Kirk D. Strosahl

The traditional practice of psychiatry has been focused on reducing or eliminating distressing, unwanted symptoms. But what if the key to health and well-being is not to be symptom free, but rather to function effectively in life even when symptoms are present? What if symptoms serve an adaptive and motivational function, rather than being signals of a latent illness? What if the key to personal health is the ability to accept symptoms for what they are and to do what matters in life at the same time? This is the underlying proposition of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and this book—a collaboration among six clinicians from diverse practice backgrounds—is the first to systematically describe the principles and practices of ACT as they apply to psychiatric assessment, case analysis, and treatment. The guide begins with an in-depth analysis of the ACT model, from its scientific origins in the study of the functions of human language to a fully elaborated model for clinical assessment and intervention and outlines the clinical benefits of ACT in everyday practice. The second section of the book shows the reader how to conduct a streamlined assessment of the patient's life context, how to detect and intervene with the patient's unworkable emotional and behavioral avoidance strategies, and how to blend the use of medication treatment and behavioral interventions in a way that augments the beneficial effects of both approaches. Chapter-length examples in the third section discuss how to deliver ACT in an ambulatory psychiatric setting, in a hospital consultation-liaison service, and in an inpatient psychiatric context. The section also includes a chapter examining the all-important issue of teaching ACT to psychiatric residents as well as affiliated health professionals working in medical or psychiatric treatment team contexts. Learning Acceptance and Commitment Therapy uses a diverse array of case examples and clinical dialogues to offer readers a real-life view of the methodology in practice. Each chapter also includes additional reading resources to pursue should a particular theoretical or applied clinical concept create a desire to learn more. Additionally, readers have unlimited access to an online instructional library that includes video demonstrations of core ACT clinical strategies "in action" as well as a host of written practice support tools and worksheets. This book is a must for clinicians who want to expand their ability to improve clinical outcomes for the wide range of patients seen in clinical practice.

Enlivened by detailed and engaging clinical dialogues - all based on real-world clinical practice - this book introduces the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) model, demonstrating how it applies to findings from crisis studies and can be integrated into clinical practice.

Your toolkit for managing and overcoming the worst symptoms of depression—quickly and effectively. In an increasingly stressful world—filled with fear and uncertainty—the prospect of effectively managing your depression can seem overwhelming. Add to that the all-consuming grind of day-to-day life, and things can get overwhelming in a hurry. Everyday tasks can seem like insurmountable challenges, your symptoms pile up, and relief slips further out of reach. Your mood becomes darker, your sense of isolation more extreme, and your motivation falls through the floor. What you need is relief—and STAT! Written by a veritable dream team of mental health experts, this short, easy-to-use guide offers evidence-based skills grounded in mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and behavioral activation to help you effectively manage negative thoughts, get motivated, rediscover hope, and develop healthy habits. Designed to get right to the point, this book wastes no time in giving you the tools you need to quickly improve your mood, get unstuck from difficult feelings, and stay on top of symptoms before they build up and get the best of you. The sooner your symptoms are under control, the sooner you can get back on track—happier, more motivated, and looking forward with hope. If you’re the type who likes to cut through the clutter and get to the heart of the matter, pick up this book, and pick up the tools inside—relief is only pages away.

