toolkit.”
Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap
Review
ACT has burst upon the psychotherapy scene with creativity, a deep sense of excitement, and, most importantly, strong empirical support. With its premise that human suffering is an unfortunate byproduct of our everyday language and conceptions, metaphors become a more important tool in this therapeutic approach than most others. Now, Jill A. Stoddard, and Niloofar Afari have assembled these metaphors in an entertaining reference book that will be extraordinarily valuablenot only to practitioners of ACT, but to psychotherapists everywhere.”
David H. Barlow PhD, ABPP, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Boston University and founder and director emeritus of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
Review
As the interest in ACT has grown internationally, there has been a burgeoning desire to find new and individually relevant metaphors and exercises to use across a variety of settings and clinical populations. This book will certainly satisfy that appetite for those looking for new ways to best connect with their clients. But more importantly, this book will inspire readers to recognize what has been true all along: that the metaphors and exercises that will be most useful are those that draw upon clients own experiences. By bringing this compendium together, the authors will inspire clinicians around the world to be more creative in their practice.”
Sonja V. Batten, PhD, president (2013-2014) of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science and adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Review
Doing ACT raises common, predictable challenges. In almost every case they are best overcome by stepping into the ACT model and its foundations with your head, your hands, and your heart. This gentle but wise book shows how to do thatand on all three of those levels. It is indeed
Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapynot because it applies only to those who are advanced, but because it teaches you how to advance. You don't have to
be an ACT expert to buy it, read it, and benefit from itbut if you buy it and read it, I guarantee that you will be much more expert in the ACT work you do.”
Steven C. Hayes, PhD, cofounder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Review
Its rare that I read a textbook thats so good, I dont merely want to recommend it, I want to actually
rave about itin a very loud voice!
Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is such a book: a truly superb advanced-level textbook for the ACT practitioner who already has a handle on the basics, but now wants to evolve a more fluid, flexible, and effective style of ACT. I confess to having frequent pangs of envy as I read this book (which I devoured cover to cover in the space of one week) and many thoughts such as,
I wish Id written this. Its easy to read, extremely engaging (in parts, laugh-out-loud funny), and incredibly practical. Even highly experienced ACT practitioners will get a lot from this book. I certainly learned new things from reading it, and Ill bet good money that you will too!
So if youre ready to move from the beginner level ACT-ish therapy to genuine, high-powered ACT, then rush out and get this book
now!”
Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap and Getting Unstuck in ACT
Review
As I read
Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, I kept turning to my personal knowledge of Darrah Westrup and her incredible ability to communicate, in writing, her gifted therapeutic experience and understanding of ACT. I know Darrah as both a colleague and a friend, and this book shines a bright light on her amazing talent and facility with the intervention. Readers will be engaged from the opening pages regarding theory and processes, through the thoughtful and seasoned application of ACT, all the way to its invitation to continue the ACT journey at the books close. She brings to this volume not only a digestible, considered, and at times humorous read, that every therapist, not just those using ACT, will find invaluable, but also a personal sense of herself that is kind, grounded, and compassionate. Thank you, Darrah, for this beautiful contribution to the ACT community and therapist community at large.”
Robyn D. Walser, PhD, associate director of dissemination and training at the National Center for PTSD, director at TL Consultation Services, and assistant clinical professor at the University of California, Berkeley
Review
Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an invaluable resource for every therapist who doesnt just want to do good ACT but great ACT. Easy to read and very practical, this book succeeds at linking concrete skills to deep philosophical and behavioral principles underlying the ACT model. The numerous clinical vignettes are commented with great precision and clarity, and show how to activate key processes through natural interactions, beyond traditional exercises.”
Matthieu Villatte, PhD, research scientist at the Evidence-Based Practice Institute, Seattle; ACBS-recognized ACT trainer; and associate editor of the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
Review
Amid todays flood of books and cacophony of webinars and podcasts, Frank and Davidsons sage advice stands out in this unique text on transdiagnostic road maps. This book is well written with clinical acumen and a solid link to the empirical literature on comorbidity. It should be required reading for all students, clinicians, and researchers in the field. I highly recommend it!”
Frank M. Dattilio, PhD, ABPP, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Review
Follow this road map and you will likely never need to consult another how to conceptualize my treatment approach map again! This volume moves the promise of transdiagnostic practice into the realm of possibility by showing how the latest research on transdiagnostic mechanisms informs individualized, case formulation-driven approaches to treatment planning, implementation, and assessment. Rochelle Frank and Joan Davidson have written a very timely, important, and useful book that will be of use to clinicians, researchers, and students of mental health. Anyone who is interested in understanding how the latest research on mechanisms that cut across diagnostic boundaries can inform a practical, evidence-based guide to treatment will benefit from reading this book.”
Ann Kring, PhD, vice chair and professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley, and president of the Society for Research in Psychopathology
Review
This book is the first clinically accessible attempt to use transdiagnostic research to create a powerful new form of functional analysis: one that is specific, testable, replicable, and modifiable. As the
DSM-V stumbles, this book presents the exciting possibility that we now have enough transdiagnostic knowledge to create a categorization system that will help practitioners select interventions based on their usefulness in targeting identified processes of change. The details could be mistaken, but this is a bold and creative step forward that deserves the attention of practitioners and researchers alike.”
Steven C. Hayes, PhD, foundation professor and director of clinical training at University of Nevada and cofounder of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Review
How cognitive behavioral therapists need this book! Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is in a transitional phase. There is increasing focus on transdiagnostic processes and process mechanisms such as avoidance, ruminative thinking, and anxiety sensitivity that underpin many of the problems we see clinically. But up until now, no one has really put this together in a coherent how to form for clinicians. These authors have done it! The book is rich in illustrative examples and helpful ways to think about CBT interventions. I found myself constantly stimulated, as well as challenged, to make adaptations to my approach as a CBT therapist.”
James Bennett-Levy, PhD, associate professor at the University of Sydney and coeditor of the Oxford Guide to Behavioural Experiments in Cognitive Therapy and the Oxford Guide to Imagery in Cognitive Therapy
Review
The Transdiagnostic Road Map to Case Formulation and Treatment Planning by Frank and Davidson is an excellent guide to implementing state-of-the-art cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Their review of the key processes and mechanisms underlying disorders and innovative use of case conceptualization will give the clinician valuable tools to use with clients [suffering from] a wide range of difficulties. I highly recommend this excellent book to any therapist interested in going beyond simple diagnosis.”
