What is ACT

Submitted by dianamarder on February 1, 2006 - 6:12pm
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Can anybody refer me to a plain language explanation of ACT with some clinical examples?

D marder

‹ ACT and ADHD

Plain language version of ACT

Submitted by Steven Hayes on February 3, 2006 - 12:36am.

What do you think of "Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life."
It's not a free answer, but at $13 on Amazon, its close to that

Here is what I say to clients. This is ACT in a few sentences:

You've been trying to win the war with your mind, with your anxiety, with your urges [add whatever is relevant]. True? (They always say "yes."). Well, ACT is about letting the war roll on while you leave the battlefield.

Steven C. Hayes, University of Nevada

What Is ACT

Submitted by Jim Hegarty on February 1, 2006 - 9:21pm.

Funny you should ask that; I was wondering exactly the same thing earlier today. I then went on to ponder the difficulties of explaining ACT (concisely) to those clinicians totally new to it. I think that a fairly clear user friendly guide, perhaps at least partially, in digital format with video footage of ACT in action would be useful as a resource for those wanting to develop as ACT therapists. I know I would use one. It would also be good for those who can’t attend workshops easily, or have access to supervision.

I know that ramble does not answer your question. I agree that a plain language guide would be useful. I look forward to people’s responses, and your post has at least got me thinking again.

Jim

ACT in plain language

Submitted by Joel Guarna on February 1, 2006 - 10:38pm.

I agree that explaining ACT plainly is difficult. With my clients, I often compare and contrast ACT with CBT more generally, since CBT is more widely known. I discuss similarities and refer to some common roots to both. I then illustrate some contrasts to traditional CBT by saying that an ACT approach is "not so much about changing the content of thinking (give examples, +/- thinking, etc) or fixing 'distortions' as about changing your relationship to your thoughts, feelings, memories, and other so-called private events (relate these to their presenting issues). ACT is less about making anxiety or depression go away and more about getting you untangled from the thoughts, feelings and rxns you have and getting you (client) moving in a direction that is important to you."

I give a very lay summary that ACT is related to a basic science and theory about human language and thinking (I do NOT attempt to explain RFT in much detail) and their role in our suffering (I sometimes give examples of our pain/suffering and how it differs from nonverbal animals...if the client seems interested and appears to be following). I add that, since human language seems to complicate our dealing with private events, doing ACT as a "talk therapy" is tricky: "so, if you are up for it, we will use a lot of exercises, mindfulness practice, metaphors, and other methods to keep us both from getting tangled up in the words and ideas." I try to relate all of this to their personal issues as much as possible and use examples. I discuss this in "we" terms throughout.

Once their interest is piqued (& it usually is) and I am satisfied they have a sufficient grasp on the approach to give informed consent, I implore them to hold whatever "understanding" of this that they now have VERY lightly. I then try to back out of all this wordiness and shift back into a more experiential mode. The process is a difficult balancing act b/n providing enough info for informed consent and getting ahead of ourselves and getting too didactic and wordy.

(I would love some feedback on all this from anyone who has similarly struggled with this process!--Feel free to drop me a note backchannel if you do not want to post.)

A side note on this topic: As the discussion unfolds, I would encourage others to post their descriptions where we can all find them when needed. There is a section under "About ACT" on this site for this:

http://www.contextualpsychology.org/en/communicating_about_act

Under the section for "ACT in Popular Media," you will find a few examples of ACT described for broader public consumption.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joel Guarna, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
joel@whitepinepsych.com

16 Fifth Street, Dover, NH 03820; Ph: 603-749-4462 x23
25 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101; Ph: 207-272-8500