ACT Books: Specific Populations

• Pearson, A. N., Heffner, M., & Follette, V. M. (2010). Acceptance and commitment therapy for body image dissatisfaction: A practitioner's guide to using mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based behavior change strategies. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

• 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.

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

• Woods, D. W., & Twohig, M. P. (2008). Trichotillomania: An ACT-enhanced Behavior Therapy Approach Therapist Guide. Oxford University Press.

Great therapist manual for ACT-based behavior therapy.

• Woods, D. W., & Twohig, M. P. (2008). Trichotillomania: An ACT-enhanced Behavior Therapy Approach Workbook. Oxford University Press.

Client manual for ACT-based behavior therapy for hair pulling.

• Gardner, F. L., & Moore, Z. E. (2007). The psychology of enhancing human performance: The Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC) approach. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

This book provides theory and empirical background, and a structured step-by-step, protocol for the assessment, conceptualization, and enhancement of human performance with a variety of high-performing clientele including executives, athletes, artists, and emergency/military personnel. The authors' MAC approach connects the more traditional scientific knowledge base on human performance and self-regulation to more contemporary findings from ACT and other acceptance-based behavioral interventions, meta-cognitive processes, and emotion regulation.

• Zettle, R. (2007). ACT for Depression: A Clinician's Guide to Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy in Treating Depression. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

An excellent book from one of the founders of ACT on one of the most pervasive problems human beings face.

• Walser, R., & Westrup, D. (2007). Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & Trauma-Related Problems: A Practitioner's Guide to Using Mindfulness & Acceptance Strategies. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

A practical and accessible yet theoretically complete approach to using ACT to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute trauma-related symptoms.

• Hayes, S. C., Bond, F. W., Barnes-Holmes, D., & Austin, J. (2007). Acceptance and Mindfulness at Work: Applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Relational Frame Theory to Organizational Behavioral Management. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.

This was a special issue of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management that was bound into book form. Don't buy it expecting a smooth presentation of the applicability of ACT and RFT to organizational issues -- it is a collection of journal articles gather into a book. But it is still worthwhile if I/O is your area and you are wondering how ACT and RFT might apply.

• Eifert, G., & Forsyth, J. (2005). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for anxiety disorders. Oakland: New Harbinger.

Good introduction to ACT, and of course strong in anxiety. Contains a cool protocol that shows how to mix ACT processes from various points on the "hexaflex" into a brief therapy model for anxiety disorders.

• Dahl, J., Wilson, K. G., Luciano, C., & Hayes, S. C. (2005). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain. Reno, NV: Context Press.

Describes an ACT approach to chronic pain. Accessible and readable. Good exposition on how to do ACT values work.

• McCracken, L. M. (2005). Contextual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for chronic pain. Seattle, WA: International Association for the Study of Pain.

Solid book by one of the masters of ACT for chronic pain.