CBT relationship to ACT
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What about CBT led you to seek new methods? What do you think doesn't work in CBT? It seems a more polemical post might get more responses, so here goes. CBT has been touted as the end of all therapies. What about it did not work for you? If it has been research so much as it would seem, what is wrong with the research on it? How will you keep the research on ACT better?
Galesara, ACT could actually
Galesara,
ACT could actually be considered a kind of CBT. CBT is not really a coherent theory of intervention, but rather might be better thought of as a group of techniques that have been based around some common principles, such as a focus on the present over the past and a focus on empiricism. ACT might be best contrasted with Cognitive Therapy (by Aaron T. Beck) which does have a coherent theory and focuses on the disputation and changing of irrational beliefs and thoughts (see [[http://www.beckinstitute.org]] for info). However, CT is only one variant of CBT, just as is ACT. ACT is on the opposite end of the spectrum from CT in term of how best to relate to thinking as ACT tries to help people to simply notice thoughts, let go of them, and get focused on living their life, rather than focusing on changing their form or frequency.
ACT didn't really emerge in reaction to CT or CBT, but rather out of research extending older, behavioral theories into a modern understanding of language and cognition. The therapy then emerged from this analysis. As ACT comes from different beginnings and makes very different assumptions at a philosophical level than traditional CBT, it looks quite different.
Hundreds of clinical trials have demonstrated effectiveness of CT for various problems, but the best research does not seem to support the idea that CT works via the methods that they proposed, but that likely the more behaviorally focused parts of the treatment are more important. In contrast, several studies have been supportive of the idea that ACT seems to work via the methods that it proposes, data analytic methods called mediational analyses have tended to be quite supportive of ACT working via the processes that it proposes.
With all this said, it is important to keep in mind that ACT is relatively newer as a theory and thus has relatively less research than CT, though the data are rapidly increasing. In 5-10 years or so, we should have some better empirical answers to this question.
Hope that helps.
Jason Luoma
[[www.drluoma.com]]
History of Behaviorism and Therapy
Yes, this really does help. Thank you. I'd love to hear more like this. These ideas really engage me intellectually. If anyone knows of books a civilian could read on this subject, please let me know. Thank you.