Synopses & Reviews
As acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) increases in popularity among clinicians, it becomes more and more vital to understand its theoretical basis, relational frame theory (RFT). RFT is a psychological theory of human language and cognition, developed by Steven C. Hayes. It focuses on how humans learn language and how language connects them to their environment. In essence, our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are dependent on our experiences and the context that these experiences provide.
Edited by leading relational frame theory (RFT) scholars, Simon Dymond, PhD, and Bryan Roche, PhD, Advances in Relational Frame Theory presents advances in all aspects of RFT research over the last decade, and provides a greater understanding of the core principals of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The book also contains chapters written by Steven C. Hayes and Kelly Wilson, both research-active experts from the RFT community around the world.
Because ACT is focused largely on accepting ones thoughts, it is important to understand where these thoughts come from. And while many books on RFT are abstract and require extensive knowledge of behavior analysis, this is the first book to comprehensively but accessibly introduce RFT to ACT mental health professionals.
Gaining a deeper knowledge of the relational concepts of RFT can help you understand why a person's behavior does not always match up with their self-professed values. Whether you are a mental health professional, or simply someone who is interested in the connection between language and experience, this book is an invaluable resource.
Review
<p>There is no better place to start learning about RFT than this excellent book. Törneke teaches the principles of RFT simply and elegantly, using a wealth of clinical examples to make it accessible and stimulating. I wish a book like this had existed when I first learned about RFT; it would have saved me many hours of hard work, frustration, and confusion.<br />—Russ Harris, author of <em>The Happiness Trap</em> and <strong>ACT Made Simple</strong></p><p>On rare occasions, the skills of writer, therapist, and theorist combine to give the field a sophisticated yet highly practical book. This much-awaited translation shows relational frame theory as an accessible, powerful tool for all who use talk therapy. A must-read for those interested in contemporary behaviorism.<br />—Kelly Koerner, Ph.D., creative director at Evidence Based Practice Institute in Seattle, WA</p><p>Since RFT first appeared in the experimental literature, it has been hailed as a breakthrough in our scientific understanding of language and cognition with direct and important implications for clinical psychological practice. Yet, descriptions of RFT, written largely for technical audiences, have been, at best, curiously baffling, and at worst, maddeningly incomprehensible. In this book, Törneke has solved the puzzle of RFT! He summarizes the history of RFT, its key features, and its clinical implications with language that is user-friendly and easily understandable. I believe this book will make a huge difference for clinicians who wish to understand RFT and its implications for clinical practice. It also may be a useful learning tool for researchers and RFT experts themselves who wish to learn and see a beautiful example of how RFT can be presented clearly and comprehensively.<br />—Jonathan Kanter, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and director of its Depression Treatment Specialty Clinic</p><p>For years, clinicians have asked me for recommendations about what they should read to learn RFT. There was really no good advice I could give except 'be persistent.' Finally, I have a better answer. If you want to understand relational frame theory, this is the place to start. Törneke's RFT primer is both masterful and accessible.<br />—Kelly G. Wilson, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at the University of Mississippi, coauthor of <em>Acceptance and Commitment Therapy</em> and author of <strong>Mindfulness for Two</strong></p><p>At times, while reading Törneke's book, I have felt as though I were in the middle of a thriller about the psychopathological behaviors of humans. Clues to unraveling the mystery embedded in complex concepts like 'arbitrarily applicable relational responding' have alerted me, as the reader, to what is coming up next. Our ability for relational framing and for rule-governed behavior may at first glance seem fabulous-a gift from the gods-but darkness lurks around the corner. Our ability to problem-solve is the villain. This book helps me make sense of it all.<br />—Maria Midbøe, M.Sc., candidate in psychology at Stockholm University in Stockholm, Sweden</p><p>Until now, explanations of relational frame theory have remained largely esoteric and even impenetrable to all but the most specialized scholars. For the first time, this extraordinary book provides a highly accessible account of relational frame theory, including its larger context within psychology, the current research in the field, and its many potential applications. Törneke strikes a fine balance between doing justice to relational frame theory and making the theory, research, and its implications readily comprehensible to the non-expert. This unique book is a must-read for scholars of human cognition, as well as clinicians, educators, others seeking to harness the power of basic psychological principles in their applied work, and anyone interested in the renaissance of modern behavior analysis.<br />>—James D. Herbert, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, and director of Anxiety Treatment and Research</p>
Review
"There is no better place to start learning about RFT than this excellent book. Törneke teaches the principles of RFT simply and elegantly, using a wealth of clinical examples to make it accessible and stimulating. I wish a book like this had existed when I first learned about RFT; it would have saved me many hours of hard work, frustration, and confusion."
—Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap and ACT Made Simple
"On rare occasions, the skills of writer, therapist, and theorist combine to give the field a sophisticated yet highly practical book. This much-awaited translation shows relational frame theory as an accessible, powerful tool for all who use talk therapy. A must-read for those interested in contemporary behaviorism."
—Kelly Koerner, PhD, creative director at Evidence Based Practice Institute in Seattle, WA
Review
"Since RFT first appeared in the experimental literature, it has been hailed as a breakthrough in our scientific understanding of language and cognition with direct and important implications for clinical psychological practice. Yet, descriptions of RFT, written largely for technical audiences, have been, at best, curiously baffling, and at worst, maddeningly incomprehensible. In this book, Törneke has solved the puzzle of RFT! He summarizes the history of RFT, its key features, and its clinical implications with language that is user-friendly and easily understandable. I believe this book will make a huge difference for clinicians who wish to understand RFT and its implications for clinical practice. It also may be a useful learning tool for researchers and RFT experts themselves who wish to learn and see a beautiful example of how RFT can be presented clearly and comprehensively."
—Jonathan Kanter, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and director of its Depression Treatment Specialty Clinic
Review
"For years, clinicians have asked me for recommendations about what they should read to learn RFT. There was really no good advice I could give except ‘be persistent.’ Finally, I have a better answer. If you want to understand relational frame theory, this is the place to start. Törneke’s RFT primer is both masterful and accessible."
—Kelly G. Wilson, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Mississippi, coauthor of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and author of Mindfulness for Two
Review
"At times, while reading Törneke’s book, I have felt as though I were in the middle of a thriller about the psychopathological behaviors of humans. Clues to unraveling the mystery embedded in complex concepts like ‘arbitrarily applicable relational responding’ have alerted me, as the reader, to what is coming up next. Our ability for relational framing and for rule-governed behavior may at first glance seem fabulous—a gift from the gods—but darkness lurks around the corner. Our ability to problem-solve is the villain. This book helps me make sense of it all."
—Maria Midbøe, M.Sc., candidate in psychology at Stockholm University in Stockholm, Sweden
Review
"Until now, explanations of relational frame theory have remained largely esoteric and even impenetrable to all but the most specialized scholars. For the first time, this extraordinary book provides a highly accessible account of relational frame theory, including its larger context within psychology, the current research in the field, and its many potential applications. Törneke strikes a fine balance between doing justice to relational frame theory and making the theory, research, and its implications readily comprehensible to the non-expert. This unique book is a must-read for scholars of human cognition, as well as clinicians, educators, others seeking to harness the power of basic psychological principles in their applied work, and anyone interested in the renaissance of modern behavior analysis."
—James D. Herbert, PhD, professor of psychology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, and director of Anxiety Treatment and Research
Review
Focus on defusion as a central change process is, in my opinion, the most important contribution of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to the field of psychotherapy in general. And here is a book that gives any therapist, accustomed to ACT or not, practical advice on how to help clients in this direction. Read and learn!”
Niklas Törneke, MD, author of Learning RFT and coauthor of The ABCs of Human Behavior
Review
Finally, a book that shows the practitioner how to use defusion in everyday practice. Defusion is perhaps one of the most powerful ingredients in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and one of the most misunderstood. When done well, defusion helps people to overcome unhelpful thinking patterns and direct their energy towards value-consistent living. When done poorly, defusion can be unpleasant and invalidating.
