Life is often busy, demanding and full of challenges that can cause us to lose sight of what really matters. The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Diary 2021 is designed to help individuals focus on the things that are most important to them. It puts values centre-stage where they can best guide actions and decisions, and is especially helpful for those engaged in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); however, the principles are relevant to anyone seeking to build psychological flexibility - the ability to connect fully with experiences, including difficult thoughts and feelings, and pursue an authentic life. Weekly short, accessible pieces discuss aspects of psychological flexibility, present helpful metaphors and suggest exercises to identify core values, clarify issues and record goals; while reflection spaces offer regular opportunities to record thoughts, identify barriers and track progress.
Personal information
Authors' welcome
What Do You Want? An Introduction to Values Valued Domains Smart Goals
Values List Exploring Domains Managing Thoughts and Feelings What Is
Willingness? Metaphor: The Unwelcome Guest What Is Defusion? Exercise:
Having the Thought What is Contacting the Present Moment? Exercise:
Breathing What is Self-as-Context? Metaphor: The Sky and the Weather
What is the Hexaflex? Exercise: Writing a Eulogy Introducing
Self-Compassion Exercise: Helping a Child Personal Values Statement
Introducing Experiential Avoidance Exercise: The White Bear Experiential
Avoidance: A Crucial Side Effect Metaphor: A Ball in the Water Giving You
the Reins Metaphor: Quicksand Metaphor: Tug of War with a Monster
Exercise: Leaves on a Stream Metaphor: Hands as Thoughts Exercise: Body
Scan Exercise: Walking Exercise: Fusion with Evaluations Exercise:
Taking Off Your Armour Exercise: Heroes Exercise: Waiting for the Wrong
Train Bringing It All Together: Passengers on the Bus Ending the Year
NIC HOOPER is Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of the West of England (UWE). He previously spent two years teaching at Middle East Technical University in Northern Cyprus. He has written a number of articles and chapters, and he is lead author of The Research Journey of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (2015). From 2015-17 he sat on the board of the 8,000-member Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), which governs much work in ACT and related areas.
FREDDY JACKSON BROWN is a registered and chartered clinical psychologist with twenty years' experience working with children and families in the NHS. He has published a range of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on ACT, behaviour analysis, disability and sexuality, and is the author of Get the Life You Want (2013) and ACT for Dummies (2016).