Detta är den självklara boken för alla som arbetar med potentiellt suicidala personer. Den kan revolutionera det svenska sättet att se på suicidprevention. En mycket välskriven och gedigen kunskapskälla, med konkreta behandlingsupplägg som bygger på det senaste inom suicidforskningen. Jag blir varm och glad över att se denna typ av kunskap paketeras så fint! Denna bok kan rädda liv! Ludmilla Rosengren, leg. läkare med grundläggande utbildning i KBT och medgrundare till Suicide Zero. Det finns ingen bok som varit så hjälpsam i mitt arbete med klienter som har komplexa problem. Att den äntligen kommer på svenska är otroligt viktigt och glädjande. Om du jobbar med suicidnära klienter, läs den!” Thomas Gustavsson, leg. psykolog, verksam på Segesholms behandlingshem i Skåne. Suicidala patienterär en efterfrågad handbok som här finns i en ny utgåva. Författarnas utgångsläge är att suicidalt beteende är ett farligt och kortsiktigt problemlösande beteende för att hantera intensiv känslomässig smärta. De tar upp akuta kriser, behandling inom primärvården och i psykiatrisk öppenvård respektive heldygnsvård, samt behandling av särskilda målgrupper som ungdomar, äldre och patienter med substansberoende eller psykos. Det praktiska förhållningssättet är grundat i ACT och KBT. Fackgranskning och svenskt förord av Johanna Morén, leg. psykolog, leg. psykoterapeut och handledare i KBT. Hon har även anpassat avsnittet om juridik till svenska förhållanden. John A. Chilesär psykiater och professor emeritus på Institutionen för psykiatri och beteendevetenskap, University of Washington School of Medicine. Kirk D. Strosahlär fil.dr, leg. psykolog och chef för Heart Matters Consulting i Portland. Laura Weiss Robertsär psykiater, innehar professuren till minne av Katharine Dexter McCormick och Stanley McCormick samt är prefekt på Institutionen för psykiatri och beteendevetenskap vid Stanford University School of Medicine. Hon har även en masterexamen i filosofi.

Since the first edition of Clinical Manual for Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Patients was published in 2005, advances have been made that increase our understanding of suicidal and self-destructive behavior. Although clinicians cannot unerringly predict which patients will die by suicide, they can focus more successfully on early identification of suicidal behavior and effective intervention, and this new edition of the clinical manual thoroughly explores not only assessment of suicidality but what comes after an at-risk patient has been identified. The authors argue that treating specific psychiatric disorders is not enough to prevent suicide, and they offer clinicians the necessary information and strategies to bridge that gap. The authors' main premise is that suicide is a dangerous and short-term problem-solving behavior designed to regulate or eliminate intense emotional pain—a quick fix where a long-term effective solution is needed—and this understanding is the underpinning of the assessment and treatment strategies the authors recommend. The content of this new edition has been thoroughly reviewed and revised, and substantive changes have been made to specific chapters to ensure that the book represents the most current thinking and research, while retaining the strengths of the previous edition. • The chapter on assessment has been revised to put the fundamental components of effective treatment in a clinical, case-oriented context and includes an easy-to-use assessment protocol that allows clinicians to determine where individual patients stand on seven dimensions (cognitive rigidity, problem-solving deficits, heightened mental pain, emotionally avoidant coping style, interpersonal deficits, self-control deficits, and environmental stress and social support deficits).• The many issues involved in the use of psychotropic medications in suicidal patients are addressed in a new chapter, which includes information on the relevant classes of drugs (such as antidepressants and antianxiety agents) and the issues that may arise with their use, including side effects, degree of lethality, and tendency to aggravate suicidality on introduction and withdrawal of the medication. • The chapter on special populations has been expanded to include adolescents, elders, and patients with co-occurring substance abuse or psychosis. Because of additional vulnerabilities, treating these groups may call for the use of added or special techniques to ensure the best therapeutic outcomes.• Primary care physicians are the first point of contact for many patients, and they may require additional preparation in order to assess and respond to those experiencing suicidal thoughts. The chapter "Suicidal Patients in Primary Care" explores strategies for screening, recognizing, and assessing risk; treating the initial crisis; and developing a crisis management plan.• "Tips for Success" appear at intervals, and "The Essentials" are included at the end of each chapter, highlighting the most important concepts. In addition, there are scores of helpful charts and exercises. Practical, accessible, and reader-friendly, the Clinical Manual for Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Patients is not an academic book but rather is one designed to become an indispensable part of clinicians' working libraries.

Aksept og verdibasert atferdsterapi(ACT)Mindful endring - prosess og praksis er en oppdatert utgave av de første bøkene om terapiformen Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), skrevet av de tre opphavsmennene. Siden førsteutgaven utkom i 1999, har ACT utviklet seg betydelig begrepsmessig, teknologisk og empirisk, og et stort antall praktikere anser nå terapiformen som en velegnet og effektiv måte å skape forskning på. Denne utgaven fokuserer på den psykologiske fleksibilitetsmodellen som en samlet modell for menneskelig fungering og fokuserer på psykologisk fleskibilitet som veien til forandring og utbedring av en lang rekke av kliniske problemstillinger. I tillegg er boken utvidet med beskrivelser bl.a. mindfulnessprosesser, den terapeutisk relasjon, caseformuleringer og sammenhengen mellom ACT og kognitiv atferdsterapi. Forfatterne beskriver dessuten effektive og innovative måter å utvikle psyksik fleksibilitet ved å anvende og fokusere på de seks sentrale prosesser i ACT: defusjon, aksept, feksibel oppmerksomhet i forhold til nuet, selvet som kontekst, verdier og engasjert handling. Boken er en guide til hvordan man skal lære å anvende ACT på en naturlig måte, heller enn en klinisk trinn for trinn-manual. Den skal kunne brukes av nybegynnere og av dem som allerede er erfarne på området.

What if depression could lead to positive change? Written by acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) cofounder Kirk Strosahl and Patricia Robinson, this revised edition of the best-selling classic, The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression includes updated research on self-compassion, mindfulness, and neuroscience to help you live a more meaningful life. If you suffer from depression, you may feel like you are living under a perpetual raincloud, even when it's sunny outside. If left untreated, clinical depression can damage relationships, cause problems at work, lead to substance abuse, and even make it more difficult to overcome physical illnesses. You may feel too tired and scared to reach out for help, or you may try to avoid your feelings altogether. But you should know that there are little, effective ways you can overcome your depression, one day at a time. This fully revised and updated second edition of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression will show you how changing daily behaviors and practicing new mindfulness skills can literally reshape your brain. Rather than fruitlessly trying to avoid your depression, you'll learn to focus on living a productive life by accepting your feelings. There are hundreds of books that will try to help you overcome or put an end to depression. But what if you could use your depression to change your life for the better? Your symptoms may be signals that something in your life needs to change. Learning to understand and interpret these signals is much more important than ignoring or avoiding them-approaches that only make the situation worse. This workbook uses techniques from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to offer a new treatment plan for depression that will help accept your feelings instead of fruitlessly trying to avoid them. This new edition will include skills based on new research and contributions from mindfulness, self-compassion, and neuroscience. Using the skills outlined in this book, you'll be able to work through your depression, experience greater peace and well-being, and go on to create a better life.

Since the original publication of this seminal work, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has come into its own as a widely practiced approach to helping people change. This book provides the definitive statement of ACT--from conceptual and empirical foundations to clinical techniques--written by its originators. ACT is based on the idea that psychological rigidity is a root cause of a wide range of clinical problems. The authors describe effective, innovative ways to cultivate psychological flexibility by detecting and targeting six key processes: defusion, acceptance, attention to the present moment, self-awareness, values, and committed action. Sample therapeutic exercises and patient-therapist dialogues are integrated throughout. New to This Edition *Reflects tremendous advances in ACT clinical applications, theory building, and research. *Psychological flexibility is now the central organizing focus. *Expanded coverage of mindfulness, the therapeutic relationship, relational learning, and case formulation. *Restructured to be more clinician friendly and accessible; focuses on the moment-by-moment process of therapy. See also Experiencing ACT from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Workbook for Therapists, by Dennis Tirch, Laura R. Silberstein-Tirch, R. Trent Codd III, Martin J. Brock, and M. Joann Wright.