Cognitive Defusion in Practice shows you how to implement defusion effectively, in a way that helps your clients to feel appreciated and to move through the unhelpful beliefs that seem to interfere with their life. The book includes many clear examples of how to use defusion flexibly, in the full flow of therapy. It is also clearly written and set in the context of evidence and the full ACT model. If you want to learn how to use defusion in a way that helps people to accept themselves and transform their lives, then this book is for you.”
Joseph Ciarrochi, PhD, professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, and coauthor of The Weight Escape and Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens
Review
This is a fascinating account of love from the perspective of modern behavioral analysis. This book will get you thinking about yourself, your partner, and love in ways that you probably haven't thought of before. It brings scientific illumination to the candle lights of intimacy.”
Andrew Christensen, PhD, is professor of psychology at UCLA, a cofounder of integrative behavioral couple therapy, and author of Reconcilable Differences
Review
"It is rare to find a book on behavioral analysis that successfully incorporates theory and clinical utility. The ABCS of Human Behavior does, indeed, succeed. Ramnerö and Törneke provide the reader with a concise description of ideas dating back to Skinner as well as more recent treatments of such complex issues as understanding cognition. This engaging book will provide scholarly and practical information that is a must read for clinicians and students from all theoretical backgrounds."
—Christopher R. Martell, Ph.D., ABPP, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and psychology at the University of Washington and author of Depression in Context
Review
"Along with the explosion of interest in newer psychotherapies such as ACT, behavioral activation, DBT, FAP, and mindfulness/acceptance/meditation based interventions, many clinicians who were not extensively trained in behaviorism want a deeper understanding of the fundamental behavioral processes and theory that that underlie these treatments. Up to now, this basic information was buried and dispersed in an array of textbooks, philosophical and theoretical treatises, and an extensive laboratory-based experimental literature. Ramnerö and Törneke have distilled the essentials of this (often) esoteric literature in a clearly written, comprehensive, up-to-date book that frequently illustrates the abstract principles with clinical applications. Operant conditioning, respondent conditioning, exteroceptive conditioning, stimulus control, establishing operation, functional analysis, relational framing, negative versus positive reinforcement, are a just a few examples of the concepts that are demystified, made understandable, and clinically relevant. The book is an ideal basic text for graduate students learning about behavioral psychotherapy (the author’s name for the new treatments mentioned above) and will fulfill the needs the experienced clinician who wants a deeper understanding of these therapies."
—Robert J. Kohlenberg, professor of psychology at the University of Washington
Review
"The authors combine advanced discussions about learning theory and behavioral analysis with straightforward and informative examples. The book also discusses the more recent theoretical developments within the fields of human language and cognition. Both beginners and experienced therapists will find much to learn from reading this book."
—Lennart Melin, Ph.D., professor of clinical psychology at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden
Review
The interest in relational frame theory is growing within different fields of psychology. For anyone who wants to keep up-to-date with basic research in this area, this is the book to read.”
Niklas Törneke MD, author of Learning RFT
Review
Psychology is full of theories of mind, but relational frame theory (RFT) differs from all the rest in many ways. You see that when you open up this book. This lucid and engaging volume brings together the latest cutting-edge research and theory on RFT. It will challenge you in many ways, and also surprise you. It is a must-read for anyone interested in language and cognition, and especially researchers and practitioners of mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions.”
John P. Forsyth, PhD, professor of psychology director, Anxiety Disorders Research Program University at Albany, State University of New York
Review
Dymond and Roche have put together an outstanding volume that not only provides an excellent and accessible overview of relational frame theory and its rapidly accumulating empirical evidence, but also elegantly situates RFT in its proper philosophical context, makes contact with other contextually-based sciences, and elucidates nicely the many applied extensions of the theory. This book is a must and enjoyable read for anyone interested in RFT as a powerful new approach to language and cognition as well as its compelling applications.”
