This book provides a thorough discussion of acceptance and commitment
therapy or training (ACT) and a guide for its use by behavior analysts.
The book emphasizes how the intentional development of six core
behavioral processes - values, committed action, acceptance, defusion,
self-as-context, and present moment awareness - help establish the
psychological flexibility needed to acquire and maintain adaptive
behaviors that compete with maladaptive behavior patterns in verbally
able clients.
Split into three parts, the book discusses the history and controversy
surrounding the rise of acceptance and commitment strategies in behavior
analysis and shows how the processes underlying ACT are linked to
foundational behavioral scientific principles as amplified by stimulus
equivalence and relational learning principles such as those addressed
by relational frame theory. In a careful step-by-step way, it describes
the best practices for administering the acceptance and commitment
procedures at the level of the individual client, organizational
systems, and with families. Attention is also given to the ethical and
scope-of-practice considerations for behavior analysts, along with
recommendations for conducting on-going research on this new frontier
for behavior analytic treatment across a myriad of populations and
behaviors. Written by leading experts in the field, the book argues that
practice must proceed from the basic tenants of behavior analysis, and
that now is the opportune moment to bring ACT methods to behavior
analysts to maximize the scope and depth of behavioral treatments for
all people.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Behavior Analysts will be an
essential read for students of behavior analysis and behavior therapy,
as well as for individuals on graduate training programs that prepare
behavior analysts and professionals that are likely to use ACT in their
clinical practice and research.