Robert L. Leahy, PhD, director at the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy
Review
In this engaging book, the authors provide a comprehensive array of transdiagnostic mechanisms, review the evidence for these mechanisms, and link these mechanisms to a transdiagnostic model that provides the basis of individualized case formulation and treatment. The strength of this approach is that it allows a guiding framework for incorporating strategies from different diagnostic protocols when there are currently few evidence supported treatments for comorbidity.
I would highly recommend this book to any professional working with clients with comorbid disorders who is interested in a practical, integrated transdiagnostic approach to treatment.”
Sarah Egan, clinical psychologist and senior research fellow at the school of psychology and speech pathology, Curtin University, Australia
Review
This superb, readable, and practical guide extends beyond the cutting edge and represents a much-needed translation of the transdiagnostic approach into the nuts and bolts of helping people.
The Transdiagnostic Road Map to Case Formulation and Treatment Planning is a beautifully written and carefully crafted science-based book. I highly recommend this book as a precious resource for both students and experienced clinicians. A must-read.”
Allison G. Harvey, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley
Review
This book will raise your game. Frank and Davidsons
The Transdiagnostic Road Map to Case Formulation and Treatment Planning is extraordinarily practical. Their research summaries on transdiagnostic mechanisms and easy-to-use formulation and treatment planning worksheets will make your work smarter and more efficient. A fantastic book for students, yet sophisticated enough for the experienced practitioner who works with multi-problem clients.”
Kelly Koerner, PhD, author of Doing Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Review
“This book is a must-read not only for ACT therapists with an interest in brief therapy, but for any ACT therapist who wants to improve their efficiency and effectiveness with the model. Low on theory and high on practicality, this book is choc-a-bloc full of new tools and techniques for brief but powerful ACT interventions. You’ll be amazed at how simple and easy it makes the trickier aspects of ACT, such as self-as-context and creative hopelessness. If you want to get better results in less time with more clients, then you need to read this book right now!”
—Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap
Review
“If you are looking for a rapid way to help people reduce their suffering and make positive changes, this book can show you the way. The four questions Strosahl, Robinson, and Gustavsson provide can give you a quick handle both on what's going on with clients and on how to help them change. A nice variation on the ACT method with some new insights and additions to make it compatible with clients' and third-party payers' demands for efficient and effective treatment.”
—Bill O'Hanlon, author of Change 101, A Brief Guide to Brief Therapy, and The Change Your Life Book
Review
“Brief therapy alert: This book is valuable reading for anyone interested in time-sensitive ‘brief’ therapy. It provides theory, methodology, research evidence, and numerous clinical examples for how to help clients rapidly make significant changes. It is also an excellent introduction to the larger field of acceptance and commitment therapy, offering concepts and techniques that clinicians can adapt to their own practices. Strongly recommended!”
—Michael F. Hoyt, PhD, author of Brief Psychotherapies and Interviews with Brief Therapy
Review
This book has the wrong title. It should be: Everything You Need to Know Stated Clearly, Free of Jargon and Hype that Will Enable You to Help a Broad and Diverse Range of Clients Effectively and Efficiently. On second thought, Brief Interventions for Radical Change, like the book, is more to the point.”
Scott D. Miller, PhD, director at the International Center for Clinical Excellence, Cummings professor of behavioral health at Arizona State University, and author of The Heart and Soul of Change
Review
“Strosahl, Gustavsson, and Robinson have written an inspiring book for all clinicians to read and to use in their daily practice. The genius of focused acceptance and commitment therapy is that it not only includes new insights, but it also dispels the myths about brief interventions. This book shows that a focused approach is exactly what many people need to help them recapture a sense of being fully alive.”
—Mark Williams, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Oxford, and coauthor of The Mindful Way Through Depression
Review
Brief Interventions for Radical Change is an excellent resource for primary care clinicians wanting to make efficient use of their time with patients. Its a practical guide for a patient-centered, functional approach, and provides case examples with individuals, couples, and groups.”
Debra A. Gould, MD, MPH, family physician and coauthor of Real Behavior Change in Primary Care, Improving Patient Outcomes and Increasing Job Satisfaction
Review
“ACT Made Simple is just that. Dr. Harris has, once again, written a very accessible book that should be read by all clinicians wanting to learn, engage, or otherwise implement ACT in their practices. This book is a must for ACT readers. My thanks to Dr. Harris for making ACT so user-friendly and understandable.”
— Robyn D. Walser, Ph.D., author of The Mindful Couple
Review
This is an exceptional resource for anyone interested in mindfulness and college student mental health. The book offers very accessible summaries of a variety of mindfulness-based treatment approaches, as well as practical applications to clinical practice, grounded in empirical research. I plan on sharing the book with staff at our counseling service and finding ways to implement many aspects of it into my daily clinical work with students. It is an important addition to the mindfulness-based literature.”
Gregory T. Eells, PhD, director of counseling and psychological services at Cornell University and past president of the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD)
Review
Pistorello and her colleagues have created an incredible and timely resource for anyone treating the fully wired and constantly connected Generation Z college student. This easy-to-read book effortlessly guides the reader through practical, evidence-based applications of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) designed specifically for college students receiving treatment at college counseling centers. Judicious use of case vignettes and transcripts brings concepts to life. Whether you are new to mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies or they are deep in your bones, this creative and well-written book will positively influence your clinical practice with this high-risk population.”
Linda A. Dimeff, PhD, author of Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students and DBT in Clinical Practice
Review
This book should quickly become a treasured resource on college campuses. It is a practical and accessible presentation of best practices based on mindfulness and acceptance. A timely and valuable contribution to improving the mental health and well-being of college students!"
Daniel Eisenberg, PhD, associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and principal investigator of the Healthy Minds Study, a national survey study of college student mental health
Review
This book presents a simple, practical, and incredibly useful program to create exactly what the title offers: effective, mindful employees. Its a must-have in the armamentarium of any psychologist or HR professional who wants to help people increase their satisfaction, improve their performance, create better relationships, or enhance well-being in the workplace.”
Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap
Review
This book is a remarkable step forward in accelerating productivity in the workplace while caring for the well-being and vitality of employees. When companies blend the proven ideas of mindfulness and value-directed actions into the work culture, the employees will blossom, the work teams will strengthen, and the organization will prosper. Research clearly suggests that applying the principles in this book will yield a solid return on investment. It is easy to envision leading-edge companies capitalizing on this training manual. These forward-thinking companies will not only advance their bottom line, but will also benefit the people of the organization.
The Mindful and Effective Employee training manual presents a solid how-to handbook for achieving the elusive win-win scenario of creating productive and healthy work environments.”
