Purpose: Make contact with a sense of self that is a safe and consistent perspective from which to observe and accept all changing inner experiences.
Method: Mindfulness and noticing the continuity of consciousness
When to use: When the person needs a solid foundation in order to be able to experience experiences; when identifying with a conceptualized self
Examples of techniques designed to increase self as context
| Observer exercise | Notice who is noticing in various domains of experience |
| Therapeutic relationship | Model unconditional acceptance of client’s experience. |
| Metaphors for context | Box with stuff; house with furniture; chessboard |
| “confidence” | con = with; fidence = fidelity or faith – self fidelity |
| Riding a bicycle | You are always falling off balance, yet you move forward |
| Experiential centering | Make contact with self-perspective |
| Practicing unconditional acceptance | Permission to be – accept self as is |
| Identifying content as content | Separating out what changes and what does not |
| Identify programming | Two computers exercise |
| Programming process | Content is always being generated – generate some in session together |
| Process vs outcome | Practice pulling back into the present from thoughts of the future/past |
| ACT generated content | Thoughts/feelings about self (even “good” ones) don’t substitute for experience |
| Self as object | Describe the conceptualized self, both “good” and “bad” |
| Others as objects | Relationship vs being right |
| Connecting at “board level” | Practice being a human with humans |
| Getting back on the horse | Connecting to the fact that they will always move in and out of perspective of self-as-context, in session and out. |
| Identifying when you need it | Occasions where “getting present” is indicated (learning to apply first aid) |
| Contrast observer self with conceptualized self | Pick an identity exercise |
| Forgiveness | Identify painful experiences as content; separate from context |
These clinical materials were assembled by Elizabeth Gifford, Steve Hayes, and Kirk Stroshal