20 Best Books On Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (2023 Update)

Why is it so hard to be happy? why is life so difficult? why do humans suffer so much? no matter how rewarding your job, as a mental health professional, you may sometimes feel helpless in the face of these questions. with a focus on mindfulness, client values, and a commitment to change, act is proven-effective in treating depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, eating disorders, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder (bpd), and myriad other psychological issues. it's also a revolutionary new way to view the human condition–packed full of exciting new tools, techniques, and strategies for promoting profound behavioral change.a practical primer, ideal for act newcomers and experienced act professionals alike, act made simple offers clear explanations of the six act processes and a set of real-world tips and solutions for rapidly and effectively implementing them in your practice. this book gives you everything you need to start using act with your clients for impressive results. inside, you'll find: scripts, exercises, metaphors, and worksheets to use with your clients; a session-by-session guide to implementing act; transcripts from therapy sessions; guidance for creating your own therapeutic techniques and exercises; and practical tips to overcome "therapy roadblocks." this book aims to take the complex theory and practice of act and make it accessible and enjoyable for therapists and clients.

Harness act to live a healthier life do you want to change your relationship with painful thoughts and feelings that are holding you back from making changes to improve your life? in acceptance and commitment therapy for dummies, you'll discover how to identify negative and unhealthy modes of thinking and apply acceptance and commitment therapy (act) principles throughout your day-to-day life, creating a healthier, richer and more meaningful existence with yourself and others. closely connected to cognitive behavioural therapy (cbt), act is an evidence-based, nice-approved therapy that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies mixed in with commitment and behaviour-changing strategies to help people increase their psychological flexibility in both their personal and professional lives. with the help of this straightforward and authoritative guide, you'll find out how to target unpleasant feelings and not act upon them—without sending yourself spiraling down the rabbit hole. the objective is not happiness; rather, it is to be present with what life brings you and to move toward valued behaviour.

In this volume, you'll find a complete theoretical and practical guide to making this revolutionary new model work in your practice.after a quick overview of ptsd, the first part of acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma-related problems explains the problem of experiential avoidance as it relates to trauma and explores the verbal nature of post-traumatic stress. you'll learn the importance of mindfulness and acceptance in the act model, find out how to structure sessions with your clients, and examine the problem of control. the section concludes by introducing you to the idea of creative hopelessness as the starting point for creating a new, workable life after trauma.the book's second section offers a practical, step-by-step clinical guide to the six core act components in chronological order: creative hopelessness the problem of control willingness and defusion self-as-context valued living committed action each chapter explains how to introduce these topics to clients suffering from ptsd, illustrates each with case examples, and offers homework for your clients to use between sessions.

Get ready to take a different perspective on your problems and your lifeand the way you live it. what if pain were a normal, unavoidable part of the human condition, but avoiding or trying to control painful experience were the cause of suffering and long-term problems that can devastate your quality of life? the act process hinges on this distinction between pain and suffering. as you work through this book, you'll learn to let go of your struggle against pain, assess your values, and then commit to acting in ways that further those values. act is not about fighting your pain; it's about developing a willingness to embrace every experience life has to offer. it's not about resisting your emotions; it's about feeling them completely and yet not turning your choices over to them. act offers you a path out of suffering by helping you choose to live your life based on what matters to you most. if you're struggling with anxiety, depression, or problem anger, this book can helpclinical trials suggest that act is very effective for a whole range of psychological problems. but this is more than a self-help book for a specific complaintit is a revolutionary approach to living a richer and more rewarding life. learn why the very nature of human language can cause suffering escape the trap of avoidance foster willingness to accept painful experience practice mindfulness skills to achieve presence in the moment discover the things you really value most commit to living a vital, meaningful life this book has been awarded the association for behavioral and cognitive therapies self-help seal of merit an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

Since the original publication of this seminal work, acceptance and commitment therapy (act) has come into its own as a widely practiced approach to helping people change. this book provides the definitive statement of act–from conceptual and empirical foundations to clinical techniques–written by its originators. act is based on the idea that psychological rigidity is a root cause of a wide range of clinical problems. the authors describe effective, innovative ways to cultivate psychological flexibility by detecting and targeting six key processes: defusion, acceptance, attention to the present moment, self-awareness, values, and committed action. sample therapeutic exercises and patient-therapist dialogues are integrated throughout. new to this edition *reflects tremendous advances in act clinical applications, theory building, and research. *psychological flexibility is now the central organizing focus. *expanded coverage of mindfulness, the therapeutic relationship, relational learning, and case formulation. *restructured to be more clinician friendly and accessible; focuses on the moment-by-moment process of therapy.

