Search results for ""Richard Bennett" "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy""

Book SynopsisThis book offers a comprehensive overview of the central theoretical tenets of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), guidance on key practical applications of the approach, and reflection on the strategic issues inherent to the delivery of this psychological intervention.This thoroughly revised edition explains and demonstrates the range of acceptance, mindfulness, and behaviour change strategies that can be used in the service of helping people increase their psychological flexibility and wellbeing. Divided into three main parts, the book provides the reader with a solid grounding from which to develop their delivery of ACT-consistent interventions. This new edition also includes an update of the research literature and a review of new developments, techniques, and approaches within ACT theory and practice, fortified with a greater appreciation of diversity issues, such as the application of ACT across different groups and cultures.This book will be of interest to students and practitioners of ACT from a range of disciplines spanning clinical, organisational, coaching, counselling, and psychotherapy settings.

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Book SynopsisAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based contemporary psychological approach to behaviour change that promotes the idea of people living more in line with their values whilst providing them with practical strategies for managing adversity. In this book, Dawn Johnson and Richard Bennett have collated fifty of the questions that have most frequently been put to them whilst delivering ACT training and supervision to a wide range of therapists and other helping professionals.This book is the first of its kind to provide concise answers to a range of philosophical, theoretical, conceptual, and practical questions raised by practitioners who are learning ACT. It will be of interest to psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, counsellors, psychiatrists, and a broad range of other mental health practitioners and trainees. It serves as a useful resource for those new to the practice of ACT, and for more experienced practitioners who might want to consider these quTrade Review'A superb text. Entertaining, informative, well-written, easy-to-read, and highly relevant for every ACT practitioner. The authors brilliantly answer all those common questions that just about everyone grapples with in their ACT journey, from the technical stuff like functional contextualism and relational frame theory to the hands-on practical stuff like how to actually work with self-as-context. I wish I’d had access to a book like this when I was learning ACT. It would have saved me so much confusion!'Russ Harris, M. D., and Author of ACT Made Simple and The Happiness Trap'I’ve been in and around ACT for over 15 years, and so when I saw the title of this book, I assumed that I’d already know the answers to the FAQs. That was not the case. There have been niggling questions over the years about the ACT model that I’ve semi-ignored, and this book now gives me the answers to those questions in a comprehensive, clear, and accessible way. I guess that's what I find most remarkable about the book: it will be useful to both a total newbie and to those more experienced with ACT.' Nic Hooper, Ph.D., Lecturer in Psychology at Cardiff University, UK and Author of The Unbreakable Student'Here is a book that could only be written by people with deep knowledge, years of clinical practice and teaching, and direct experience of living by the ACT model. They home in on the key questions that really matter to new (and indeed experienced) practitioners. They answer them with clarity, with precision, depth, as well as with warmth and humour. Above all this is a supremely practical book; not obsessed with people getting ACT ‘right’, but with helping people to become more confident and effective in using ACT to help themselves and others. It should be on the bookshelf of any new ACT practitioner, and also anyone who teaches or supervises them. I know my copy will become well-thumbed.'Ray Owen, DClinPsy, Consultant Clinical and Health Psychologist, Peer-reviewed ACT Trainer, and Author of Facing the Storm and Living with the Enemy'This book is a true gem. Not only does it provide you with the most useful answers to various ACT questions. It’s well written, wisely organised, easy-to-read, and very practical too. This book is a must-have for every practitioner wanting to develop their skills in ACT.'Rikke Kjelgaard, Psychologist, Peer-reviewed ACT Trainer, author of Samtal som förändrar: en Guide till ACT i Praktiken, and chief rock’n’roller at www.rikkekjelgaard.com'This is the book I wish I had while I was teaching and supervising ACT trainees. A must-have resource for anyone learning or teaching Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It will answer all your burning questions in a thorough yet concise and understandable format. Highly recommended!'Jill Stoddard, Ph.D., author of Be Mighty: A Woman’s Guide to Liberation from Anxiety, Worry, and Stress Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner’s Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy'The book was a real treat to read, both as an ACT practitioner and as an ongoing student of the model. I found it especially useful because I often encounter many of these questions in my practice with clients. I recommend this book to newcomers and seasoned practitioners alike. It offers a good starting point for learning about the principles of ACT and at the same time offers the possibility to revisit fundamental theoretical and practical ideas. The book is very well structured, so the reader can jump to any question to get a specific answer.'Gabriel Roseanu, Ph.D., Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapist and Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Oradea, Romania'If you are an ACT practitioner looking to dive more fully into the ACT model, then this book is for you. It’s jam packed full of pearls of wisdom, answering all the questions you ever wanted to ask about ACT but were too afraid to ask. Highly recommended.' Joe Oliver, Ph.D., Founder of Contextual Consulting and co-author of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Self-Esteem'This is such a useful book! As a quick reference guide, the authors have created a go-to resource for accessible answers to questions that you will find yourself asking or find that others ask of you. More than that, this book is also a really absorbing and stimulating read, inviting us to think more about the how of ACT rather than the what. It makes a perfect accompaniment to many other ACT core texts.'Elizabeth Burnside, DClinPsy, Clinical Psychologist and Academic Director of North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme. 'What a great read. This will be very useful for professionals and teachers who want to learn more than just the Hexaflex. The reader can dive into the under-the-hood aspects of ACT, deepen their therapy skills, and they will become more flexible in their work. You’ll find answers to all your commonly asked questions answered instantly and be entertained in the process. A great companion to dip into whenever questions arise.' Louise Hayes, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and co-author of Get Out of Your Mind and into your Life for Teens, Your Life Your Way, The Thriving Adolescent and What Makes You StrongerTable of ContentsIntroduction. Part I: Defining the philosophy and theory of ACT. 1. What is the best way to describe ACT to a client? 2. Which kinds of issues can ACT help with? 3. What are the basic assumptions that ACT makes? 4. How does evolutionary theory apply to ACT? 5. What is functional contextualism? 6. Why do ACT practitioners answer every question with 'it depends'? 7. What is the most important behavioural principle to remember? 8. What on Earth is Relational Frame Theory? 9. Why does ACT use so many metaphors? 10. What is the relationship between ACT and other cognitive behavioural therapies? Part II: Conceptual questions about the ACT model. 11. What is psychological flexibility? 12. What does ‘creative hopelessness’ mean? 13. Is ‘contact with the present moment’ the same thing as mindfulness? 14. What is self-as-context and how does it differ from defusion? 15. Doesn’t acceptance just equate to giving up and letting life steamroller you? 16. What is meant by ‘transformation of stimulus functions’? 17. How do I tell values apart from goals or rules? 18. How can I tell the difference between toward and away moves when clients are taking action? 19. How does the concept of compassion fit with ACT? Part III: Putting ACT into practice. 20. Do I need to know RFT in order to practice ACT? 21. How do I know whether ACT is the right intervention for someone? 22. Can ACT be adapted for diverse populations? 23. Where do I start with introducing ACT to a client? 24. Should I show the Hexaflex to my clients? 25. How do I explain each component of the Hexaflex? 26. In which order should I work through the components of the psychological flexibility model? 27. How can I encourage people to tune in to the present moment? 28. How do I actually do self-as-context work with a client? 29. How do I promote acceptance in sessions? 30. How do I know which defusion procedure to use? 31. How do I deal with values conflict? 32. So, I just get people to work out their values and encourage them to do value-driven behaviour all the time, right? 33. Do I have to address all the processes in every session? 34. How do I apply ACT with (insert diagnosis here)? 35. How many sessions should a course of ACT intervention include? Part IV: Developing skills as an ACT practitioner. 36. What do I need in place in order to practice ACT safely and effectively? 37. Should ACT practitioners practice ACT for themselves? 38. Why is experiential learning better than didactic learning? 39. Why is there no formal qualification in ACT? 40. How can ACT practitioners shape their learning? 41. Do I need ongoing ACT supervision? Part V: Critical questions about ACT. 42. How strong is the evidence for ACT? 43. Traditional CBT has a well-established evidence base. Why does the world need ACT? 44. Isn’t ACT just another case of ‘the emperor’s new clothes’? 45. ACT uses a lot of eye-catching tools and techniques. Isn’t this all just a bag of tricks? 46. How does ACT fit within a culture where the medical model dominates? 47. Is it not harmful to encourage people to tune into and accept their pain and discomfort? 48. What if people have harmful or antisocial values? 49. The client says, "I’ve done everything you suggested but it hasn’t taken away my discomfort". What do I do next? 50. What do I do if a technique does not work out like it is supposed to?