Michael J. Dougher, PhD, senior vice-provost for academic affairs, University of New Mexico
Review
Relational frame theory addresses the fundamental nature of symbolic thought in addition to its practical applications. It therefore deserves to be known among a large interdisciplinary audience, including my own field of evolutionary science.
Advances in Relational Frame Theory reports on the current state of the art.”
David Sloan Wilson, president of the Evolution Institute and State University of New York distinguished professor of biology and anthropology, Binghamton University
Synopsis
Relational frame theory (RFT) is a theory of language and cognition that upends traditional cognitive paradigms and forms the foundation of today's cutting-edge therapies, including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Learning RFT makes RFT accessible to clinicians for the first time and explains how RFT principles can be directly applied in clinical work.
Synopsis
Relational frame theory, or RFT, is the little-understood behavioral theory behind a recent development in modern psychology: the shift from the cognitive paradigm underpinning cognitive behavioral therapy to a new understanding of language and cognition. Learning RFT presents a basic yet comprehensive introduction to this fascinating theory, which forms the basis of acceptance and commitment therapy. The book also offers practical guidance for directly applying it in clinical work.
In the book, author Niklas Törneke presents the building blocks of RFT: language as a particular kind of relating, derived stimulus relations, and transformation of stimulus functions. He then shows how these concepts are essential to understanding acceptance and commitment therapy and other therapeutic models. Learning RFT shows how to use experiential exercises and metaphors in psychological treatment and explains how they can help your clients. This book belongs on the bookshelves of psychologists, psychotherapists, students, and others seeking to deepen their understanding of psychological treatment from a behavioral perspective.
Synopsis
Designed for use by mental health professionals and graduate students, Cognitive Defusion Made Simple clearly conceptualizes cognitive defusionan integral aspect of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)for accessible and practical reference. The book also provides comprehensive descriptions of a great variety of defusion techniques, and illustrates how and when to introduce defusion in therapy.
Synopsis
This is a must-have book for anyone who practices, or is interested in, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Most people in the psychological community are familiar with the concept of cognitive defusion. This important practice rests on the premise that many of our thoughts, particularly self-evaluative thoughts (I’m not good enough, There’s something wrong with me, etc.), do not capture the full reality of a situation. Defusion techniques are used to undermine the authoritative nature of our thoughts, to expose them as simply words, rather than truths etched in stone.
Designed for use by mental health professionals and graduate students, Cognitive Defusion In Practice clearly conceptualizes cognitive defusion—an integral aspect of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)—for accessible and practical reference. The book also provides comprehensive descriptions of a great variety of defusion techniques, and illustrates how and when to introduce defusion in therapy.
This is a comprehensive, definitive, authoritative text on cognitive defusion: what it is, how to use it in session, and why it works. Because cognitive defusion is so effective, a great variety of defusion techniques are used in ACT to help clients gain greater psychological flexibility, but before now, there has not been a definitive resource available that outlines the practice in detail. This book will make a wonderful addition to your professional library, and will greatly enhance your delivery of ACT.
Synopsis
Combining elements of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and relational frame theory (RFT), ACT and RFT for Relationships presents a unique approach for therapists to help clients develop and experience deeper, more loving relationships. By exploring personal values and expectations, and by addressing central patterns of behaviors, therapists can help their clients establish and maintain intimacy with their partner and gain a greater understanding of their relationship as a whole.
Synopsis
Even if you are not a couples therapist, chances are you have dealt with clients whose problems are based in relationship issues. In order to successfully treat these clients, you must first help them understand what their values are in these relationships, and how their behavior may be undermining their attempts to seek intimacy and connection.
Combining elements of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and relational frame theory (RFT), ACT and RFT for Relationships presents a unique approach for therapists to help clients develop and experience deeper, more loving relationships. By exploring personal values and expectations, and by addressing central patterns of behaviors, therapists can help their clients establish and maintain intimacy with their partner and gain a greater understanding of their relationship as a whole.
