A new approach in psychotherapy: ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy)
Abstract
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) focuses on enhancing psychological flexibility in the service of achieving core life values. One thing that distinguishes ACT from other psychotherapies is its grounding in empirical behavioural science. The results of the latter suggest that the capacity for human language can produce seriously negative psychological effects under certain circumstances. ACT is a therapeutic approach in which the negative effects of human language are undermined so as to support flexible values based living. ACT therapeutic work involves six key processes proposed under the "hexaflex" model. ACT has received considerable empirical support at a number of different levels of analysis.
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To increase psychological flexibility, ACT interventions target 6 interrelated psychological change processes (the hexaflex): contacting the present moment, cognitive defusion, mindful acceptance, self-as-context, clarifying values, and committed action.
“To increase psychological flexibility, ACT interventions target 6 interrelated psychological change processes, collectively known as the hexaflex, which includes contacting the present moment, cognitive defusion, mindful acceptance, self-as-context, clarifying values, and committed action [27].”
ACT draws upon the same treatment principles as CBT without tailoring the protocol for a specific diagnosis.
“ACT draws upon the same treatment principles as CBT without tailoring the protocol for a specific diagnosis (McHugh, 2011).”
From Can acceptance and commitment therapy facilitate psychological adjustment after a severe traumatic brain injury? A pilot randomized controlled trial. (2020) · cites this paper as McHugh, 2011
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“Research investigating the effi cacy of ACT has gained real impetus over the last decade (Hayes et al. 2006).”
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- Authors
- McHugh, L.
- Affiliations
- Swansea University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- McHugh, Louise
- ORCID
- McHugh, Louise
- Venue
- The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-09
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- sup1
- Pages
- 76-79
- ISSN
- 1562-2975 (ISSN-L)
- 1814-1412
- OpenAlex
- W2170478628
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 0.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- acceptance and commitment therapy, psychological flexibility, values-based living, behavioral science, psychotherapy
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Behavior, Behavior Therapy, Culture, Humans, Judgment, Language, Social Values, Self Efficacy
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