D.J. Moran, PhD, BCBA-D, senior vice president of Quality Safety Edge and founder of Pickslyde Consulting
Review
After reading
The Mindful and Effective Employee I felt inspired, wiser, and very well equipped to deal with both individual career coaching and brief but effective group exercises. This is a glistening gem of a book, and it provides the reader with a smart 'how-to' rationale for delivering cutting-edge, evidence-based workplace training. I want to start practicing what I learned right now!”
Walter Osika, MD, PhD, specialist in internal medicine and author of The Stressed Heart
Review
This book is a must for those wishing to make a significant contribution to workplace health and well-being. It is built out of workplace experience and research and written by authors who are experts in their field, offering techniques that are carefully crafted, known to work, and readily transferable into the workplace. More than just a valuable resource, this book gives support and confidence to those wanting to improve the quality of working lives.”
Philip Dewe, professor of organizational behavior, department of organizational psychology, Birkbeck, University of London
Review
Even though work is often defined as a necessary evil, having a job tops the list of what makes people happy in life. Work is a great source of both stress and joy. We spend more time working than doing any other single activity in our lives. It stands to reason that psychotherapists help us to learn to react to the challenges of work in ways that are healthy in the long run. The aim of this book is to demonstrate how ACT can be implemented in the workplace. The authors are internationally acclaimed experts in the field. The book is helpful for both the newcomer to ACT and the seasoned expert. It covers the theoretical aspects as well as practical session-by-session protocols and handouts. This book is the first of its kind; dont miss it!”
JoAnne Dahl, PhD, professor in the department of psychology, Uppsala University, Sweden
Review
Russ Harris has a well-deserved, worldwide reputation for creating clarity where there is confusion, and simplicity where there is unnecessary complexity. When we are 'stuck' in clinical work, reducing confusion and complexity helps us see a pathway forward. There is wisdom on almost every page of this book. I learned a lot reading it and if you do ACT work, you will too. Highly recommended.”
Steven C. Hayes, PhD, cofounder of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Review
Once again, Russ Harris has delivered a perfect book on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Crystal-clear and friendly,
Getting Unstuck in ACT is a survival guide for the fumbles, stuckness, and fear that we all experience in the therapy room. This book is the Swiss Army Knife that will sit front and center in my ACT library.”
Shawn T. Smith, PsyD, author of The Users Guide to the Human Mind
Review
Russ Harris has done it againwritten another practical and easy-to-follow book that should be a welcome addition to the library of any acceptance and commitment therapist, from the novice to the most seasoned veteran. This step-by-step troubleshooting guide is the next best thing to a tow truck to get you and your clients out of therapeutic ditch we all too often find ourselves stuck in. Think of it as ACT roadside assistance. If you havent needed it yet, take it from one who hasyou will. Buy this book and keep it in your glove compartment.”
Robert Zettle, PhD, author of ACT for Depression
Review
Russ Harriss trademark humor shines throughout
Getting Unstuck in ACT. This text is ideal for ACT clinicians grappling with the hellacious aspects of putting the ACT model into practice. Harris has an uncanny ability to make the complex simple.
Getting Unstuck in ACT will leave the stuck clinician with the aha moment they are looking for. An excellent contribution from one of the most creative and influential authors in the ACT field.”
Louise McHugh, PhD, lecturer in the school of psychology, University College Dublin, and author of The Self and Perspective Taking
Review
Getting Unstuck in ACT is a clearly written, thorough, and timely contribution to the ACT literature. Harris addresses the major ways in which it is possible to struggle with the ACT model, and then highlights easy-to-understand solutions to overcoming these struggles. From a personal perspective, the way in which the basics of behavior analysis have been effortlessly integrated with the ACT model will be of great use to readers. This book should be on the shelf of any person interested in ACT.”
Nic Hooper, PhD, visiting lecturer at the University of Newport, Wales
Review
Russ Harris has the unique skill of taking complex ideas and expressing them in a style that is readily accessible to almost everyone. If you've ever felt stuck with a client, felt like you were going off track, or struggled to motivate people, this book will help. Russ Harris steps through how we get stuck with our own expectations, feelings, and struggles, helping readers to see how these concerns can influence their work. . . . He walks readers through the most common pitfalls and struggles they have with clients as they try to move from struggling with life to living vitally.
Getting Unstuck in ACT is the perfect companion to
ACT Made Simple and an essential resource to professionals using ACT in therapy or training.”
Louise Hayes, PhD, author of Get out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens
Review
Harris does a wonderful job directly tying together the six components of the ACT model in straightforward and clear language. Throughout the book, Harris uses examples of session content to model stuck and unstuck responses to ACT processes. There are a good number of sample exercises in Parts one and two of the book as well. Further, at the end of each chapter, there are helpful experiments to practice skills. As someone who frequently supervises student clinicians, I see this book as a must-have!”
Amy R. Murrell, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of North Texas and coauthor of The Joy of Parenting
Review
Harris expertly clears paths for greater understanding, and illuminates the darker, less understood areas of ACT with sharp, readable clarity. The book is organized to illustrate common therapist sticking-points and then provide steps and strategies to help deal with those obstacles in a very practical manner.”
D.J. Moran, PhD, BCBA-D, MidAmerican Psychological Institute, author of ACT in Practice
Review
Eventually, all therapists get stuck. . . . In this book, Russ Harris explores client and therapist stuck-ness and provides a series of clear and helpful lessons. Packed full of pragmatism, experience, technique, tools, perspectives, humor, and humanity,
Getting Unstuck in ACT is an essential read for both seasoned practitioners and those new to ACT. If you let it, this book will deepen your practice of ACT and help you to become the kind of therapist that you would most choose to be."
David Gillanders, founding member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science and academic director of the doctoral program in clinical psychology at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Review
In my experience, therapists and students learning ACT often master the model long before they master application of the model to promote behavior change. Even the most talented therapists can find themselves struggling to apply the ACT model in a way that moves their work forward. In
Getting Unstuck in ACT, Russ Harris applies his extensive experience as a therapist and ACT trainer not only to clearly identify a number of difficulties therapists run into when doing ACT, but also to offer specific activities to bring flexibility to these difficult moments. The text includes a number of session excerpts demonstrating both effective and ineffective therapist interventions, along with specific steps to take in different kinds of stuck moments. It will be invaluable to ACT therapists looking to do more meaningful work, even at the most difficult points in therapy.”
