-Acceptance

-Cognitive Defusion

-Being Present

-Self as Context

-Values

-Committed Action



Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: 6 core processes (psychological flexibility model) 

The process/way of living through which behaviors and actions are strictly guided by psychological experiences (thoughts, feelings, etc.) rather than ones’ meaningful values or by actions that might be effective. 

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) centers on the utilization of acceptance, values, mindfulness and conventional behavior change methods with the goal of reducing psychological inflexibility. 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 

Levin, Michael E., Haeger, Jack A., Pierce, Benjamin G., Twohig, Michael P. (2017). Web-based acceptance and commitment therapy for mental health problems in college students: a randomized controlled trial. Behavior Modification, 41(1), 141-162. Retrieved from: https://journals-sagepub-com.ezp3.lib.umn.edu/doi/10.1177/0145445516659645  


Web-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Mental Health Problems in College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Populations positively affected by ACT include: 
- College students
- Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Individuals with PTSD after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Psychotic Patients 
- Depressed patients
- Individuals with chronic pain conditions
- Individuals with both Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression
- Physical Therapy Patients

Populations that Benefit from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Psychological Inflexibility 

Although mindfulness interventions are commonly thought of as a treatment solely for mental and psychological illness, various mindfulness interventions have been used in physical rehabilitation.

Mindfulness in Physical Rehabilitation 

- Improves processes of change amongst tested subjects
- Reduces psychological symptoms such as social anxiety and depression
- improves mood processes amongst individuals with PTSD after Traumatic Brain Injury
- it does not require formal practice
- Lessen the likelihood of re-hospitilization for Chronic Mental illness
- Lessen Believability of positive schizophrenic symptoms
- Can decrease symptom occurrence
- less time consuming compared to practices like MBSR
- a trans-diagnostic treatment method: it can treat more than one disorder at a time


Benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been applied in the following formats to bring about positive effects: 

- Self-help programs (self-guided and clinician assisted)

- group interventions (teach skills together)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Formats of Application 

There are many online services and apps that are available that allow people to practice Mindfulness Interventions such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) from one’s own device. The ease of accessibility, lower cost, and convenience of these services are some of the pros of online MBI practices over face-to-face MBIs. 

Mindfulness Apps and Online Services

- Values 
- Committed Action 
- Defusion 
- Acceptance 
- Self as Context 
- Connecting with the present moment

Six Processes of Acceptance Commitment Therapy

A study examined the effectiveness of an adolescent ACT prevention program. The program aimed to use ACT methods to prevent teens from developing anxiety, depression, and other psychopathologies rather than using it as a means to treat these symptoms, which is how ACT is typically used. The study used an ACT condition and a control condition, with students in the ACT group participating in the ACT program while the control group participated in normal class activities. Both students and teachers were accepting of the program and found it feasible to implement it into the regular class time schedule. Additionally, students in the ACT condition demonstrated a difference in anxiety/depression scores. 

ACT Prevention Program for Adolescents

Studies have indicated that there are several ways in which ACT can be adapted to suit teenagers' biological, psychological, and social development. Some ways that this can be done is by involving teens' parents and peers, using personalized goal setting, incorporating the teen's interests, and explaining more abstract concepts using more cognitive methods. It is also important to note that evidence has suggested that ACT may be more suitable for some teens more than others, with it tending to be more effective with teens who are able to think more abstractly. 

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