Inside Mental Health What is ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)?
Feb 25, 2021
Steven C. Hayes, a prominent psychologist and co-developer of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), delves into the power of psychological flexibility. He dispels myths about ACT, showcasing its broad applicability and strong evidence base from 40 years of research. Hayes explains how ACT differs from traditional mindfulness and addresses common pitfalls in emotional problem-solving. He even shares a quick cognitive defusion exercise, illustrating its practicality. Hayes argues that the skills learned through ACT can benefit everyone, enhancing well-being even in challenging times.
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Psychological Flexibility Is The Core
- ACT builds psychological flexibility through six processes that improve emotional openness, defusion, present-moment awareness, values, and committed action.
- Stephen C. Hayes says these combined skills predict outcomes across mental, behavioral, social, and performance domains.
Try 30-Second Word Repetition
- Use cognitive defusion exercises to separate from painful thoughts, for example repeating a problematic word rapidly for 30 seconds to reduce its believability.
- Stephen C. Hayes recommends short, practical techniques that change distress quickly and can be done anywhere.
You Can Learn ACT Without Therapy
- Learn ACT skills yourself through training or self-help resources; Hayes calls that acceptance and commitment training when used outside therapy.
- He notes his 2006 self-help book produced about 60% of the change seen in psychotherapy trials for anxiety and depression.