Little daily hassles can add up to big, big stress. Whether you're stuck in traffic, hauling your kids out the front door in the morning, dealing with a demanding boss, or worrying about money, it's easy to become overwhelmed. Stress is a normal part of daily life; but over time, chronic stress can take its toll on both your mental and physical health, leading to everything from anxiety and depression to weight gain and disease. So how can you move past the little hassles that get in the way of fully enjoying life? In This Moment will show you how to find a sense of calm and serenity using a breakthrough, evidence - based program grounded in mindfulness and neuroscience. Imagine feeling stressed, and being able to work through it by paying attention to your thoughts and feelings, moment by moment, no matter where you are or what you're doing. It's not as difficult as it sounds Written by cofounder of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) Kirk Strosahl and pioneering behavioral health researcher Patricia Robinson, the mindfulness exercises in this book will help you strengthen the parts of your brain that support vitality and a sense of being fully present in the here and now. And with a little practice, you will learn to combat stress in healthy ways, stay balanced, and live a happier life, no matter what challenges arise.

In therapy, it is essential for both clinicians and their clients to pay attention to each moment in-session as an opportunity to create change. In addition, clients must be willing to experience pain in the present moment in order to make lasting change and begin to live according to their values. But staying in the moment is harder than it sounds. Inside This Moment offers a powerful skill set for learning to live in the now-even when it hurts. To help you and your client make the most of your time in treatment sessions, this book includes clinical examples of working with clients via self-related processes, and offers tips for what to do when faced with certain non-verbal and verbal client behaviors, such as:·looking away or down·body positioning·respiration rate·giving general answers to specific questions·changing the topic·forgetting what was asked·repeating oneself over and over·changes in rate of speech·voice volumeYou'll learn that you don't need to go looking for radical change opportunities-but rather that the opportunities are transpiring right in front of you. This book will allow you to relax and trust in the power of the "now" in your therapy sessions.

Little daily hassles can add up to big, big stress. Whether you're stuck in traffic, hauling your kids out the front door in the morning, dealing with a demanding boss, or worrying about money, it's easy to become overwhelmed. Stress is a normal part of daily life; but over time, chronic stress can take its toll on both your mental and physical health, leading to everything from anxiety and depression to weight gain and disease. So how can you move past the little hassles that get in the way of fully enjoying life? In This Moment will show you how to find a sense of calm and serenity using a breakthrough, evidence-based program grounded in mindfulness and neuroscience. Imagine feeling stressed, and being able to work through it by paying attention to your thoughts and feelings, moment by moment, no matter where you are or what you're doing. It's not as difficult as it sounds! Written by cofounder of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) Kirk Strosahl and pioneering behavioral health researcher Patricia Robinson, the mindfulness exercises in this book will help you strengthen the parts of your brain that support vitality and a sense of being fully present in the here and now. And with a little practice, you will learn to combat stress in healthy ways, stay balanced, and live a happier life, no matter what challenges arise.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) har på kort tid förändrat synen på psykoterapi och vad som orsakar mänskligt lidande. I standardverket ACT i teori och tillämpning beskriver grundarna terapiformen, från relationsinramningsteori till övningar och metaforer. ACT utgår från att lidande i huvudsak uppstår utifrån normala psykologiska processer, i synnerhet människans språk och kognition. På grund av språkets symboliska kraft kan vi till exempel reagera som om något hemskt händer just nu, trots att händelsen inträffade för flera år sedan. För att främja psykologisk flexibilitet betonas emotionella, interpersonella och upplevelsebaserade aspekter i behandlingsarbetet. Syftet är att klienten ska kunna och våga närma sig det som är viktigt i livet även om det är smärtsamt. Denna andra utgåva av ACT i teori och tillämpning är kraftigt omarbetad och speglar den omfattande utveckling som skett inom forskning, teori och klinisk tillämpning. Med hjälp av många fallexempel och dialoger visar författarna hur ACT kan bedrivas i praktiken. Boken är användbar för såväl nybörjaren som för den mer erfarna ACT-terapeuten. Det är spännande läsning och boken är på många sätt en guldgruva för den som vill få ett ordentligt grepp om en aktuell behandlingsmodell inom KBT-spektrumet. Boken är rik på såväl teoretiska som praktiska guldkorn.