ACT is a powerful treatment model that teaches clients to accept their thoughts, identify their core values, and discover how these values are extended to their relationships with others. RFT focuses on behavioral approaches to language and cognition, and can help clients identify their own expectations regarding relationships and how they might communicate these expectations with their loved ones more effectively.
This book aims to shed light on the thought processes behind intimate relationshipsfrom the attraction phase to the end of intimacyfrom a functional, contextual perspective.
Synopsis
The ABCs of Human Behavior the first book to present modern behavioral psychology to practicing clinicians. The book focuses both on the classical principles of learning, as well as the more recent developments that help explain language and cognition.
Synopsis
When cognitive behavior therapy emerged in the 1950s, driven by the work of Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck, basic behavior principles were largely sidelined in clinical psychology curricula. Issues in cognition became the focus of case conceptualization and intervention planning for most therapists. But as the new third-wave behavior therapies begin to address weaknesses in the traditional cognitive behavioral models-principally the modest effectiveness of thought stopping and cognitive restructuring techniques-basic behavior principles are once again attracting the interest of front-line clinicians. Many of today's clinicians, though, received their training during the years in which classical behaviorism was not a major part of clinical education. In order to make the best use of the new contextual behaviorism, they need to revisit basic behavioral principles from a practical angle. This book addresses this need.
The ABCs of Human Behavior offers practicing clinicians a pithy and practical introduction to the basics of modern behavioral psychology. The book focuses both on the classical principles of learning as well as more recent developments that explain language and cognition in behavioral and contextual terms. These principles are not just discussed in the abstract-rather the book shows how the principles of learning apply in the clinical context. Practical and easy to read, the book walks clinicians through both common sense and clinical examples that help them learn to use behavioral principles to observe, explain, and influence behavior in a therapeutic setting.
Synopsis
Edited by leading relational frame theory (RFT) scholars, Simon Dymond, PhD, and Bryan Roche, PhD, Advances in Relational Frame Theory presents advances in all aspects of RFT research over the last decade, and provides mental health professionals a greater understanding of the core principals of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). A must-read for anyone interested in ACT, the book contains chapters written by Steven C. Hayes and Kelly Wilson, both research-active experts from the RFT community around the world.
About the Author
Niklas Törneke, MD, is a psychiatrist and has worked as a senior psychiatrist in the department of general psychiatry in his hometown Kalmar (in the southeast of Sweden) from 1991 until he started private practice 1998. He earned license as a psychotherapist in 1996 and was originally trained as a cognitive therapist. Since 1998 he has worked mainly with acceptance and commitment therapy, both in his own practice and as a teacher and clinical supervisor. His clinical experience ranges from psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia to common anxiety and mood disorders with high prevalence in the general population.Dr. Dermot Barnes-Holmes is foundation Professor of Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and served as the Head of Department of Psychology from 1999 to 2008. He studied under Professor Julian Leslie at the University of Ulster before taking up a teaching position at University College, Cork, where he founded the Behaviour Analysis and Cognitive Science Research Unit. After nine years at UCC he was appointed to his current post. Dr. Barnes-Holmes has published over 200 scientific articles, book chapters, and books, and he was recently ranked as the most prolific author in the world in the Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior during the period 1980 to 1999 (Dymond, 2002). He has served on, or is currently serving on, the editorial boards of the following journals: Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin; Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior; Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis; The Behavior Analyst; The European Journal of Behavior Analysis; The European Journal of Psychology; The International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy (Associate Editor); and The Psychological Record. Dr. Barnes-Holmes has graduated 25 doctoral research students and has been directly involved in attracting over 1,000,000 euro in competitive research funding. He served on the Health Research Board from 2002-2005 and was elected to the Council of the Psychological Society of Ireland from 2004-2007.Steven C. Hayes, PhD, is Nevada Foundation Professor and director of clinical training at the department of psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 38 books and over 540 scientific articles, his career has focused on analysis of the nature of human language and cognition, and its application to the understanding and alleviation of human suffering and promotion of human prosperity. Among other associations, Hayes has been president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. His work has received several awards, including the Impact of Science on Application Award from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy.
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