It's time to act–acceptance and commitment therapy made simple. now acceptance and commitment therapy (act) can be easy. learning to thrive simplifies this ordinarily complex self-acceptance therapy and helps you apply its action-oriented principles directly to different aspects of your life. filled with straightforward and intuitive exercises, learning to thrive: an acceptance and commitment therapy workbook helps you stop thinking of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions as negative and start learning to understand and relate to them in a new way–so you can make meaningful changes to your life. it's time to get unstuck and start thriving! this acceptance and commitment therapy workbook includes: a practical approach–understand (and accept) yourself using a workbook that gives you the tools you need to make real, impactful changes. solutions for everyday concerns–apply the lessons of acceptance and commitment therapy to specific parts of your life thanks to chapters focused around family, wellness, personal growth, and more. act made easy–keep things simple with techniques written specifically for people new to acceptance and commitment therapy–no psych textbooks needed. discover how you can truly accept yourself and bring positive change to your life with learning to thrive: an acceptance and commitment therapy workbook.

The act deck offers 55 practices based on acceptance and commitment therapy for use in therapy, classrooms or at home. these cards ask tough questions, encourage meaningful action and provide new perspectives to help you let go of negative thoughts and live in the present moment.

Popular myths about love set us up for a struggle with real life. the inconvenient truth is there's no such thing as a perfect partner, all couples fight, and feelings of love come and go like the weather. but that doesn't mean you can't have a joyful and romantic relationship. through a simple program based on the revolutionary new mindfulness-based acceptance and commitment therapy (act), you can learn to handle painful thoughts and feelings more effectively and engage fully in the process of living and loving together. – with your partner or alone, act with love will teach you how to:let go of conflict, open up, and live fully in the present – use mindfulness to increase intimacy, connection, and understanding – resolve painful conflicts and reconcile long-standing differences – act on your values to build a rich and meaningful relationship

This book is the most practical clinical guide on acceptance and commit ment therapy (act said as one word, not as initials) yet available. the authors of these chapters are experts in applying act in these various areas, and it is intriguing how the same core principles of act are given a nip here and a tuck there to fit it to so many issues. the purpose of this book, in part, is to emboldened researchers and clinicians to begin to apply act wherever it seems to fit. the chapters in the book demonstrate that act may be a useful treat ment approach for a very wide range of clinical problems. already there are controlled data in many of these areas, and soon that database will be much larger. the theory underlying act (relational frame theory or "rft"-and yes, here you say the initials) makes a powerful claim: psy chopathology is, to a significant degree, built into human language. fur ther, it suggests ways to diminish destructive language-based functions and ways of augmenting helpful ones. to the extent that this model is cor rect, act should apply to a very wide variety of behavioral issues because of the centrality of language and cognition in human functioning.

Professionals who work with patients and clients struggling with chronic pain will benefit from this values-based behavior change program for managing the effects of pain. acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain addresses case formulation and clinical techniques for working with pain patients through a combination of practical instruction and a treatment scenario narrative that follows a patient through an act-based intervention. an invaluable resource for rehabilitation specialists, psychologists, physicians, nurses, and others.

A brief 6-10 session protocol. clear, practical, and developmentally appropriate strategies to help children ages 5 to 12 learn effective coping skills, manage emotions, and bounce back from life's difficulties. if you treat children struggling with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, you know that approaches designed for adults do not work with younger clients. act for treating children presents skills grounded in evidence-based acceptance and commitment therapy (act) to help children regulate emotions and cope with the inevitable ups and downs of life, and is suitable for clinicians with no prior knowledge of or training in act, as well as seasoned act clinicians. written by an experienced educational and developmental psychologist, this practical clinician's guide outlines a simplified version of the act hexaflex–a key component of this treatment model–called the kidflex, to help young clients build resilience and psychological flexibility. you'll also find detailed case studies, transcripts, activities, experiential exercises, worksheets, and session plans to help you develop the skillset you need to help children overcome disorders such as stress, anxiety and depression. finally, you'll find strategies for involving parents in treatment when appropriate, and enlisting them as 'act coaches' in the child's therapy. it can be difficult to know where to start when using act for individual therapy with children. that's why the skills in this go-to guide are practical and easy-to-implement, can be done with children in both face-to-face therapy and online sessions, and are simple enough for children to put into practice in any setting–whether it's at home, in school, or out in the world.

