ACT Books: Self Help

Below are the English language ACT and related self-help and life enhancement books published that you might find of interest, listed in order of year published. Click on the title of the book of interest for a detailed description of the book and information on how to order. Also, be sure to check out any additional resources available from the authors. Links to those materials are posted where available. If you are interested in self-help resources published in other languages, please click here.

• Coyne, L. W., & Murrell, A. R. (2009). The Joy of Parenting: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Guide to Effective Parenting in the Early Years. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

• Kashdan, T. (2009). Curious? Discover the missing ingredient to a fulfilling life. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

• McCurry, C. (2009). Parenting Your Anxious Child with Mindfulness and Acceptance. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
  

  Learn how to break the cycle of anxiety with the mindfulness and acceptance skills taught in this book to help you help your child find the confidence to enjoy being a kid.

• Walser, R., & Westrup, D. (2009). The Mindful Couple: How Acceptance and Mindfulness Can Lead You to the Love You Want. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
  

  This guide for couples is based on a simple concept: Act out of kindness, love, and acceptance, and you will open your relationship for the creation of greater kindness, love, and acceptance.

• Harris, R. (2009). ACT With Love: Stop Struggling, Reconcile Differences, and Strengthen Your Relationship with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

• Flowers, S. H. (2009). The Mindful Path Through Shyness: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Free You From Social Anxiety, Fear, and Avoidance. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

• Vieten, C. (2009). Mindful Motherhood: Practical Tools for Staying Sane During Pregnancy and Your Child’s First Year. . Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

• Robinson, P., & Strosahl, K. D. (2008). The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to move through depression and create a life worth living. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  A simple guide to applying mindfulness and acceptance techniques to relieve depression.

• Forsyth, J. P., & Eifert, G. H. (2008). The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety: A guide to breaking free from anxiety, phobias, and worry using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  A simple guide to applying mindfulness and acceptance techniques to coping with many forms of anxiety. The authors have been testing out the effectiveness of using this book with great results so far.

• Harris, R. (2008). The Happiness Trap: How to stop struggling and start living. Boston, MA: Trumpeter.
  

  The second general purpose ACT self-help book, and quite simple to understand. Great for anyone just getting started applying ACT techniques to their lives and for professionals as an aid for therapy. Visit the companion website for additional resources.

• McKay, M., & Sutker, C. (2007). Leave Your Mind Behind. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  A general resource for applying mindfulness techniques in your daily life.

• Follette, C., & Pistorello, J. (2007). Finding Life Beyond Trauma: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Heal from Post-Traumatic Stress and Trauma-Related Problems. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  A practical guide to apply the principles of ACT to help readers cope with the aftereffects of traumatic experience(s). Also useful to ACT therapists as some exercises in this book are unique and have broad relevance.

• Lejeune, C. (2007). The Worry Trap: How to Free Yourself from Worry & Anxiety using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  This book is written to help those who struggle with chronic worry, a prominent feature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

• Gregg, J., Callaghan, G., & Hayes, S. C. (2007). The diabetes lifestyle book: Facing your fears and making changes for a long and healthy life. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  Though ACT is not mentioned in the title, this book applies the principles of ACT to diabetes self-management.

• Dahl, J. C., & Lundgren, T. L. (2006). Living Beyond Your Pain: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Ease Chronic Pain. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  This book uses ACT principles to help those suffering from chronic pain transcend the experience by reconnecting with other, more valued aspects of their lives.

• Eifert, G. H., McKay, M., & Forsyth, J. P. (2006). Act on life not on anger: The new Acceptance and Commitment Therapy guide to problem anger. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  This book adapts ACT principles to dealing with problem anger. It teaches readers how to change their relationship to anger by accepting rather than resisting angry feelings and learning to make values-based responses to provocation. It has been tested successfully in a small randomized trial.

• McCurry, S. M. (2006). When a family member has dementia: Steps to becoming a resilient caregiver. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
  

  Although not directly on ACT or mindfulness, this book for caregivers does include a significant emphasis on acceptance (the author is one of the early ACT therapists from the University of Nevada, Reno and studied with Steve Hayes).

• Hayes, S. C., & Smith, S. (2005). Get out of your mind and into your life. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  The first self-help book, often an entrance into the ACT work. This book is readily available, and was designed to be useful for both the general public and can also be used as a treatment guide for beginning ACT clinicians. It has been tested successfully in large randomized trials, both alone or within ACT treatment protocols.

• Heffner, M., & Eifert, G. H. (2004). The anorexia workbook: How to accept yourself, heal suffering, and reclaim your life. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
  

  A self-help resource for those struggling with eating problems.