ACT

Question 1

How does ACT think MH problems are informed?

Answer 1

Contextually informed: the things we experience in our life change what happens mentally.

Question 2

What problem/strategy does ACT help to overcome?

Answer 2

Experiential avoidance.

Question 3

What does ACT try to develop?

Answer 3

Psychological flexibility: pick up our suffering/relate to our inner voice in a legitimate way to be able to carry it with us as a part of us, while we continue to do those things that are important to us.

Question 4

What are the 6 essential components of ACT?

Answer 4

1. acceptance/willingness
2. self-as-context
3. mindfulness/contact with the present moment
4. defusion
5. values
6. committed action

Question 5

describe acceptance/willingness

Answer 5

having the client practice having discomfort and controlling behaviour at the same time

Question 6

describe self-as-context

Answer 6

Over time we build stories about who we are; sometimes these can imprison us. ACT tried to have us contact a deeper sense of self as a stable base from which to make decisions.

Question 7

describe mindfulness

Answer 7

Increase our awareness of what is going on inside us and how these are pushing us around the world.

Question 8

describe defusion

Answer 8

Stepping back and watching our thoughts; evaluating them not in terms of how true they are but in terms of how useful they are in moving us towards what’s important.
Reminding ourselves that something is a thought/image/belief.
Overcomes confusing thoughts/images/words and reality.

Question 9

describe values

Answer 9

What people want and who they want to be. The more you live a life that is in line with your values, the more satisfying your life will be.

Question 10

describe committed action

Answer 10

How do you bring your values to life.