"trauma-focused act is going to go down as one of the great contributions to the field of trauma-informed care." –kirk strosahl phd, cofounder of act trauma-focused act (tfact) provides a flexible, comprehensive model for treating the entire spectrum of trauma-related issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd), addiction, depression, anxiety disorders, moral injury, chronic pain, shame, suicidality, insomnia, complicated grief, attachment issues, sexual problems, and more. written by internationally acclaimed act trainer, russ harris, this textbook is for practitioners at all levels of experience, and offers exclusive access to free downloadable resources–including scripts, videos, mp3s, handouts, and worksheets. discover cutting-edge strategies for healing the past, living in the present, and building a new future. with this compassion-based, exposure-centered approach, you'll learn how to help your clients: find safety and security in their bodies overcome hyperarousal and hypoarousal break free from dissociation shift from self-hatred to self-compassion rapidly ground themselves and reengage in life unhook from difficult cognitions and emotions develop an integrated sense of self resolve traumatic memories through flexible exposure connect with and live by their values experience post-traumatic growth

Drop the rope in your tug-of-war with angerif you've tried to control problem anger before with little success, this book offers you a fundamentally new approach and new hope. instead of struggling even harder to manage or eliminate your anger, you can stop anger feelings from determining who you are and how you live your life. based on a revolutionary psychological approach called acceptance and commitment therapy (act), the techniques in act on life not on anger can help you let go of anger and start living your life to the fullest.your path begins as you learn to accept your angry feelings as they occur, without judging or trying to manage them. then, using techniques based in mindfulness practice, you'll discover how to observe your feelings of anger without acting on them. value-identification exercises help you figure out what truly matters to you so that you can commit to short- and long-term goals that turn your values into reality. in the process, anger will lose power over your life-and, amazingly, you'll gain control over your life by simply letting go of your angry feelings.

Acceptance and commitment therapy, or act (pronounced as a word rather than letters), is an emerging psychotherapeutic technique first developed into a complete system in the book acceptance and commitment therapy by steven hayes, kirk strosahl, and kelly wilson. – act marks what some call a third wave in behavior therapy. to understand what this means, it helps to know that the first wave refers to traditional behavior therapy, which works to replace harmful behaviors with constructive ones through a learning principle called conditioning. cognitive therapy, the second wave of behavior therapy, seeks to change problem behaviors by changing the thoughts that cause and perpetuate them. – in the third wave, behavior therapists have begun to explore traditionally nonclinical treatment techniques like acceptance, mindfulness, cognitive defusion, dialectics, values, spirituality, and relationship development. these therapies reexamine the causes and diagnoses of psychological problems, the treatment goals of psychotherapy, and even the definition of mental illness itself. – act earns its place in the third wave by reevaluating the traditional assumptions and goals of psychotherapy. the theoretical literature on which act is based questions our basic understanding of mental illness. it argues that the static condition of even mentally healthy individuals is one of suffering and struggle, so our grounds for calling one behavior 'normal' and another 'disordered' are murky at best. instead of focusing on diagnosis and symptom etiology as a foundation for treatment-a traditional approach that implies, at least on some level, that there is something 'wrong' with the client-act therapists begin treatment by encouraging the client to accept without judgment the circumstances of his or her life as they are. then therapists guide clients through a process of identifying a set of core values. the focus of therapy thereafter is making short and long term commitments to act in ways that affirm and further this set of values. generally, the issue of diagnosing and treating a specific mental illness is set aside; in therapy, healing comes as a result of living a value-driven life rather than controlling or eradicating a particular set of symptoms. – emerging therapies like act are absolutely the most current clinical techniques available to therapists. they are quickly becoming the focus of major clinical conferences, publications, and research. more importantly, these therapies represent an exciting advance in the treatment of mental illness and, therefore, a real opportunity to alleviate suffering and improve people's lives. – not surprisingly, many therapists are eager to include act in their practices. act is well supported by theoretical publications and clinical research; what it has lacked, until the publication of this book, is a practical guide showing therapists exactly how to put these powerful new techniques to work for their own clients. – acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety disorders adapts the principles of act into practical, step-by-step clinical methods that therapists can easily integrate into their practices. the book focuses on the broad class of anxiety disorders, the most common group of mental illnesses, which includes general anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. – written with therapists in mind, this book is easy to navigate, allowing busy professionals to find the information they need when they need it. it includes detailed examples of individual therapy sessions as well as many worksheets and exercises, the very important 'homework' clients do at home to reinforce work they do in the office.