Emily K. Sandoz, PhD, assistant professor of psychology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Review
I love the matrix. Sometimes you need a way of thinking about ACT that is so focused on what is critical and so simple that you cannot forget it. That's the matrix. The number of situations that call for it is stunning: as a tool for difficult clients; when you feel lost in therapy; for an elevator speech with a business person; to do a thirty-minute talk with a lay group; to guide a chat with a school principal; and on and on. This is the first book on the matrix and how to use it. Let me simplify it for you: Get it. Read it. Use it.”
Steven C. Hayes, PhD, cofounder of ACT and professor of psychology at the University of Nevada
Review
This book is a must-have for anyone interested in practicing or teaching ACT.”
JoAnne Dahl, PhD, professor of psychology at Uppsala University, Sweden, and coauthor of ACT and RFT in Relationships
Review
The matrix method of delivering ACT has experienced a rapid increase in popularity in the last few years.
The ACT Matrix provides a simple, mindful framework for delivering ACT in a wide number of contexts, including areas involving emotional disorders, eating disorders, addiction, pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and pro-social behavior. It can be used in the clinic, in schools, in organizations, or any setting [where someone] would benefit from increased psychological flexibility and resilience. If you would like a quick, accessible way to learn and start practicing ACT, this book is for you.”
Joseph Ciarrochi, PhD, author of the best-selling teen book, Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens
Review
In
The ACT Matrix, editors Kevin Polk and Benjamin Schoendorff simplify the entire ACT model into two basic distinctions. The first two chapters of the book, written by the editors and collaborators, summarize the matrix diagram by discriminating between sensory and mental experiencing and between moving toward versus away from your values. These are well-written and entertaining. I was unfamiliar with the matrix, and after reading these introductory paragraphs, I had a good feel for what the work would look and feel like with a client in the therapy room.
The remaining chapters of the book apply to specific settings, presenting problems and populations. I believe that you could skip to whatever work you most commonly do, or read straight througheither would be useful! These chapters are written by practitioners who are experts in each of the areas, and the subtle details of how the matrix can be used differently with each issue really shine through. I believe this will be a great addition to many office bookshelves, and I would say to pick up a copy right away!”
Amy R. Murrell, PhD, associate professor at the University of North Texas
Review
The matrix is transparent and user-friendly for both mental health and medical providers working in brief treatment settings. As a matrix practitioner, you will help many people, including those with addictions, chronic pain, and relationship problems. Add
The ACT Matrix to your bookshelf now and benefit from Polk and Schoendorffs numerous examples of how to use this highly accessible tool.”
Patricia J. Robinson, PhD, author of Real Behavior Change in Primary Care and Brief Interventions for Radical Change
Review
“Deeply moving and easy to understand, The Reality Slap is a book that takes us to the heart of being human to really help us change from the inside. Russ Harris has given us a truly compassionate gift that explains how we can enlighten ourselves on our journey through life’s storms and calms. I had so many insightful moments that reading this book was a delight.”
—Paul Gilbert, PhD, author of The Compassionate Mind
Review
“Sooner or later, reality is going to slap you. Loss, disease, betrayal or other misfortunes will arrive unexpectedly and shake your very foundation. At that moment, this wise book is one to keep within reach. It will do more than soothe you—it will ground you, guide you, and help you grow. Taking the time to treat yourself with kindness and awareness doesn’t remove the pain, but it dignifies it and turns it into a profound teacher. This book will help you learn the lessons that pain can teach. You will want this book, not just for you, but also for those you love, knowing that sooner or later, reality is going to slap them, too.”
—Steven C. Hayes, PhD, Foundation Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and author of Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life
Review
“Deeply personal, profoundly insightful, and above all, highly practical, this book will show you how to deal with “reality slaps”—those painful wake-up calls that we all have when things go wrong. Russ Harris has produced another excellent book about what it means to be truly human, how to deal with life’s difficulties, and how to live a more engaged, meaningful, and pleasurable life.”
—Anthony Grant, PhD, director of the coaching psychology unit at the University of Sydney and author of 8 Steps to Happiness
Review
“No matter what we attempt to do, pain and suffering are inevitably going to creep into our lives, and the capacity to handle this pain is essential for fulfillment. So if you want a short-term boost of happiness with simple, banal ideas that your kindergarten teacher could have told you, go elsewhere. But if you want to create a stable platform of mindfulness, meaning, and purpose in your life, and develop the ability to handle pain effectively, then this is the book to read. It is my great hope that people will find this book and flexibly adopt the ideas within.”
—Todd B. Kashdan, PhD, author of Curious? and Designing Positive Psychology
Review
“Russ Harris is a world-renowned and highly respected trainer of acceptance and commitment therapy, a modern scientific model of human psychology that overlaps to a great extent with aspects of traditional spiritual wisdom. In The Reality Slap, drawing from both scientific findings and his own personal experience, Harris invites us all into a vital conversation on how to handle life’s rough edges. Read it, enjoy it, and you will find some genuine treasures in your life!”
—Niklas Törneke, MD, coauthor of The ABCs of Human Behavior
Review
“Gripping and compassionate—a must-read for anybody going through a difficult life transition, such as divorce, illness, career change, or the death of a loved one. This is a rare work, one that is at once deeply personal and universally applicable.”
