ACT is philosophically rooted in functional contextualism and theoretically rooted in relational frame theory (Zettle, 2007). Functional contextualism sees no thought, feeling or event as inherently problematic or dysfunctional but rather, sees these within specific contexts. Harris and Hayes (2009) describes that thoughts, feelings and memories function in harmful and distorting ways, but if given an acceptance and deffusion driven context they may have a different influence. Though still negative, these events no longer prevent the individual from a valued life. Similarly, relational frame theory (RFT) is an empirically based theory of the human language and cognition, which provides the basis for the ACT therapeutic approaches. Extending behavioural principles, RFT considers thinking as a form of learned behaviour (Webster, 2011). Summarized, RFT suggests that through relational framing we first develop relations between …show more content…
events, these then join into vast relational networks and later transfer functions and meaning between related events (Harris & Hayes, 2009; Webster, 2011). On the basis of RFT we are able to relate things and events to each other, and change how we perceive the characteristics of such events, through language (Batten, 2011). Not only do we begin to highlight our flaws, but make them factual ultimately creating psychological distress (Webster, 2011). RFT stresses that these evaluations ay seem to be fact but in reality are not true. As explained by RFT, words take on the literal meaning and properties of the things they refer to, this is extremely problematic when cognition, affect and behaviours become fused with the self, known as cognitive fusion (Thorpe, 2015).
Words then have the power to bring a range of negative psychological and even physiological effects. To avoid this distress we try to employ behaviours that give us short-term relief- this is known as experiential avoidance. Experiential avoidance involves trying to avoid suppress or escape, from unwanted “private events” including thoughts, memories and feelings (Flaxman et al., 2011). However, many experientially avoidant behaviours usually consist of the initial distress and may increase this distress in frequency or intensity blocking people from living and enjoying a meaningful life. Therefore disentangling people from their minds, is one of the main aims of ACT, it is achieved by helping the mind look at the present and distinguish when to engage in problem solving and when not to (Hayes et al.,
2012). Limited self-knowledge is the effect of both cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance. The more fused we are with our thoughts, the less aware we are of the present, thus the past and future become the focus, trapping us with memories of the past and fantasies about the future. Ultimately we lose contact with inner psychological processes and become unaware of our thoughts and feelings thus lacking self-knowledge (Harris & Hayes, 2009). Similarly, we may display behaviour in terms of unworkable action where certain action will pull us away from active and valued living, not allowing us to move and increasing distress (Thorpe, 2015). Lastly, we all have thoughts and evaluations of ourselves known as the conceptualised self, these “self labels” overtime begin to fuse with who we are and want to be (Harris & Hayes, 2009). Ultimately we begin to align our behaviour according to these labels, though not as problematic, its when we become attached, and our judgements stop us from experiencing and going towards our values that it is harmful (Harris &Hayes, 2009).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) emphasizes the modification of thoughts that will invoke change in behavior (Nichols, 2014). There are two derivation causes for a distorted cognition: a structured schema, or map in the brain, that is too complex to handle the situation, and cognitive distortions of reality (Pajares, 2002). Schemas are materialized from life experiences, and the environment from birth, and direct how the brain translates these events (Bandura, 1989). The individual’s interpretation or
The key assumptions that the therapist must master in contextual therapy include the following: entitlement, loyalty, parentification, revolving slate and ledger of merits (Metcalf, 2011). Entitlement represent a source of individual freedom which allows individual to become inventive and establish a sense of satisfaction for life and future relationships. Entitlement can be constructive and destructive. Constructive entitlement produces blessings,
From a theoretical standpoint, I would prefer to structure my effort with Ms. Farber based on REBT Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The emphasis in REBT is on the acquisition and employment of functional core beliefs that the sessions can be thought of as “training sessions.” It is imperative to change the frame of reference in the Ms. Farber’s perspective. Moreover, this change can create dramatic shifts in her thinking. I hope to highlight the ways that an irrational thought represents a dispute that serves as an opportunity for the client to establish effective coping strategies. Ms. Farber is careless with her financial resources, the poor choices she made, and the consequences of those actions
Modern and postmodern theories differ widely in their assumptions regarding reality. Two popular branches of CBT (a blend of related psychotherapies) are cognitive therapy (CT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). These therapies assume that cognitive processes—thoughts, beliefs, self-statements, and perceptions—are the major determinants of an individual’s emotion and behavior. CT and REBT assume that reality is objective and can be observed. Similar to CBT, postmodernism is also a group of related therapies. In contrast though, postmodernists, assume that reality does not exist independent of observational processes. Postmodern approaches such as social constructionism (SC) and narrative therapy (NT) assume that truth and reality are merely a way of understanding a situation within the context of the client’s social and cultural context. ...