If you want to do more in your life than tread water, run from problems, and just exist–let the simple, accessible tools provided in acceptance and commitment therapy in 3 steps show you how living a meaningful, purposeful life is as simple as a – c – t.i've tried self-help books, but they didn't help me feel happy… i've made progress in the past, but it didn't last… i try to get rid of the negative stuff my mind comes up with, and i'm tired of having my efforts fail… if you relate to any of these common experiences, acceptance and commitment therapy, also referred to as act, may significantly improve the quality and direction of your life. – the mayo clinic and national institute of mental health have recognized acceptance and commitment therapy as an effective mode of therapy for working through particularly stubborn or troubling emotional difficulties. certified counselor tanya j. peterson applies the principles of acceptance and commitment therapy with her clients who feel emotionally stuck. she has also used act personally to work through a personal tragedy that left her struggling with residual limitations. – acceptance and commitment therapy in 3 steps: a workbook for overcoming self-doubt and embracing life is both a complete resource for understanding act and a collection of exercises to help you apply the principles of act in your own life. this book is an accessible, every-person's guide for building your personal set of practical act skills and moving towards a life lived in harmony with your personal values. – act 101 – this easy-to-use book begins with examples of acceptance and commitment therapy in practice, then pairs the main pathologies and principles into 3 steps, and finally, explores each of them in 3 step-specific chapters. the six pathologies of acceptance and commitment therapy include: fusion, avoidance, lost values, attachment to self, uncertain values, and unworkable action. – practice makes progess – guided writing exercise and visualizations can be done once, or multiple times as you move through various life challenges by applying acceptance and commitment therapy. – live in the moment – mindfulness practice plays a big role in acceptance and commitment therapy. learn how to connect to the present moment and stay in that moment to disentangle yourself from the confusing web of thoughts and emotions, and get in touch with what's going on around you. – with this accessible guide and workbook for everyday life, you will quickly and easily learn and apply act, without all the theoretical assumptions and jargon. by choosing acceptance and commitment therapy in 3 steps you're on the path to a mindful, high-quality life.

Is anxiety and fear a problem for you? have you tried to win the war with your anxious mind and body, only to end up feeling frustrated, powerless, and stuck? if so, you're not alone. but there is a way forward, a path into genuine happiness, and a way back into living the kind of life you so desperately want. this workbook will help you get started on this new journey today now in its second edition, the mindfulness and acceptance workbook for anxiety offers a new approach to your anxiety, fears, and your life. within its pages, you'll find a powerful and tested set of tools and strategies to help you gain freedom from fear, trauma, worry, and all the many manifestations of anxiety and fear. the book offers an empowering approach to help you create the kind of life you so desperately want to live. based on a revolutionary approach to psychological health and wellness called acceptance and commitment therapy (act), this fully revised and updated second edition offers compelling new exercises to help you create the conditions for your own genuine happiness and peace of mind. you'll learn how your mind can trap you, keeping you stuck and struggling in anxiety and fear. you'll also discover ways to nurture your capacity for acceptance, mindfulness, kindness, and compassion, and use these qualities to weaken the power of anxiety and fear so that you can gain the space do what truly matters to you. now is the time. nobody chooses anxiety. and there is no healthy way to "turn off" anxious thoughts and feelings like a light switch. but you can learn to break free from the shackles of anxiety and fear and take back your life. the purpose of this workbook is to help you do just that. your life is calling on you to make that choice, and the skills in this workbook can help you make it happen. you can live better, more fully, and more richly with or without anxiety and fear. this book will show you the way. — recent studies support for the effectiveness of act-based self-help workbooks as a low-cost treatment for people experiencing anxiety. (ritzert, t., forsyth, j. r., boswell, j., & eifert, g. evaluating the effectiveness of act for anxiety disorders in a self-help context: outcomes from a randomized wait-list controlled trial. behavior therapy, 47, 431-572.)