—Joseph Ciarrochi, PhD, associate professor at the University of Wollongong and author of Emotional Intelligence in Everyday Life
Review
“Reading The Thriving Adolescent sets you on a journey into the hearts and minds of young people in a way that is unique, fascinating, and incredibly informative. From the beginning, I felt compelled to reflect upon how, as a therapist, my goal was always to help distressed adolescents adapt to the adult world. This book turns that assumption upside down and asks us instead to help adolescents linger longer in their journey to adulthood by cultivating their abilities to notice what is going on in their world; to detach from destructive, self-focused mental chatter; and to be playful and experimental in their behaviors. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a prosocial approach like the DNA-V model to give us a sense of direction with a distressed adolescent. This book is packed full of revealing insights, interesting case examples, therapist-client dialogues, practical clinical tips, teaching protocols, and worksheets. All of this is done in an easy-to-read, conversational, and entertaining style. The Thriving Adolescent addresses the social landscape of adolescence, from the intricacies of developing healthy self-narratives to creating naturally occurring prosocial groups that help adolescents discover the practice of kindness to self and others. This book is a must-read for teachers, school counselors, therapists, and anyone else who wants to help teenagers thrive.”—Kirk Strosahl, PhD, cofounder of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and coauthor of Inside This Moment and In This Moment
Review
“This book breaks new ground in our understanding of how to nurture the development of adolescents. It translates the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) perspective into a strategy for helping young people develop social and emotional competence. I expect that it will enable schools, families, clinics, juvenile justice works, and communities become much more oriented toward ensuring that young people become caring and productive members of their communities.”—Anthony Biglan, PhD, senior scientist at Oregon Research Institute, and author of The Nurture Effect
Review
“This is an excellent resource written by two eminent thinkers and skilled practitioners. Every chapter is filled with creative exercises, metaphors for explaining complex ideas, and scripts that can be fine-tuned for each teenager you’re trying to help. With step-by-step strategies, this book is a road map for leading adolescents toward a better life.”—Todd B. Kashdan, PhD, professor of psychology at George Mason University and coauthor of The Upside of Your Dark Side
Review
“This book is not about psychopathology. It is about that struggle for identity and becoming that happens in adolescence. Hayes and Ciarrochi offer a comprehensive developmental approach built on the best available science. It contains well-thought-out theory to ground the work and is packed with tools, transcripts, and real-life examples to make it readily accessible to any teacher, counselor, and health care professional.”—Kelly G. Wilson, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Mississippi and author of Mindfulness for Two
Review
“How I have longed for this book! It’s an invaluable resource for helping teenagers to grow into their full potential and live life full out. This book is an engaging and clear road map with its practical suggestions, worksheets, exercises, and examples. It’s a must-have for teachers, counselors, and health professionals working with adolescents.”—Fredrik Livheim, licensed clinical psychologist, clinical researcher on ACT for teens at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and coauthor of The Mindful and Effective Employee
Review
“The Thriving Adolescent moves beyond traditional behaviorisms to present a new perspective on engaging young people in vitalizing relational ways. The book is rich with ideas at the interface between positive psychology and youth development, and with practical strategies for helping young people identify meaningful goals and life values. Hayes and Ciarrochi map out many useful and concrete pathways for adults to build constructive, facilitating relationships with teenagers that can contribute to flourishing on both sides of the dialogue. Definitely advances the field.”—Richard M. Ryan, professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University
Review
“The Thriving Adolescent contains a great deal of wisdom and understanding of young people, and a practical approach to working with them in a developmentally attuned way. There are few clear and practical blueprints for this vital work, and the model the authors have crafted will be a useful addition to the repertoire of clinicians.”—Patrick McGorry, AO, MD, PhD, FRCP, FRANZCP, executive director of Orygen, and professor of youth mental health at the University of Melbourne
Review
“This is a long-needed book. The combination of Hayes’s and Ciarrochi’s expertise in clinical and research work with adolescents contribute to make acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) simple to apply even for those who are new to this third-generation cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach. Their DNA-V model is robustly grounded in the ACT research tradition. The authors distill its essence into three core behaviors, making it easy to build psychological flexibility and openness to the world and to any experience (which is basically what is needed by any adolescent in the world). There is no need to be an ACT expert to practice the DNA-V model, but you will become that expert. Exercises and metaphors are specifically tailored within a developmental frame and with adolescence in mind to help the reader become the context that models, instigates, and reinforces DNA skills in young people. This book should be read (and practiced) by any person interested in adolescence, or in being a therapist, counselor, teacher, or simply a parent.”—Giovambattista Presti, associate professor of psychology and coordinator of the undergraduate program in psychology at Kore University of Enna, Italy
Review
“Listen up counselors, teachers, and primary care clinicians. If you care about adolescents and helping them flourish, this book is for you. The authors provide a theoretical basis to support ‘DNA-V conceptualization’ of adolescent evolution, and they make intervention easy with downloadable worksheets. Read it, apply it, and take pride in the fact that you are more able to love, protect, and equip tomorrow’s leaders.”—Patricia J. Robinson, PhD, director or training at Mountainview Consulting Group, and coauthor of Real Behavior Change in Primary Care
Synopsis
At acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) workshops around the world, author Russ Harris is often asked one question: If you could recommend just one book on ACT, what would it be? ACT Made Simple, a clear, accessible, and jargon-free ACT primer, is the answer to that question. Though many mental health professionals are intrigued by the concepts presented in the ACT model, they are often hesitant to delve into intimidating technical volumes that are heavy on theory but lacking in real-world tips and solutions.
Based on ACT in a Nutshell, Harris' popular ten-week crash course on the ACT model, ACT Made Simple makes the six ACT processes easy to understand and implement in therapy. ACT professionals seeking a refresher course on the model as well as therapists new to ACT will appreciate this practical approach. The book includes conversational responses and questions, but also encourages readers to tailor ACT techniques to their practices and their clients. Readers learn to innovate simple mindfulness exercises, create their own defusion techniques, make client worksheets, and set up client homework schedules. Chapters include handy tips and when this doesn't work sections.
Synopsis
Why is it so hard to be happy? Why is life so difficult? Why do humans suffer so much? And what can we realistically do about it? No matter how rewarding your job, as a mental health professional, you may sometimes feel helpless in the face of these questions. You are also well-aware of the challenges and frustrations that can present during therapy.
If you are looking for ways to optimize your client sessions, consider joining the many thousands of therapists and life coaches worldwide who are learning acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). ACT is not just a proven effective treatment for depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, eating disorders, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and myriad other psychological issues that focuses on mindfulness, client values, and a commitment to change. It's also a revolutionary new way to view the human condition, packed full of exciting new tools, techniques, and strategies for promoting profound behavioral change.
A practical and entertaining primer, ideal for ACT newcomers and experienced ACT professionals alike, ACT Made Simple offers clear explanations of the six ACT processes and a set of real-world tips and solutions for rapidly and effectively implementing them in your practice. This book gives you everything you need to start using ACT with your clients for impressive results. Inside, you'll find: scripts, exercises, metaphors, and worksheets to use with your clients; a session-by-session guide to implementing ACT; transcripts from therapy sessions; guidance for creating your own therapeutic techniques and exercises; and practical tips to overcome 'therapy roadblocks.'
This book aims to take the complex theory and practice of ACT and make it accessible and enjoyable for both you, the therapist, and your clients.
Synopsis
Internationally-known acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) trainer Russ Harris presents ACT Made Simple, a complete, accessible guide for therapists interested in understanding the ACT model and teaching core ACT principles to their clients.
Synopsis
For the first time ever, The Transdiagnostic Road Map to Case Formulation and Treatment Planning offers the psychology community a breakthrough, proven-effective roadmap for treating patients with symptoms that span across different diagnostic categories. The transdiagnostic approach outlined in this book signals a revolutionary break away from traditional DSM categorization and gives mental health professionals a reliable resource for treating the underlying factors of a patient's condition, instead of relying on rigid pathology. For clinicians who are frustrated with single symptom protocols, this book offers a powerful alternative to the DSM-V.
