Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, pronounced as a word, not initials) is a relatively new model of psychotherapy rooted in one of the oldest and most scientific fields of psychology. That field is behavior analysis, known largely through the reputation of its chief pioneer, B. F. Skinner. Behavior analysis has been responsible for many of our most effective treatment practices in the applied social sciences. If you want to modify the behavior of an animal, a child, or a developmentally delayed adult, the behavioral principles from Skinner’s time are the way to go! Unfortunately, behavior analysts have not had as much success in developing treatment practices for fully functioning adults. Can you guess why?
The answer seems to have something to do with the effect of language (and thinking) on behavior. The capacity to reason, remember, plan, and imagine adds an enormous level of complexity to behavior in comparison to that of developmentally immature humans and certainly animals. Look around you – we live in a world organized by the human capacity for thought. Imagine what our lives would be like without it – we’d still be living in caves! The reason ACT is a fairly recent psychotherapy is because the behavior analytic understanding of language is also pretty new. This understanding is called Relational Frame Theory (RFT), which is an account of language-related behavior from a behavior analytic point of view. So, the “newness” of ACT comes from this fresh perspective on complex human behavior – RFT is the theoretical basis for what happens in ACT treatment.
Generally speaking, the ACT model views human suffering as a problem with our relationship to our thoughts and feelings. Sometimes our thoughts and feelings are unpleasant, and we become very invested in doing something to change or eliminate them. In doing so, we find that the time and energy we have for more satisfying and worthwhile endeavors is diminished. Often it seems that in order to do things we care about, we must first solve the problems in our minds. This is the trap of being a normal, language-capable human being. Thus, in a sense we all are blessed and cursed with the capacity to think and to experience complex emotions. ACT teaches people how to free themselves from this trap and live a more fulfilling life. It is a compassionate, respectful, and directive approach to the challenges that all human beings face.
The scientific support for ACT and RFT is growing everyday. ACT has been shown to help with a variety and range of psychological problems, from common societal ailments like stigma and stress to specific psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, and psychosis. A growing, worldwide community of practitioners and researchers is working together to promote and develop this promising approach to human suffering. If you are interested in learning more, and perhaps in joining the community, feel free to visit the Association for Contextual Behavior Analysis website. If you are struggling in your own life and are interested in possibly receiving this type of treatment, or if you are a professional interested in receiving some training, see my contact page. I care about this work and would be enthusiastic about sharing it with you.