“Exiles are the highly vulnerable, sensitive parts of us that were most hurt by emotional injuries in the past.” Thereby, people attempt to disconnect from these painful emotions and memories in order to never experience them again. This leads to other inner entities becoming managers of those emotions. For example, a child that was abused by a family member in the middle of the night in their bedroom may as an adult be taken back to their sense of fear when their partner mistakenly awakens them in the middle of the night. Their managers would be activated to control the environment and suppress their feelings. However, “When the managers fail to control the exiled emotions, extreme behaviors emerge, such as addictions, binges, rages and anger, and Schwartz refers to them as firefighters.” This is where a conflict between married couples can emerge requiring intervention. The husband has no idea what his wife is feeling in that moment and believes her reaction or requirements are unrealistic. Yet through IFS therapy, the care seekers can come to acknowledge the real emotion at hand and as Schwarts says, “They stop berating themselves and instead, get to know, rather than try to eliminate, the extreme inner voices or emotions that have plagued them.” By addressing these emotions, clients can learn to lead themselves and see their
When first receiving news about the death of a loved one, the normal reaction is shock and denial. No one wants to hear that their father, grandmother, or uncle had just died, and according to Kübler-Ross, one way people cope with grief and loss of a loved one is denial. This means that a person may try and hide from the facts and block out what others are trying to say. That person might deny the reality of the situation and have thoughts like, “He not dead, that’s impossible. He was doing fine just yesterday” or “This must be some kind of mistake.” Denial is a defense mechanism that buffers the immediate shock that comes after hearing such news. It is difficult for the person to accept the fact that someone dear to them is no longer with them, so they rebuke the truth and instead choose to avoid any type of encounter that forces them to face the truth and reality. This even extends to avoiding thinking about the situation. Gibran sta...
In it's simplest form, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (or CBT as it will be referred to from here on out), refers to the approach of changing dysfunctional behaviors and thoughts to realistic and healthy ones. CBT encompasses several types of therapy focusing on the impact of an individual's thinking as it relates to expressed behaviors. Such models include rational emotive therapy (RET), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), behavior therapy (BT), Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT), Schema Focused Therapy, Cognitive therapy (CT). Most recently a few other variations have been linked to CBT such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) (Harrington and Pickles, 2009). The main aspect that all of these branches of therapy share, is that our thoughts relate to our external behaviors. External events and individuals do not cause the negative thoughts or feelings, but, instead the perception of events and situations is the root cause (National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists, 2010).
It is common for those experiencing grief to deny the death altogether. Many people do this by avoiding situations and places that remind them of the deceased (Leming & Dickinson, 2016). However, by simply avoiding the topic of death and pain, the mourner only achieves temporary relief while in turn creating more permanent lasting agony (Rich, 2005). In this stage, mourners will begin to feel the full weight of the circumstance. Whether the death of a loved one was sudden or long-term, survivors will feel a full range of emotions, such as sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, hopelessness, or grief. While many of these emotions can cause serious suffering, it is important for the survivor to feel whatever emotions come up and deal with those feelings, rather than trying to suppress any
In a study done by Johns, Oliver, Khondoker, Byrne, Jolley, Wykes, & Morris (2016), 69 participants were involved in 13 ACT groups with 4-8 participants in each one. There were four two-hour sessions that consisted of skills-building workshops (Johns et al., 2016). Participants were also asked to fill out a satisfaction questionnaire at the end of the study. The study showed that ACT group therapy was beneficial to these participants. Participants showed a “reduced experiential avoidance/greater acceptance; reduced cognitive fusion; and increased mindfulness (Johns et al., 2016. Pg. 261).” Participants also experienced an improvement in functioning as well as in mood (Johns et al.,
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy has its foundations in two distinctive therapeutic theories, Cognitive Therapy and Behavioural Therapy. Cognitive Therapy (CT) believes that thoughts, feelings and behaviour are connected. CT states and an individual with help; can identify an issue that is causing a behavioural or an emotional response and correcting that thinking to achieve a desired outcome. Behavioural Therapy believes that individual’s behaviour is due to conditioning during the early years of life and as such can be altered with conscious awareness. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy is a combination of both of these theories and is based on an individual’s own history of thought an...
Murdock (2013) identifies “free association” as being the best option for a successful therapeutic relationship (Murdock, 2013). Through the use of free association, the therapist encourages Ana to say what comes to mind regardless of the positive or negative emotions as means to open the mind to the unconscious. Strean (1944) identifies that all patients “respond to interventions in terms of transference” (Strean, 1944). With the key role transference plays in the therapeutic process it is important that Ana openly communicates and express her feelings. In doing so, it allows the therapist to interpret similar feeling and root causes. In psychoanalytic theory application, insight provides a look into the emotional and logical thought process (Strean, 1944). The goal through insight is to uncover how Ana’s depression and worries were formed, how they affect her and provide her with the opportunity to deal with these
There are six core values in ACT model and they are used with the overall objective of improving and increasing psychological flexibility which is the ability to contact the here and now completely as an entirely complete person and to adapt and persist in behavior until the targeted outcome is obtained (Hayes, et al, 2006). The first value is acceptance which involves actively and knowingly embracing the personal and or private occurrences in an individuals’ past without trying to alter them. The next value is cognitive defusion is ...
I decided early on that I would allow myself to experience these feelings fully, because in order to be a good therapist, I need to be able to understand how the client might be feeling. I am still just beginning this journey, but I have every intention of becoming more open to embracing the new awareness that I have found in this class. This paper describing my philosophy will incorporate all three of these systems of psychotherapy in what I believe to be a clear and cohesive manner.
Sigmund Freud’s idea of psychological tricks that we conduct without really knowing we are doing so is known as ego defense mechanisms. This idea is applied in society today. His thoughts that displacement is one’s way to place an emotion into another object, is a common explanation to some people’s
The practice of silence is one I find to illicit a state of present moment awareness. The simple act of purposefully abstaining from verbal speech resulted in a heightened awareness of thoughts, feelings and sensations in the moment. It also increased my ability to listen to others in a way that supports them. Over the course of two weeks, I chose to practice silence along with the practice of suspension during my listening of others.