Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) ADVANCED Workshop Handout Dr Russell Harris, M.B.B.S, M.A.C. Psych. Med. Phone: 0425 782 055 website: www.actmindfully.com.au e-mail:
[email protected] © Russ Harris 2007 This handout consists of: 1. Quick refresher course in ACT pp 2-5 2. 40 tips for getting unstuck with ACT, pp 6- 8 3. Motivation & Resistance, p 9 4. ACT case conceptualisation, p 10 5. Dahl’s 10 Boxes: Values worksheet, p 11 6. Self-as-context, p 12 7. Useful ACT metaphors, pp 13-15 8. ACT with anxiety, pp 15-17 9. ACT with PTSD, pp 18-21 10. Nightmare rehearsal & sleep hygiene handout, pp 22-26 11. Getting unstuck with PTSD, pp 27-30 12. ACT with substance abuse, p 31 13. Forgiveness & compassion scripts (can also use as a client handout), p 32-33 14. Noting or labelling, as a mindfulness skill, p 34 15. Mindful body scan, pp 35-36 16. Loving kindness meditation, pp 37-38 17. Worksheets, pp 39-41 18. ACT with Anger p 42 19. Brief self-as-context exercise p 43 20. Improvising mindfulness p 44 21. Dealing with unhelpful thoughts 45 22. Strosahl’s 3 dimensions: case conceptualization tool 46 © Dr Russ Harris, 2007
[email protected] www.actmindfully.com.au 1 A Quick Refresher: What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an empirically-supported mindfulness- based cognitive-behavioural therapy. ACT has two major goals: • To foster acceptance of unwanted private experiences which are out of personal control • To facilitate commitment and action towards living a valued life Put technically: The goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility: the ability to contact the present moment and the psychological reactions it produces, as a fully conscious human being, and based on the situation, to persist with or change behaviour for valued ends Put more simply: The aim of ACT is to create a rich, full and meaningful life, while accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it.