Synopsis
Transdiagnostic treatment is the future of psychology.
Mounting evidence shows that moving beyond treatment protocols that focus on a singular diagnosis and toward transdiagnostic approaches that target psychological mechanisms can improve outcomes. If you are seeking to correctly identify mechanisms and use them to select interventions that best meet the needs of your clients this book offers a powerful and much needed guide. The Transdiagnostic Road Map to Case Formulation and Treatment Planning is the first book to provide an empirically-based method for identifying specific psychological mechanisms underlying clients presenting problems and symptoms and linking them to clinical interventions that comprise individualized treatment plans.
The transdiagnostic approach outlined in this book signals a revolutionary departure from traditional treatments relying on DSM categorization and gives mental health professionals an essential resource for treating a broad range of patient problems. It builds on existing case formulation approaches by bridging research on psychological mechanisms with a practical guide to assessment and treatment. If you are interested in a new approach to treating patients with symptoms that span different diagnostic categories or are struggling to keep up with the growing number of disorder-based protocols, this book is an extremely important addition to your professional library. It will serve as your compass for navigating both simple and complex cases to arrive at a more effective type of treatment planningone that is tailored to your clients specific needs and targets the underlying mechanisms responsible for driving and maintaining their presenting problems and symptoms.
For more than forty years, New Harbinger has published powerful, evidence-based psychology resources for mental health professionals and self-help books for clients. As the landscape of psychology evolves, New Harbinger will remain at the forefront, offering clinicians real tools for real change.
Synopsis
The use of metaphors is fundamental in the successful delivery of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), but for many ACT therapists, they often become over-used, stale, and less effective as time wears on. The Big Book of ACT Metaphors is an essential A-Z resource guide that includes new metaphors and experiential exercises to help promote client acceptance, defusion from troubling thoughts, and values-based action. The book also includes scripts tailored to different client populations. Whether treating a client with anxiety, depression, trauma, or an eating disorder, this book will provide mental health professionals with the skills needed to improve lives, one exercise at a time.
Synopsis
Metaphors and exercises play an incredibly important part in the successful delivery of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These powerful tools go far in helping clients connect with their values and give them the motivation needed to make a real, conscious commitment to change. Unfortunately, many of the metaphors that clinicians use have become stale and ineffective. Thats why you need fresh, new resources for your professional library. In this breakthrough book, two ACT researchers provide an essential A-Z resource guide that includes tons of new metaphors and experiential exercises to help promote client acceptance, defusion from troubling thoughts, and values-based action. The book also includes scripts tailored to different client populations, and special metaphors and exercises that address unique problems that may sometimes arise in your therapy sessions.
Several ACT texts and workbooks have been published for the treatment of a variety of psychological problems. However, no one resource exists where you can find an exhaustive list of metaphors and experiential exercises geared toward the six core elements of ACT. Whether you are treating a client with anxiety, depression, trauma, or an eating disorder, this book will provide you with the skills needed to improve lives, one exercise at a time. With a special foreword by ACT cofounder Steven C. Hayes, PhD, this book is a must-have for any ACT Practitioner.
Synopsis
In Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a licensed clinical psychologist and renowned ACT expert presents the first advanced ACT book for use in client sessions. Inside, readers will hone their understanding of the core processes behind ACT and learn practical strategies for moving past common barriers that can present during therapy, such as over-identifying with clients or difficulty putting theory into practice.
Synopsis
Are you ready to take your ACT practice to the next level? If so, Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a powerful resource that can help you streamline your approach and overcome common hurdles that present in therapy.
At some point or another, you have probably encountered difficulty putting theory into practice when it comes to using ACT in sessions with clients. You arent alone. Although ACT is a powerful treatment option for a number of psychological issues, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and more, it is a complex, ever-evolving model, and as such it can often be difficult to deliver effectively. The truth is that even the most seasoned ACT therapist will face challenges in their client sessions from time to time.
This is the only advanced professional ACT book on the market, and it is designed to help you close the gap between what youve learned in ACT training and your actual client sessions. Inside, licensed psychologist Darrah Westrup, PhD, provides valuable tips and real-life client scenarios to help you hone your understanding of the core processes behind ACT. Youll also learn practical strategies for moving past common barriers that can present during therapy, such as over-identifying with clients or difficulty putting theory into practice. Most importantly, youll learn when to deliver specific ACT components, and how to adapt your treatment for each client. This user-friendly, pragmatic, and thoughtful guide does not promote error-free” ACT, but rather, ways to identify and work with the therapy process as it unfolds. A must-read for any therapist or mental health professional interested in sharpening their ACT skills.
Synopsis
In the tradition of ACT Made Simple, DBT Made Simple is a manual for therapists seeking to understand and apply the four dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills in individual therapy. DBT is an effective treatment for borderline personality disorder, self-injury, chemical dependency, trauma related to sexual abuse, and various mood disorders.
Synopsis
Brief Interventions for Radical Change is a valuable resource for cliniciansa collection of fifteen to thirty-minute therapeutic interventions based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) that can be used to help clients overcome any psychological difficulty, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.
Synopsis
As a mental health professional, you know its a real challenge to help clients develop the psychological skills they need to live a vital life. This is especially true when you are working with time constraints or in settings where contacts with the client will be brief. Brief Interventions for Radical Change is a powerful resource for any clinician working with clients who are struggling with mental health, substance abuse, or life adjustment issues. If you are searching for a more focused therapeutic approach that requires fewer follow-up visits with clients, or if you are simply looking for a way to make the most of each session, this is your guide.
In this book, youll find a ready-to-use collection of brief assessment and case-formulation tools, as well as many brief intervention strategies based in focused acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These tools and strategies can be used to help your clients stop using unworkable behaviors, and instead engage in committed, values-based actions to change their lives for the better.
The book includes a practical approach to understanding how clients get stuck, focusing questions to help clients redefine their problem, and tools to increase motivation for change. In addition, you will learn methods for rapidly constructing effective treatment plans and effective interventions for promoting acceptance, present-moment awareness, and contact with personal values.
With this book, you will easily integrate important mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based therapeutic work in their interactions with clients suffering from depression, anxiety, or any other mental health problem.
Synopsis
Originally developed for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, has rapidly become one of the most popular and most effective treatments for all mental health conditions rooted in out-of-control emotions. However, there are limited resources for psychologists seeking to use DBT skills with individual clients. In the tradition of ACT Made Simple, DBT Made Simple provides clinicians with everything they need to know to start using DBT in the therapy room.
