Mentally Flexible

Dr. Russ Harris | ACT: Past, Present, and Future

Nov 21, 2021

Dr. Russ Harris, author of 'The Happiness Trap', shares his journey from medicine to therapy and his work in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. Topics include using pain for growth, dangers of toxic positivity, trauma-focused interventions in refugee camps, and future goals in ACT and beyond.

55:44

Episode guests

Russ Harris

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Confronting critical inner dialogue through a word document aids in overcoming challenges in creative work.

Transformative journey from dissatisfied medical practitioner to renowned ACT trainer emphasizes growth and fulfillment.

Deep dives

Russ Harris Shares Insight on Overcoming Negative Self-Talk While Writing

Russ Harris shares his personal strategy for managing negative thoughts while writing, revealing the doubts and criticisms that arise during the creative process. By maintaining a word document with critical inner dialogue, Harris confronts these thoughts head-on, recognizing their repetitive nature and thereby disengaging from their impact. This coping mechanism allows him to navigate challenging writing days and continue his creative work with resilience.

Introduction

3min

Discovery and Transformation Through ACT

23min

Trauma Focused Act and Refugee Camp Intervention

6min

Navigating Challenges in Mindfulness Program Development

2min

Evolution of Trauma-Focused ACT and Understanding the Vagus Nerve's Role

2min

Navigating the Paradox of Suffering, Growth, and Trauma

3min

Navigating Modern Parenting Challenges

14min

Closing Remarks and Future Plans

2min

My guest today is Dr. Russ Harris, author of the international best-selling self-help book ‘The Happiness Trap’, and a world-renowned trainer of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). Russ’s background is in medicine and now works in two different, yet complementary roles – as a therapist and as a coach. We discuss this life shift more in the episode.

Since 2005, Russ has run over 700 two-day workshops and provided ACT training for almost 50,000 health professionals. He has authored four ACT textbooks (ACT Made Simple, Trauma Focused ACT, Getting Unstuck in ACT, ACT Questions & Answers), and four ACT-based self-help books (The Happiness Trap, The Reality Slap, The Confidence Gap and ACT with Love). His best-known book, The Happiness Trap, has sold over one million copies worldwide, with translations into more than 30 languages.

Some of the areas we explore in this episode include:
- Russ’s early career in medicine and how his own suffering was the catalyst for change
-Some of the books and ideas that were influential during this transition
-Russ’s first introduction to ACT and how it led to writing ‘The Happiness Trap’
-His work with the WHO developing an ACT protocol for individuals in refugee camps
-We discuss how pain can be used for growth, the nature of trauma, and the danger of toxic positivity
-And we end by exploring some of Russ’s future goals within ACT and in other areas of life

—————————————————————————

Russ’s website: https://www.actmindfully.com.au/

—————————————————————————
If you find value in the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests. I also love reading them!

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/

Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth