Brief Interventions for Radical Change: Principles and Practice of Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

by Kirk D. Strosahl, Thomas Gustavsson, Patricia J. Robinson

As a mental health professional, you know it’s a real challenge to help clients develop the psychological skills they need to live a vital life. This is especially true when you are working with time constraints or in settings where contacts with the client will be brief. Brief Interventions for Radical Change is a powerful resource for any clinician working with clients who are struggling with mental health, substance abuse, or life adjustment issues. If you are searching for a more focused therapeutic approach that requires fewer follow-up visits with clients, or if you are simply looking for a way to make the most of each session, this is your guide. In this book, you’ll find a ready-to-use collection of brief assessment and case-formulation tools, as well as many brief intervention strategies based in focused acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These tools and strategies can be used to help your clients stop using unworkable behaviors, and instead engage in committed, values-based actions to change their lives for the better. The book includes a practical approach to understanding how clients get stuck, focusing questions to help clients redefine their problem, and tools to increase motivation for change. In addition, you will learn methods for rapidly constructing effective treatment plans and effective interventions for promoting acceptance, present-moment awareness, and contact with personal values. With this book, you will easily integrate important mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based therapeutic work in their interactions with clients suffering from depression, anxiety, or any other mental health problem.

Genres: Psychology, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Social Work

296 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Justyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book under the recommendation of a supervisor and wondering how to best make an impact with clients who may only show up for one to two sessions. I haven't learned much about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) before, but I would like to learn more. FACT, the brief version of ACT, incorporates mindfulness practices where the goal isn't to reduce/eliminate symptoms rather accept them and develop psychological flexibility. Where most people tend to seek emotional avoidance, FACT points out these move us further away from our life directions. The first section discusses how these tendencies develop from language and how it shapes rules, society, and behavior. It reminds me a little of Reality Therapy in structure of focused interviewing, assessing what one wants, what they're doing, and evaluating if behaviors are congruent with values. While the first half of the book covers the theory and practical tools, the second half applies the ideas through case studies with various populations and issues. The appendix also provides access to the worksheets and tools used (which I found useful). Overall, FACT presents a straightforward approach to practicing psychotherapy and counseling in time-limited situations, but it also discusses some great ideas to apply to better one's life.

[Aylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radikal Değişimler İçin Kısa Müdahaleler; kabul ve farkındalığı merkeze alan, rahatsız eden duygulardan ve yargılama içeren düşüncelerden kurtulmak için kaçınma stratejileri kullanmak yerine, kontrol edebileceğimiz bir alan olan davranışlar üzerine odaklanmayı amaç edinen müdahalelerden oluşan, Ruh Sağlığı Uzmanlarının faydalanabileceği bir kaynak kitap niteliği taşımakta. 4 Kısımdan oluşan kitapta; ilk iki kısım tanımları ve yöntemleri akıcı ve anlaşılır bir üslupla aktarırken, 3. ve 4. Kısım öğretilen müdahalelerin kullanıldığı vaka örneklerinden oluşuyor.

Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi ilkelerine göre; asıl acıya ve sıkıntı verici içsel yaşantılara sebep olan; yaşantılanan sorunun kendisinden çok, o sorunu çözmek için kullanılan stratejilerdir. Toplum tarafından benimsetilen inançlardan biri; acı veren duyguların, düşüncelerin, hatıraların kabul edilemez olduğu ve bu tarz rahatsız edici içsel yaşantılardan kaçınılması gerektiğidir. Bu algı sebebi ile "Sorun Çözücü Zihin" devreye girer ve insanlar katlanılması güç duygulardan, hatıralardan, düşüncelerden bir an önce kurtulmak için, bir takım stratejiler geliştirirler. Kısa süreli rahatlık sağlayan bu stratejiler, uzun vadede daha çok acıya yol açmaktadır. Örneğin geçmişte yaşadığı acı verici deneyimleri sebebi ile insanlardan uzak duran, sosyal faaliyetlerden geri çekilen birey, rahatsızlık verici içsel yaşantılarını, kaçınma davranışları ile ızdıraba dönüştürmektedir. Yoğunlaştırılmış Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi müdahaleleri; bireyin sıkıntı verici içsel yaşantılarına yönelik farklı bir perspektif almasını sağlayan, keşfe izin veren sorular ve metaforlar aracılığı ile yapılmaktadır.

"Zihnimiz bize acıdan kaçınmak için bir çok strateji önerse de, asıl önemli olan tecrübelerimizin bize neyi işaret ettiğidir " öğretisi ile bu zamana kadar acının kabul edilmemesi gereken bir his olduğu, onu bastırmak, iyi duygular ile değiştirmek gerektiği inancı yerine rahatsız edici düşünceler, anılar ve duygular ile kalabilmenin ve istenilen hayata doğru çizilen rotada kişisel değerler ile bağ kurmanın önemi temel nokta olarak ele alınmaktadır.

[Raquel Coelho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very practical book written by the founders of acceptance and commitment therapy. You will find many practical examples, reflections and helpful discussions, which will empower you in your practice or in your everyday life.

[Daniel Barnhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book for those interested in an introduction to ACT and a brief treatment style. Those interested in utilizing will probably benefit from either knowing ACT beforehand or learning more about ACT after reading (as I plan to do).

[Lissette M Saavedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! Now let’s see if it helps others...

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read on how to utilize ACT in Brief Therapy. As a clinician for an urgent care mental health program I have found that FACT is a wonderful modality in helping those who need urgent care.

[Ashley Van Vonderen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The average client will return once, maybe 6 times at most. The authors discuss how an impact can be made through the use of radical intervention brief therapy. Reads easily, and the statistics and discussions were very interesting for a therapist in training. I used the templates in the back of the book to design a hypothetical ACT workshop series for healthcare providers and existing clients. Very helpful to have something brief and simple to build from. 5 stars.

[Ann Feutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for work more than I did for personal reasons. I don't know that it's necessarily the right fit for vocational rehab work, but I did feel that there were some helpful strategies and tools that I may be able to modify for the work that I do. I also really liked the case examples.