The first part of this book briefly covers the theory and research behind DBT and explains how DBT differs from traditional cognitive behavioral therapy approaches. The second part focuses on strategies professionals can use in individual client sessions, while the third section teaches the four skills modules that form the backbone of DBT: core mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The book includes handouts, case examples, and example therapist-client dialogue—everything clinicians need to equip their clients with these effective and life-changing skills.
Synopsis
Learning ACT for Group Treatment presents a powerful manual for clinicians, therapists, and counselors looking to implement acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in group therapy with clients. The book is a composite of stand-alone sessions, and provides detailed explanations of each of the core ACT processes, as well as printable worksheets, tips on group session formatting, and a wide range of activities that foster willingness, cooperation, and connection among participants.
Synopsis
For many clients, group therapy is a more practical treatment option than one-on-one therapy sessions. The financial cost of group therapy is substantially less than individual therapy, and research shows it can be just as effective. However, group therapy also presents unique challenges, and is often more difficult to administer. Thats why professionals need a solid plan of action when using group therapy to treat clients.
In recent years, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has gained immense popularity. Based in values, mindfulness, and committed action, this therapeutic model has proven successful in treating a number of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, stress, addictions, eating disorders, trauma, and relationship problems. However, despite the popularity of this modality, there are very limited resources available when it comes to applying ACT in a group setting.
Learning ACT for Group Treatment is a comprehensive, powerful manual for clinicians, therapists, and counselors looking to implement ACT in group therapy with clients. A composite of stand-alone sessions, the book provides detailed explanations of each of the core ACT processes, printable worksheets, tips on group session formatting, and a wide range of activities that foster willingness, cooperation, and connection among participants.
In the book, professionals will see how the benefits of ACT can actually be enhanced in a group setting, particularly because there are more participants for ACT exercises. This leads to increased accountability among clients, and allows them to play both an active role and the role of the observer during treatment. The book also includes concrete tips for applying ACT to a number of treatment scenarios, including inpatient group therapy, partial hospitalization programs, outpatient programs, and community self-help groups.
With detailed exercises and group activities, this book has everything therapists need to start using ACT in group settings right away.
Synopsis
In Mindfulness and Acceptance for Counseling College Students, clinical researcher Jacqueline Pistorello explores how mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) are being utilized by college counseling centers around the world to treat student mental health problems like severe depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders. This book offers easy-to-use applications for college counselors and therapists, and includes a website link for downloadable worksheets for students, a sample podcast, and interactive web-based materials.
Synopsis
The Thriving Adolescent offers teachers, counselors, and mental health professionals powerful techniques for working with adolescents. Based in proven-effective acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), the skills and tips outlined in this book will help adolescents and teens manage difficult emotions, connect with their values, achieve mindfulness and vitality, and develop positive relationships with friends and family. This is the first book to apply ACT to treating this population.
Synopsis
Adolescents face unique pressures and worries. Will they pass high school? Should they go to college? Will they find love? And what ways do they want to act in the world? The uncertainty surrounding the future can be overwhelming. Sadly, and all too often, if things don’t go smoothly, adolescents will begin labeling themselves as losers, unpopular, unattractive, weird, or dumb. And, let’s not forget the ubiquitous ‘not good enough’ story that often begins during these formative years. These labels are often carried forward throughout life. So what can you do, now, to help lighten this lifelong burden?
The Thriving Adolescent offers teachers, counselors, and mental health professionals powerful techniques for working with adolescents. Based in proven- effective acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), the skills and tips outlined in this book will help adolescents and teens manage difficult emotions, connect with their values, achieve mindfulness and vitality, and develop positive relationships with friends and family. The evidence-based practices in this book focus on developing a strong sense of self, and will give adolescents the confidence they need to make that difficult transition into adulthood.
Whether it’s school, family, or friend related, adolescents experience a profound level of stress, and often they lack the psychological tools to deal with stress in productive ways. The skills we impart to them now will help set the stage for a happy, healthy adulthood. If you work with adolescents or teens, this is a must-have addition to your professional library.
Synopsis
The Mindful and Effective Employee presents a powerful three-session acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) program for reducing workplace stress and increasing employee effectiveness. Psychologists and human resource professionals will use this program to conduct employee training in workplace settings.
Synopsis
The importance of improving and maintaining employees psychological health is now widely recognized by occupational health researchers and practitioners, business leaders, human resource professionals, and policy makers alike. Indeed, a growing body of research has established that psychological well-being is one of the most important factors in job performance.
The Mindful and Effective Employee offers an evidence-based workplace training program based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The program is specifically designed to improve employees psychological healthas well as their effectiveness at work and in their personal livesthrough a combination of mindfulness and values-guided behavioral skills. This book is designed for use by psychologists, coaches, occupational health practitioners, and human resource professionals who are interested in improving employee well-being, performance, and quality of life. The training program described in this book is designed to:
- Promote employee self-awareness
- Help employees find purpose, direction, and meaning
- Offer new ways to improve work and life effectiveness
- Help employees identify and pursue valued goals and actions
Synopsis
In Getting Unstuck in ACT, psychotherapist and bestselling author of ACT Made Simple, Russ Harris, tackles common ACT obstacles faced by both therapists and their clients that can make them feel "stuck." These obstacles include sending mixed messages on the part of the therapist, a lack of motivation on the clients' part, as well as confusion regarding the theoretical basis of ACT. This book is a must-have for any ACT therapist looking to streamline their therapeutic approach.
Synopsis
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a powerful, evidence-based treatment for clients struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, and a host of other mental health conditions. It is based in the belief that the road to lasting happiness and well-being begins with accepting our thoughts, rather than trying to change them. However, ACT can present certain roadblocks during treatment. As a mental health professional, you may adopt basic principles of ACT easily, but it generally takes at least two or three years of hard work and ongoing study to become truly fluid in the model. During that time, you will probably find yourself "stuck" at some point, and so will your clients.
In Getting Unstuck in ACT, psychotherapist and bestselling author of ACT Made Simple, Russ Harris, provides solutions for overcoming the most common roadblocks in ACT. In the book, you will learn how to deal with reluctant or unmotivated clients, as well as how to get past certain theoretical aspects of ACT that some clients may find confusing. This book will help clients deal with sticky dilemmas and unsolvable problems, and will help simplify key ACT concepts to help you break down psychological barriers.
Other common problems with ACT that the book addresses are inconsistencies and sending mixed messages, talking and explaining ACT instead of doing it, being too eager to treat a client, being a "Mr. Nice Guy or Ms. Nice Girl," or putting too much focus on one process while neglecting others. The chapters of the book are based in real life scenarios that take place between therapist and client, and the author provides feedback by analyzing mistakes in what was said and where improvements could be made.
