Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Unified Model of Behavior Change

Abstract

The present article summarizes the assumptions, model, techniques, evidence, and diversity/social justice commitments of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT focused on six processes (acceptance, defusion, self, now, values, and action) that bear on a single overall target (psychological flexibility). The ACT model of behavior change has been shown to have positive outcomes across a broad range of applied problems and areas of growth. Process and outcome evidence suggest that the psychological flexibility model underlying ACT provides a unified model of behavior change and personal development that fits well with the core assumptions of counseling psychology. KeywordsAcceptance and Commitment Therapy, psychological flexibility, unified model Counseling psychology has had a historical commitment to a developmental and skills-based model that seeks the empowerment of individuals in a social

Affect labeling enhances exposure effectiveness for public speaking anxiety

“…A third possibility, consistent with mindfulness based approaches to the treatment of anxiety, is that participants who engaged in affect labeling continued to experience and report anxiety symptoms at follow-up assessments, but were less distressed by these symptoms, and therefore less physiologically reactive. A phrase often used in mindfulness practice is that the goal is not to feel better, but to get better at feeling (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999). Finally, it is possible that self-reported anxiety takes more time to modify and that effects would be observed if participants were followed for a longer period of time.…”

Enhanced psychological flexibility and improved quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis

“…PF is defined as an overarching process of being able to accept the presence of both unwanted and wanted experiences, using this awareness to choose whether to change or persist in behaviour in response to those experiences, depending on what is most adaptive and functional for a meaningful life [11]. Mindfulness, the act of purposefully connecting with present moment experiences, fully and without judgement, is Running head: Psychological flexibility in CFS/ME 5 thought to enable PF processes [12,13].…”

“…Mindfulness, the act of purposefully connecting with present moment experiences, fully and without judgement, is Running head: Psychological flexibility in CFS/ME 5 thought to enable PF processes [12,13]. It can be considered a platform for the development of PF, in which self-awareness and exploration from paying attention is related to cognitive defusion and acceptance, to influence purposeful behavioural choices [14,15].…”

“…Cronbach's alpha scores in the present study were .88, .90 and .91 respectively for activity engagement from pre to follow up assessment and .43, .63 and .73 respectively for fatigue willingness from pre to follow up assessment. The concept of PF is difficult to measure [11]. It is frequently seen as a single construct and focus on components of the model can make it difficult to investigate the full meaning of the construct yet considering specific PF components enables a more detailed examination and may lead to development of more targeted interventions.…”

“…The model of PF has previously been considered a behaviour change model [11] and analysis of such models have highlighted a gap between attitude and behaviour. This is reflected in the current study by the assessment of fatigue willingness and activity engagement respectively in relation to QoL.…”