Developing interactive ACT tools for the web
Lisbeth Lane, J.t., Blackledge and I will be designing some web-based, interactive computer tasks for the web. We would ideally like to have one task that targets each of the six ACT processes. For example, we are developing a tool that allows clients to clarify their values on the web
Once these tools are developed, we will make them freely available to the community, and you can use them with clients. so we want your input. If we use your idea, we will credit you in the program.
What sort of interactive program would you like to see on the web?
Please provide your suggestion by adding a comment here. Please clearly specify the ACT process/processes you are seeking to target and then describe the task in enough detail that a programmer could design it.
Here are a couple of examples.
***Interactive survey of life principles
Values clarifiction. This task will be much like the solataire program you get with your computer. e.g., values /principles will appear on your computer screen as playing cards. The task is to sort the cards into three pile. the first pile consists of the principles that are most important to you. the second pile consists of principles that are of modest importance and the third pile consists of unimportant principles. the program will take people through several steps which will allow them to identify what is most important to them.
****Defusion task
A variation of this task was originally suggested to me by J.T. blackledge. Basically, you have people identify thoughts they are struggling with (e.g., "I'm a screwup"). This thought then appears on the screen. the person can mindfullly observe it as it floats by. They can click a button and change its colour and size. The task is simply to experience the difficult verbal content as just content, and to learn to discriminate between fused and not fused. (if anybody likes the idea of this program and wants to suggest details, please do so!)
Hope to hear from you soon
best
Joseph
Dr. Joseph Ciarrochi, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522
My publications: http://acceptandchange.com/publications.html
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
William Shakespeare
suggestion from Martin brock
Regards Committed Action:
1. Simple - type behavioural activation weekly schedule to plot activities and
highlight/some reinforcement response when completed. (Not cheesey and perhaps in client's own words)
2. On screen baseball - type field - place current activities in relation to what there in the service of
So towards the left could be "Service of controlling anxiety" and more towards the right could be "value of being connected to my family" again in the patients words.
3. Obstacles or barriers to valued living could be placed like fieldsmen - clicking on them could link to a defusion screen or a self as context screen in bold letters " I AM NOT MY THOUGHTS - THERE IS NO BAD IN ME - IT'S AN EVALUATION etc"
Self as Context
As mentioned above large floaty letter screens fading in and out like powerpoint transitions - rather defusing as well of course
Exercises like small letter statements on screen - client has to sit real close to read them - then clicks next - statement now in big letters so client jumps back - clicks next - "So this is what it's like when we buy our thoughts, we jump into the screen etc" (Could be as well as visual)
Defusion
Similar to the above plus - clicking on selected statements starts animated fun type letters of the statements accompanied by vocal statements , slow, fast, singing etc.
i have plenty of other ideas that I will send back channel to avoid the list getting bogged down with my musings.
Main thing for me is INTERACTIVITY" with the processes to WEAVE them together
Best
Martin
I recommend you start with Noticing
Great Project!
My suggestion would be to start the program off with a bit of noticing practice. A noticing routine (we use the iView, but something else could be done) would be easy to program. I say this because we have found that noticing works very well as a central theme in our protocol and it's easy to introduce. We get 99% participation with noticing. We got much less with mindfulness.
Once you establish noticing you could use it throughout the rest of the program, e.g., notice values, notice as you take committed actions, notice willingness, notice suffering, notice struggling with suffering, etc. We have done this through hundreds of groups and have found it to be very effective for present moment and self-as-context.
I have written up routines in PowerPoint and in Microsoft Word. I can send you the write-ups if you are interested.
Kevin
routines in PP and Word
I'd very much like to see them, Kevin. Perhaps I can use them in some lectures I give to Psychology doctoral students, with your permission, of course.
e-mail is rdain@mac.com.
Thanks!
Bob
How we start with Noticing File
I ended up writing it up in a Word document and I have posted it on my blog. I will also send it to your email address.
Kevin
iView PPT and Word file
I am updating them and will post them soon.
Kevin