Experiential-Behavioral Models – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Question 1

Theoretical Framework:
Experiential acceptance based behavior therapy-

Answer 1

Undermine the impact of experiential avoidance

Question 2

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) has been found to be effective at treating:

Answer 2

clinical disorders

Question 3

Is ACT successful with couples?

Answer 3

-There is a lack of research on ACT w/Couples
-ACT vs. IBCT

Question 4

What are the goals of ACT therapy?

Answer 4

-Mindful of thoughts and feelings
-Accept and embrace discomfort
-Defuse thoughts and feelings
-Actions consistent with valued directions

Question 5

In the study, ACT therapy teaches couples to:

Answer 5

Approach Previously Avoided Situations

Question 6

What are common avoidance-producing situations for couples?

Answer 6

-Communication
-Physical and sexual intimacy
-Mutually shared activities

Question 7

What are ACT Interventions?

Answer 7

-Chinese Finger Trap Metaphor
-Tug of War Exercise
-Driving the Life Bus Metaphor
-Cognitive Defusion
-Values and Committed Action
- Acceptance and Mindfulness

Question 8

What is the Chinese Finger Trap Metaphor?

Answer 8

1) Each member (couple) puts one finger in Chinese Finger trap
2) The more it is pulled = the tighter it gets
3) Instead couples can push into trap rather than pull (creating space to move)
4) Helps set stage for future intervention, Metaphor “lean into hard stuff so you have more room for growth/learning”

Question 9

What is the Tug of War Exercise?

Answer 9

1) couple asked to grab rope on each end
2) one member asked to pull on rope, when pulled other member automatically pulls back
3) One member asked to pull harder = other pulling even harder
4) Therapist asks how they can get out of this struggle
5) Therapist suggests move towards tension or dropping the rope
6) When is the exercise used: frequent complaint (interaction/communication too reactive and restrictive)
7) What is learned: gives understanding of letting go of one’s instinctive reactions to their partner

Question 10

What is the Driving the Life Bus Metaphor?

Answer 10

1) Couple imagine driving a bus representing their life [passengers = collection of thoughts, feelings, memories and bodily sensations]
2) Couples bring Barries into awareness [counselor helps defuse/personify unwanted passengers]
Example of passengers -> discouragement, rejection, hopelessness, fear of being hurt by one’s partner
3) Counselors ask driver if they can welcome passenger onto bus (acceptance) by acknowledgement

Question 11

What is Cognitive Delusion?

Answer 11

1) Cognitive delusion: individuals learn to observe thoughts for what they really are and not for what their minds tell them
-taking thoughts less literally
-defusion: one recognizes thought is just thought, not something that must be believed or acted upon

Question 12

What is Values and Committed Action?

Answer 12

1) Help client clarify and act consistent with values
2) Counselors can work with couples to rate the value domain (individual and shared values) in terms of importance, satisfaction # of times per week actions toward values were taken
3) Introduce committed action = behaving in ways consistent with their values

Question 13

What is Acceptance and Mindfulness?

Answer 13

1)Couples being mindfully aware in session help them see how choices impact functioning of partner
2) Exercises: mindful exercises

Question 14

Treatment plan

Answer 14

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Question 15

How does therapist maintain treatment gains?

Answer 15

1) Therapist recording: listen to exercises between session and after therapy
2)Complete weekly and monthly committed action worksheets

Question 16

What does research show about ACT?

Answer 16

Strengths: ACT shows promising results at treating distressed couples
Limitations: No standardized measure for assessing components of ACT (i.e value clarification, cognitive delusion), Single-case research design

Question 17

What ACT Research Implications?

Answer 17

Address wide range of clinical goals
-Improved communication
-Increased emotional connection
-Enhanced sexual intimacy
-Increase relational flexibility
-Cognitive & behavioral changes

Question 18

What has ACT help with?

Answer 18

ACT improved marital adjustment and satisfaction
ACT reduced interpersonal and psychological distress

Question 19

What are Empirical Support - specific elements?

Answer 19

1)Cognitive defusion helped couples approach previously avoided relationship situations
2)Clarifying values increased relationship satisfaction
3) In-session experiential exercises are a critical part of treatment
-Immediate feedback & insight

Question 20

What are the benefits for Mindfulness and Couple Relationships?

Answer 20

1)Benefits
-Interpersonal attunement
-Regulation of negative emotions during conflict
-Increased empathy and understanding of another’s experience
2) Couples with more mindful awareness see their relationship more optimistically
3)Useful for partners who have attachment injuries from childhood
4) Can be incorporated with other models of couples counseling

Question 21

Yoga & Couple Relationships

Answer 21

1)Partner yoga: Physical postures, Mindfulness meditation, Breathing exercises
2) Mutual support: Physically and mentally, trust exercises, Supportive touch
3) In-session & between-session

Question 22

Body-Mind-Spirit Approach

Answer 22

1)Look outside psychotherapy to inform interventions
2)Integrative counseling approach: Joint exercise, Improve sexual relating, Develop mutual spiritual goals and values
3) Can enhance proven behavioral strategies

Question 23

Experiential activities for couples

Answer 23

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