Fokuserad ACT beskriver en fokuserad behandlingsinsats på upp till fem samtal utifrån kärnkomponenterna i acceptance and commitment therapy, ACT. Syftet är att bidra till den förändring som klienten är beredd att göra – och som allra mest höjer personens livskvalitet och funktionsnivå. Med ett strukturerat och pedagogiskt upplägg, och ett lättförståeligt språkbruk, går författarna igenom olika interventioner med hjälp av illustrerande fallexempel. Denna utgåva har även ett extra kapitel om hur man implementerar metoden i befintliga verksamheter i Sverige. Fokuserad ACT ger en bra introduktion till ACT-modellens centrala processer och utgör också en värdefull kunskapskälla för mer erfarna behandlare som vill vidareutveckla sina praktiska färdigheter i ACT. Den passar således både studerande och yrkesverksamma kliniker. De tre författarna har utvecklat behandlingsmodellen Fokuserad ACT. Kirk Strosahl och Patricia Robinson är fil.dr och psykologer verksamma i USA, samt världsledande inom ACT. Thomas Gustavsson är leg. psykolog och verksam vid Segesholms behandlingshem och Human ACT i Skåne. Han har arbetat med ACT sedan slutet av 1990-talet.

Denne bog er en opdatereret udgave af en af de første bøger om terapiformen Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skrevet af de tre ophavsmænd. Siden førsteudgaven udkom i 1999, har ACT udviklet sig betydeligt både begrebsmæssigt, teknologisk og empirisk, og et stort antal praktikere har taget tilgangen til sig som en velegnet og effektiv måde at skabe forandring på. Denne udgave tager udgangspunkt i den psykologiske fleksibilitetsmodel som en enhedsmodel af menneskets funktioner og fokuserer på psykisk fleksibilitet som vejen til forandring og udbedring af en lang række af kliniske problemstillinger. Ud over dette fokus er bogen udvidet med beskrivelser af bl.a. mindfulnessprocesser, den terapeutiske relation, case-formulering og sammenhængen mellem ACT og kognitiv adfærdsterapi. Forfatterne beskriver desuden effektive og innovative måder at udvikle psykisk fleksibilitet på ved at anvende og målrette de seks centrale processer i ACT: defusion, accept, fleksibel opmærksomhed i forhold til nuet, selvet som kontekst, værdier og engageret handling.

Mental health and chemical dependency clinicians are in a unique position to improve the lives of their clients, but find it difficult to provide clients with life-changing psychological tools they need within each time-limited appointment. Brief Interventions for Radical Behaviour Change makes it easy for these busy clinicians to integrate important mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based therapeutic work in their interactions with clients. In just fifteen to thirty minutes, clinicians can identify core issues clients struggle with, apply acceptance interventions to help clients eliminate self-defeating thinking and behaviour, and help clients engage in committed, values-based actions to change their lives for the better. The goal is to emphasize small, positive changes that cumulatively lead to radical changes in clients' lives. These acceptance and commitment therapy-based interventions require minimal time and few follow-up visits, and are capable of catalysing dramatic changes in clients. Brief interventions have been proven to have a significant clinical impact in helping clients overcome substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. A must-have resource for every clinician seeking to hasten his or her clients' recovery using cutting-edge techniques from mindfulness and acceptance therapy.

Since the original publication of this seminal work, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has come into its own as a widely practiced approach to helping people change. This book provides the definitive statement of ACT—from conceptual and empirical foundations to clinical techniques—written by its originators. ACT is based on the idea that psychological rigidity is a root cause of a wide range of clinical problems. The authors describe effective, innovative ways to cultivate psychological flexibility by detecting and targeting six key processes: defusion, acceptance, attention to the present moment, self-awareness, values, and committed action. Sample therapeutic exercises and patient–therapist dialogues are integrated throughout. New to This Edition *Reflects tremendous advances in ACT clinical applications, theory building, and research. *Psychological flexibility is now the central organizing focus. *Expanded coverage of mindfulness, the therapeutic relationship, relational learning, and case formulation. *Restructured to be more clinician friendly and accessible; focuses on the moment-by-moment process of therapy.