ACT Flashcards
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
A third-wave therapy within the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tradition focusing on changing one’s relationship with thoughts and feelings rather than altering their content.
What is Experiential Avoidance in ACT?
Attempts to suppress or escape from unwanted private experiences, which can increase suffering.
Define Psychological Flexibility.
The ability to be present, open up to experiences, and engage in meaningful action.
List the six core processes of ACT.
- Acceptance
- Defusion
- Contact with the Present Moment
- Self as Context
- Values
- Committed Action
What does Acceptance involve in ACT?
Allowing experiences without trying to change them.
What is Defusion in the context of ACT?
Creating distance from thoughts and reducing their literal impact.
What is meant by Contact with the Present Moment?
Being fully engaged in the present.
Explain Self as Context in ACT.
Recognizing oneself as an observer rather than being fused with thoughts.
How are Values defined in ACT?
Identifying what is truly important in life.
What is Committed Action in ACT?
Taking steps guided by values.
How does ACT help individuals with psychosis?
It helps individuals accept experiences like hallucinations rather than fight them.
What is a Defusion Technique?
Repeating a troubling thought aloud until it loses its impact.
What are Mindfulness Exercises in ACT?
Practicing present-moment awareness through simple activities like mindful eating.
What role does ACT play in addressing schizophrenia?
It promotes acceptance over suppression, leading to better psychosocial outcomes.
How is acceptance linked to voices and hallucinations in ACT?
Acceptance is linked to reduced distress and less perceived power in voices.
How does ACT frame delusions?
As extreme cognitive fusion rather than absolute truths.
Differentiate between Values and Goals in ACT.
Values guide actions but are never fully achieved, whereas goals are specific milestones.
What are Barriers to Valued Living?
Obstacles that prevent a person from acting in accordance with their values.
What does Taking Action entail in ACT?
Encouraging progressive exposure to feared experiences in service of valued living.
What are Mindfulness Practices in ACT?
Short, practical exercises to increase awareness and reduce automatic reactions.
What does Self as Context teach individuals?
That they are more than their thoughts and emotions, providing a stable perspective.
What is the ‘Sky and Weather’ metaphor used for in ACT?
To illustrate psychological flexibility.
What is the conclusion regarding ACT?
ACT is a flexible, evidence-based therapy that enhances well-being by promoting acceptance, mindfulness, and value-driven actions.
Describe the 3 important elements to act at the
Be open, be aware be active
In it simple form, what are the two components of act?
Be mindful by living in the present moment and not judging thoughts
Live according to your values
What is an acronym for the six principles in act?
V - identifying
values
A - acceptance of experiences
C- connecting to the present moment
C - committed action by taking steps towards living towards your values
D - defusion by creating distance from the thoughts and reducing their literal impact
S - south as context I recognise in oneself as the observer rather than being your thoughts
What is needed in order to help a client move towards an act way of living
Metaphors such as holding the book away from yourself and it becomes a strain and holding a book towards yourself and it becoming heavy, versus putting the book on your lap so you can still move even if the problem is still there
