Summary – An Overview of ACT
Dr. Russ Harris
Psychotherapy in Australia. Vol12 No4. August 2006
Definition: Consciously bringing awareness to your here-and-now experience with openness, interest and receptiveness. Finally, ACT is about creating a rich, full and meaningful life. – Dr. Russ Harris.
WHY ACT?
ACT is grounded in the assumption that the psychological processes of a normal human mind are often destructive and create psychological suffering.
The aim is to transform our relationship with our difficult thoughts and feelings, so that we no longer perceive them as “symptoms”.
The goal of ACT is to create a rich and meaningful life, while accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it.
ACT has a major emphasis on values, forgiveness, acceptance, compassion, living in the present moment (mindfulness) and accessing a transcendent sense of self.
ACT clients learn to stop fighting with their private experiences; to open up to them, make room for them and allow them to come and go without a struggle.
Finally, each year 30% of the adult population will suffer from a recognised psychiatric disorder (Kessler et al, 1994). WHO (World health Organisation), estimates that depression is currently the 4th biggest, most costly and most debilitating disease in the world. By 2020 it will be the 2nd biggest.
HOW?
In ACT, clients learn to reduce the impact and influence of unwanted thoughts and feelings, through the effective use of Mindfulness.
ACT clients learn to stop fighting with their private experiences; to open up to them, make room for them and allow them to come and go without a struggle.
ACT clients learn how to work with their values to guide their life for the better.
ACT interventions focus around two main processes:
- Developing acceptance of unwanted private experiences which are out of personal control.
- Committing to effective action guided by our deepest values.
Clients identify the choices they have made to get rid of or avoid unwanted thoughts and feelings and replace this behaviour with choices that will lead them towards where they want to be for creating a rich and meaningful life.