Is anxiety and fear a problem for you? have you tried to win the war with your anxious mind and body, only to end up feeling frustrated, powerless, and stuck? if so, you're not alone. but there is a way forward, a path into genuine happiness, and a way back into living the kind of life you so desperately want. this workbook will help you get started on this new journey today now in its second edition, the mindfulness and acceptance workbook for anxiety offers a new approach to your anxiety, fears, and your life. within its pages, you'll find a powerful and tested set of tools and strategies to help you gain freedom from fear, trauma, worry, and all the many manifestations of anxiety and fear. the book offers an empowering approach to help you create the kind of life you so desperately want to live. based on a revolutionary approach to psychological health and wellness called acceptance and commitment therapy (act), this fully revised and updated second edition offers compelling new exercises to help you create the conditions for your own genuine happiness and peace of mind. you'll learn how your mind can trap you, keeping you stuck and struggling in anxiety and fear. you'll also discover ways to nurture your capacity for acceptance, mindfulness, kindness, and compassion, and use these qualities to weaken the power of anxiety and fear so that you can gain the space do what truly matters to you. now is the time. nobody chooses anxiety. and there is no healthy way to "turn off" anxious thoughts and feelings like a light switch. but you can learn to break free from the shackles of anxiety and fear and take back your life. the purpose of this workbook is to help you do just that. your life is calling on you to make that choice, and the skills in this workbook can help you make it happen. you can live better, more fully, and more richly with or without anxiety and fear. this book will show you the way. — recent studies support for the effectiveness of act-based self-help workbooks as a low-cost treatment for people experiencing anxiety. (ritzert, t., forsyth, j. r., boswell, j., & eifert, g. evaluating the effectiveness of act for anxiety disorders in a self-help context: outcomes from a randomized wait-list controlled trial. behavior therapy, 47, 431-572.)

Accept your thoughts, start living your life with acceptance and commitment therapy! are you facing a painful situation, but don't you have the emotional resources to overcome it? are you looking for a new method for accepting yourself? then keep reading … with a focus on mindfulness, client values, and a commitment to change, act is proven-effective in treating depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, eating disorders, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder (bpd), and myriad other psychological issues. it's also a revolutionary new way to view the human condition—packed full of exciting new tools, techniques, and strategies for promoting profound behavioral change. this book aims to take the complex theory and practice of act and make it accessible and enjoyable. – here it is what you will find inside:relief from anxiety and improve your quality of life best strategies – act in practice – how to deal depression with actmaster you emotions & mindfulness – stress reduction techniques you need to learn – much, much more! whether you're a clinician looking for in-depth training and better treatment outcomes for individual clients, a student seeking a better understanding of this powerful modality, or anyone interested in contextual behavioral science, this guide provides a comprehensive act resource. – now it is your turn to take action. don't lose time anymore! stop living someone else's life now!

Paperback, 112 pages, published november 2016. did you ever want to become a superhero? did you ever wish you could get magical powers or travel through the universe, across time and space? this dynamic new self-help book is designed to help heroes who are struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, shame and trauma. written by dr. janina scarlet, the leading advocate of superhero therapy, a new technique that helps you to recover from common psychological and emotional problems by showing your concerns are mirrored in the stories of extraordinary superheroes from fiction. the book takes you through the core concepts of acceptance and commitment therapy (act) which will better arm you to face the challenges of your superhero quest. illustrated by talented comic book artist dean trippe, this book tells the tale of a group of troubled heroes enlisted at the superhero training academy (inspired both by fictional characters and real-life people who have benefited from this therapy), learning to overcome their problems using the techniques of act. this will appeal to readers with a geeky side to their nature, or anyone just seeking to find their inner superhero.

Paperback, 112 pages, published november 2016. did you ever want to become a superhero? did you ever wish you could get magical powers or travel through the universe, across time and space? this dynamic new self-help book is designed to help heroes who are struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, shame and trauma. written by dr. janina scarlet, the leading advocate of superhero therapy, a new technique that helps you to recover from common psychological and emotional problems by showing your concerns are mirrored in the stories of extraordinary superheroes from fiction. the book takes you through the core concepts of acceptance and commitment therapy (act) which will better arm you to face the challenges of your superhero quest. illustrated by talented comic book artist dean trippe, this book tells the tale of a group of troubled heroes enlisted at the superhero training academy (inspired both by fictional characters and real-life people who have benefited from this therapy), learning to overcome their problems using the techniques of act. this will appeal to readers with a geeky side to their nature, or anyone just seeking to find their inner superhero.