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Book SynopsisJon Hill and Joe Oliver introduce the Acceptance and Commitment Coaching (ACC) model with clarity and accessibility, defining it as an approach that incorporates mindfulness and acceptance, focusing on committed, values-based actions to help coachees make meaningful changes to their lives. Acceptance and Commitment Coaching: Distinctive Features explains the ACC model in such a way that the reader will be able to put it into practice immediately, as well as offering sufficient context to anchor the practical tools in a clear theoretical framework. Split into two parts, the book begins by emphasising ACC's relevance and its core philosophy before providing an overview of its key theoretical points and the research that supports it. The authors also explain the six key ACC processes: defusion, acceptance, contact with the present moment, self as context, values and committed action, and explain how to use them in practice. Hill and Oliver address essential toTrade Review"This scientifically-grounded behavioural change programme will supercharge your coaching practice! Written by two leading experts, Jon Hill and Joe Oliver, this is a wonderfully accessible book that will introduce you to the fundamental principles of this powerful, process-based approach to coaching, taking you step-by-step through its core features and providing a comprehensive roadmap for incorporating it into your practice. Whether you’re coaching individuals or groups in health, sport, business, work or towards personal improvement, this incredibly versatile model will be sure to enrich your coaching sessions; adding another powerful tool – psychological flexibility – to your coachees’ tool boxes. All coaches should grab a copy without delay. Highly recommended." – Dr Michael Sinclair, Director of City Psychology Group and author of Mindfulness for Busy People and The Little ACT Workbook"How do we coach people to work practically toward their chosen life directions, while skillfully responding to the emotions and thoughts that arise from these choices? Coaches who are looking for evidence-based ways to work will find this book an essential guide.The authors provide a very clear introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Coaching, outlining a model of practice, and a philosophy toward coaching that is pragmatic and flexible (contextual behavioural science). They also provide an accessible and entertaining introduction to learning principles based on Relational Frame Theory. This description of how language works in practice will help coaches to do their job using powerful and precise change methods.The book contains various enlightening and useful examples given of how to engage learners in the six core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Coaching. The authors also provide pointers on mistakes they have made in coaching, sharing their experience and wisdom, and helping the reader to gain a deeper understanding of this unique coaching model. The principles described here will lead to transformative changes learner and coach alike." – Eric Morris, PhD, Director, La Trobe University Psychology Clinic, Melbourne, Australia"Having recommended the authors’ previous book, ACTivate Your Life, to many of my therapy clients, it was no surprise to see that this book is full of the same clear descriptions of ACT and its application, this time to using it as an approach to coaching. This will be a valuable resource to coaches out there looking to introduce a coherent model of human function into their practice." – Dr Richard Bennett, Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society, UK"This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to use the ACT model for coaching. Easy-to-read, highly practical, loaded with simple but powerful tools and techniques. If you’re already a coach, this will surely supercharge the way you work. And if you want to start coaching but aren’t sure how, this book will show you the way." – Russ Harris, author of ACT Made Simple and The Happiness Trap"This book is interesting, well-written, thorough and timely. In fact, I am confident that any coach who reads it will immediately be able to incorporate, and see the benefits of, the ACC model with their coaches." – Dr Nic Hooper, Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England, UK; co-author of The Research Journey of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy"If you’re interested in super-charging your coaching skills, then read this fantastic book! Based on Acceptance and Commitment therapy, a revolutionary new therapeutic approach, it provides you with the latest research, tools, working examples and session plans to help you and your coachees excel at work and home." – Dr Guy Meadows, The Sleep School, author of The Sleep Book"This book is a fantastic contribution to the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) literature. With a key focus on the unique characteristics of the ACT model as applied within a coaching context, it is a must buy for all coaching psychologists! The authors’ abilities to translate some of the complexities of ACT and its theoretical basis – Relational Frame Theory (RFT) – into accessible and easily understood language is rare and impressive." – Dr Duncan Gillard, Senior Educational Psychologist; co-author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Dummies"This book is easy to read ‘how to do it’ manual for delivering ACT in groups that provides clear and comprehensive guidance for coaches and other practitioners.It breaks the whole group ACT process down into easily deliverable steps, providing clear instructions for what to do and how this links to the underlying model. The book has something for everyone, whether you are new to ACT or an experienced practitioner looking to hone and develop your skills.Those new to ACT will find it a ‘go to’ manual for guiding their practice and understanding of how to deliver group processes.Overall it’s a great guide for coaches and others that will support top quality ACT practice in the workplace and beyond.Read this book and you will improve your ACT skills!" – Dr Freddy Jackson Brown, Clinical Psychologist; co-author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Dummies"Clear, concise, and refreshingly candid. A delightful guide full of important information, both a bird’s eye view of ACT yet packed with on-point examples and exercises. A must read for any aspiring ACT practitioner, read this book and learn from two of the best ACT teachers in the world." – Dr Jed Shamel, Clinical Psychologist; Coach and Director of Talent at SPACE10"The ACT approach has a great deal to offer the world of coaching. In this book, Jon and Joe provide