ACT

Question 1

What does the acronym ACT stand for?

Answer 1

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Question 2

Relating to the process of psychological flexibility, what is another ACT acronym explanation?

Answer 2

• Accept: let go of inner struggle, just let it be
• Choose: identify values, life direction
• Take action: commit to a specific action consistent with values

Question 3

How does ACT view intrusive thoughts? (2 key ideas)

Answer 3

• They come into consciousness, despite not wanting them to
• Trying not to experience thoughts/feelings reinforces/encourages them

Keywords: unwanted, resist just reinforces

Question 4

How does ACT differ from CBT?

Answer 4

• CBT: “change” maladaptive thoughts, challenge them
• ACT: aware but not necessarily change thoughts, neutral perception

Keywords: CBT challenge, ACT neutral

Question 5

According to ACT, what causes psychological problems? (2 key ideas)

Answer 5

• Trying to exert deliberate control over inner experiences
• Avoiding unpleasant thoughts/feelings (experiential avoidance)

Keywords: try control, experiential avoidance

Question 6

What is psychological flexibility? (2 key ideas)

Answer 6

• Learning to experience all internal states, but not giving power to them
• Behavior is consistent with values
• Let your mind be like the sky, let the weather pass right through

Keywords: not give power, behavior & values same

Question 7

Name some disorders that have empirical support for ACT (6 possible)

Answer 7

• Anxiety, depression, pain, trichotillomania (hair-pulling), psychotic disorders, substance abuse

Question 8

What does Springer mean by “feel better” vs “feel better”?

Answer 8

• Feeling BETTER is improvement in mood
• FEELING better is developing skills of awareness of thoughts/feelings

Keywords: mood, awareness

Question 9

What are the six processes of ACT?

Answer 9

1. Acceptance
2. Defusion
3. Self as context
4. Contact with the present moment
5. Values
6. Committed action

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Question 10

According to ACT, what is the process of “acceptance”? (1 key idea)

Answer 10

• Experience inner states, regardless if pleasant/unpleasant

Question 11

According to ACT, what is the process of “defusion”?

Answer 11

• Learn to perceive thoughts from neutral perspective
• Not respond as if they are literally true

Keywords: neutral, not true

Question 12

According to ACT, what is the process of “self as context”?

Answer 12

• aka “the observing self”
• Self is continuous consciousness
• Experience self as underlying everyday experience of self
• We are not our thoughts

Question 13

According to ACT, what is the process of “contact with the present moment”?

Answer 13

• Attend to events in the “here and now”
• Open, receptive, nonjudgmental way

Question 14

According to ACT, what is the process of “values”?

Answer 14

• Clarify what is important in life

Question 15

According to ACT, what is the process of “committed action”?

Answer 15

• Move toward goals, consistent with values
• Be flexible
• Not acting solely on present desires
• Behaviors are thoughtfully considered

Question 16

Name some specific exercises ACT therapists can use

Answer 16

• Written exercises
• Experiential exercises (breathing and awareness focus) to connect with present moment
• Mindfulness of thoughts meditation (demonstrated in class)

Question 17

The ACT cause of suffering acronym F-E-A-R

Answer 17

• Fusion with thoughts: believing that thoughts accurately describe the experience
• Evaluation of experiences: believing that one’s perception of an experience is reality, when actually it is an opinion
• Avoidance of experience: avoiding experiences that cause unpleasant thoughts/feelings
• Reason-giving for behavior: making excuses for not acting true to one’s values