ACT

Question 1

What is it ACTually about?

Answer 1

ACT is, at its core, a behavioural therapy
The goal of ACT is to create a rich and meaningful life
Symptom reduction is not the goal, but it is a common by- product

Question 2

ACT: Transdiagnostic Model

Answer 2

ACT is focussed on common core processes known to underlie different psychopathologies

Question 3

Some Anomalies in the CBT literature

Answer 3

1. Treatment component studies typically show that cognitive interventions (e.g., cognitive restructuring) do not add much value
2. CBT treatments are often associated with rapid symptom improvement before the introduction of specific cognitive interventions
3. Lack of data to show that specific cognitive interventions mediate (statistically explain) the improvement brought about by CBT

Question 4

Functional Contextualism

Answer 4

It’s a a philosophy of science

• No feeling, thought, or memory is problematic, dysfunctional, pathological

Question 5

Applied Behaviour Analysis

Answer 5

An approach to predicting and influencing behaviour

Antecedents, Behaviour, Consequences

Question 6

Relational Frame Theory

Answer 6

Human’s have a unique ability to use language to relate stimuli to one another without direct experience with the stimulus

Question 7

The ACT Hexaflex

Answer 7

Contact with the Present Moment
Acceptance
Defusion
Self-as-context
Committed Action
Values

Question 8

Contact with the Present Moment

Answer 8

Flexibly paying attention to our experience in the present moment
Mindfulness

1. Give the client a rationale and ask if they are willing to practice (usually with eyes closed)
2. Then ask the client to shift their attention to something in the present moment
3. E.g., monitoring sensations of breath intake and release; mentally scanning bodily sensations; focussing on 5-senses, one-at-a-time
4. Normalise getting entangled in thoughts, returning

Question 9

Acceptance

Answer 9

Opening up’ and ‘making room for’ unwanted private experiences
- Paradoxical effects of thought suppression
‘Don’t Think of the White Bear’

Question 10

Defusion

Answer 10

‘Step back’ (separate, distance self) from thoughts, images, memories etc.
Naming the Mind
Soldiers on Parade’ intervention

Question 11

Self-as-context

Answer 11

Two parts to the mind: (1) the part that thinks; (2) the part that notices (Self-as-context)

Question 12

Values

Answer 12

Desired qualities of physical or psychological action

Question 13

Committed Action

Answer 13

Goal setting, action planning, problem-solving, Behavioural activation, exposure principles, Social skills training, assertiveness training, crisis-coping skills

Question 14

Psychometric Measurement

Answer 14

Standard symptom measures

The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II)

Question 15

Youth ACT model:

Answer 15

DNA-V
Discoverer
Adviser
Noticer
Values compass in centre