an accessible overview of this approach (including its philosophical and theoretical underpinnings), and they provide a very practical guide on how ACT can be utilised to enhance coaching interventions. Given the strong body evidence supporting the ACT model of human functioning, this should be considered essential reading for all professionals involved in coaching for performance, personal and professional development, and well-being." – Dr. Paul Flaxman, Reader in Organisational Psychology, City, University of London, UK; co-author of The Mindful and Effective Employee"This is a timely and important book. Jon and Joe have produced a great overview of coaching using acceptance and commitment theory. It’s an excellent resource for both new and experienced coaches." – Rachael Skews, Lecturer in Occupational Psychology, Institute of Management Studies, Goldsmiths University, London, UKTable of ContentsIntroductionAcknowledgements Part 1: The Distinctive Theoretical Features of ACC The World According to ACC Why ACC? Relational Frame Theory (RFT) for Dummies ACT Coaching Research: The Evidence Philosophy 101 for Coaches: Functional Contextualism Defusion Acceptance Contact with Present Moment Self as Context Values Committed Action Part 2: The Distinctive Practical Features of ACC What We Talk About When We Talk About ACC Assessment The Matrix Formulation The Workability Game Use of Metaphor Facilitating Cognitive Defusion From Struggle to Acceptance Be Here Now: Helping Coachees Contact the Present Moment Introducing Self as Context What Really Matters: Success Through Values Helping Coachees Take Committed Action Persistence and the Power of Habit Mindfulness on the Move Working With High Performers Managing Tricky or Unexpected Moments Six Mistakes We Have Made (And What We Learned) A Simple Six-Session ACC Model ACC for Group Coaching, Training and Development ReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisFacing the Storm is a self-care book which aims to assist readers in dealing with life-changing events and recovering in the face of adversity.Drawing on evidence-based techniques from CBT and mindfulness and acceptance approaches, and a lifetime of experience with people confronting their own death, this book will show readers ways to cope better in the face of life's storms. It guides them to make sense of what is happening, to make better choices in the face of disaster, build their ability to recover from the impact of events, and prioritise the things that matter most to them. This updated edition reflects recent research and new techniques while also addressing the changing world we have been living in especially the impact of the Covid19 pandemic.The book will be of interest to people struggling with the big challenges of life, and for the psychology, health and social care professionals who help them.Trade ReviewThis book is like a conversation with a wise helper. In life's inevitable storms, this book is a life-jacket of practical ideas and compassionate wisdom.Kathryn Mannix, Palliative Care Consultant, CBT Therapist, Author of "With the End in Mind" & "Listen"When peaceful seas are not the full story, this wise book shows you what to do: learn, care, plan, choose, do what’s possible, adjust. You may not control the storm, but you control how you relate to it. Highly recommended.Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D. Originator of Acceptance and Commitment TherapyJust what I know to expect from Dr Ray Owen, a beautifully crafted, deep dive into the extraordinary traumas we humans face and how to deal with them; wise psychological strategies, ‘simple by design’, that work, even when you feel completely overwhelmed Lesley Howells, Lead Psychologist for Maggie’s Cancer Caring CentresA very timely revision to the original edition of 'Facing The Storm’. The pandemic and other global events give the whole notion of learning to manage life’s major adversities an added significance. Ray Owen’s trademark wisdom and clarity flows through this book once again. Highly recommended.Richard Bennett, Dr, University of Birmingham, co-author of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy- 100 Key PointsRay Owen has crafted a book that provides enormous solace and support for those of us who find ourselves weathering the storms of life: packed with useful strategies and tools to help you navigate trying times.Joe Oliver, Ph.D., founder of Contextual Consulting, co-author of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Self-EsteemThe perfect companion for anyone going through any kind of crisis. Full of practical tips and psychological techniques, it will show you how to cope well and live meaningfully, despite the challenging, life-changing situations you find yourself in. Highly recommended.Mike Sinclair, Dr, Consultant Counselling Psychologist, author of Mindfulness for Busy People and The Little Anxiety WorkbookA brilliantly wise book on such a tough topic. A goldmine of practical ideas – which focus on the harder aspects to change when we are deep in loss – our thoughts. Ray is a totally trusted thinking partner who makes complex psychological issues totally accessible. This edition has such thoughtful and timely additions as we all try and navigate such a tsunami of loss and many new beginnings. Reading this book will significantly reduce the risk of complicated grief and promotes self-growth. Julie Stokes OBE Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Executive Coach, Founder of Winston’s Wish, author of "You’ll Be OK"This book is a practical and invaluable companion to major challenges at work, in our relationships or with our health. Ray is our compassionate guide and a master in his field, helping us recognise what’s happening and steer a course with purpose and authenticity.Ross McIntosh – Work Psychologist and host of the People Soup PodcastIncredibly comprehensive, informed by the fact that the author has lived this stuff for his entire career. In a heartfelt but practical tone, I felt like I was in the hands of an expert. Nic Hooper, University of Cardiff, author of The Unbreakable Student Table of Contents1. Storms Happen: Introduction; 2. Gale warning: Realising you’re in trouble; 3. Listening to the forecasts: Making sense of it & Taking Stock; 4. I can’t believe it’s going to hit us: Getting used to it; 5. What should we do? Making decisions; 6. Keeping going: Managing ‘normal’ daily life; 7. Thinking ahead: Preparing for afterwards; 8. Riding the storm: Dealing with thoughts and emotions; 9 The eye of the storm: Finding a quieter place in the middle of it all; 10. Rebuilding from driftwood: After the event (assuming you’re there); 11. All the different storms: Conclusion

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