As more and more mental health professionals incorporate ACT into their practice, it is increasingly necessary to have a guide that offers them effective solutions to common ACT roadblocks. For that reason, this book is a must-have for any ACT therapist.
Synopsis
Edited by clinical psychologists and popular ACT workshop leaders Kevin Polk and Benjamin Schoendorff, The ACT Matrix fuses the six core principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) into a simplified, easy-to-apply approach. This essential book shows professionals and general readers how this approach can be used to treat a variety of disorderssuch as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, trauma, and eating disordersin a variety of settings and contexts. Professionals will also learn how to work more effectively with difficult clients and increase clients' psychological flexibility. A must-have for ACT practitioners looking to streamline their therapeutic approach.
Synopsis
If you are an ACT practitioner or mental health professional, this eagerly awaited resource is an essential addition to your professional library.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based therapy that has been successful in treating a variety of psychological issues, such anxiety, depression, substance abuse, trauma, eating disorders, and more. In contrast to other treatment options, ACT has proven extremely effective in helping clients who are stuck” in unhealthy thought patterns by encouraging them align their values with their thoughts and actions. However, the ACT model is complex, and its not always easy to use.
Traditionally, ACT is delivered with a focus around six core processes that are often referred to as the hexaflex: cognitive defusion, acceptance, contact with the present moment, observing the self, values, and committed action. Each of these core processes serves a specific function, but they are often made more complex than needed in both theory and in practice. So what if there was a way to simplify ACT in your sessions with clients?
Edited by clinical psychologists and popular ACT workshop leaders Kevin L. Polk and Benjamin Schoendorff, The ACT Matrix fuses the six core principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) into a simplified, easy-to-apply approach that focuses on client actions and behavior as workable or unworkable, rather than good or bad. Most importantly, youll learn how this innovative approach can be used to deliver ACT more effectively in a variety of settings and contexts, even when clients are resistant or unmotivated to participate.
This is the first book to utilize the ACT Matrix model, and it is a must-read for any ACT practitioner looking to streamline his or her therapeutic approach.
Synopsis
In The Reality Slap, Russ Harris uses engaging real-life stories and simple exercises drawn from the proven principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help readers who have been woken up by the “reality slap”—an unexpected personal crisis that results in hopelessness, confusion, or pain.
Synopsis
The “reality slap” takes many different forms. Sometimes, it’s more like a punch: the death of a loved one, a serious illness, a divorce, the loss of a job, a freak accident, or a shocking betrayal. Sometimes it’s a little gentler. Envy, loneliness, resentment, failure, disappointment, and rejection can sting just as much. But whatever form your reality slap takes, one thing’s for sure—it hurts! And most of us don’t deal with the pain very well.
The Reality Slap offers a four-part path for healing from crises based on acceptance and commitment therapy. In these pages, you will learn how to:
• Find peace in the midst of your pain
• Rediscover calm in the midst of chaos
• Turn difficult emotions into wisdom and compassion
• Find fulfillment, even when you can’t get what you want
• Heal your wounds and emerge stronger than before
Unlike some self-help books that claim you can have everything you ever wanted in life, if you only put your mind to it, this book claims that you can't have everything in life. The hard truth of this world is that we are all going to experience disappointment, frustration, failure, loss, rejection, illness, injury, aging, and death at some point. However, in spite of all this, you can still lead a rich and rewarding life. Let this book be your guide.
Synopsis
The ACT Matrix revolutionized contextual behavioral science by fusing the six core principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) into a simplified, easy-to-apply approach. Now, the creators of this pioneering new model present The Essential Guide to the ACT Matrix—the first detailed, step-by-step guide to help professionals implement the ACT Matrix in clinical practice and improve clients’ psychological flexibility.
Synopsis
The ACT Matrix revolutionized contextual behavioral science. Now, the creators of this pioneering new model present the first detailed, step-by-step guide to help professionals implement the ACT Matrix in clinical practice and improve clients’ psychological flexibility.
If you’re a clinician, you know that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is extremely effective in helping clients who are “stuck” in unhealthy thought patterns by encouraging them align their values with their thoughts and actions. However, the ACT model is complex, and it's not always easy to use. Enter the ACT Matrix, a seamless fusion of the six core processes of the ACT hexaflex—cognitive defusion, acceptance, contact with the present moment, observing the self, values, and committed action—into a simplified, easy-to-apply approach.
From the editors of The ACT Matrix, The Essential Guide to the ACT Matrix offers professionals a comprehensive guide to using the innovative Matrix model in-session. With this book, you’ll learn how to help your clients break free from painful psychological traps and live more meaningful lives. You’ll also learn how client actions and behavior should be viewed as workable or unworkable, rather than good or bad. Most importantly, you'll discover how this unique approach can be used to deliver ACT more effectively in a variety of settings and contexts, even when clients are resistant or unmotivated to participate.
This book is essential for any ACT clinician looking to simplify their therapeutic approach in client sessions.
About the Author
Rochelle I. Frank, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in Oakland, CA, where she maintains a private practice providing psychotherapy, professional consultation, supervision, and training workshops. She is also an assistant clinical professor in the clinical science program at the University of California, Berkeley. Frank has over twenty-five years of clinical experience in outpatient, inpatient, and residential settings, and specializes in the treatment of severe mood disorders, borderline personality disorder, and trauma and dissociative disorders. She is past president of the Alameda County Psychological Association, and served on the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine and several Bay Area clinical psychology graduate programs. Previously, she was a clinical director with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, where she contributed to the development and implementation of behavioral health care policies, procedures, and training curricula throughout county mental health programs.Joan Davidson, PhD, is codirector and founding partner of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy and assistant clinical professor in the clinical science program at the University of California, Berkeley. For over twenty years she has worked as a cognitive behavioral clinician specializing in the treatment of adults with mood and anxiety disorders. In addition, she teaches, writes, and provides clinical consultation and supervision to students and licensed professionals. Davidson is Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and an Academy of Cognitive Therapy Certified Trainer/Consultant. She is the author of Daring to Challenge OCD: Overcome Your Fear of Treatment and Take Control of Your Life using Exposure and Response Prevention (New Harbinger, 2014) and coauthor of The Essential Components of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Depression (American Psychological Association, 2001) and videotape series of the same name.Jacqueline B. Persons, PhD, is director of the Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Science Center and a clinical professor in the department of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Persons is the author of three books, including The Case Formulation Approach to Cognitive-Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Therapy in Practice: A Case Formulation Approach. She is past president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology.
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