The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner's Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

by Jill A. Stoddard, Niloofar Afari, Steven C. Hayes (Foreword)

Metaphors and exercises play an incredibly important part in the successful delivery of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These powerful tools go far in helping clients connect with their values and give them the motivation needed to make a real, conscious commitment to change. Unfortunately, many of the metaphors that clinicians use have become stale and ineffective. That’s why you need fresh, new resources for your professional library.

In this breakthrough book, two ACT researchers provide an essential A-Z resource guide that includes tons of new metaphors and experiential exercises to help promote client acceptance, defusion from troubling thoughts, and values-based action. The book also includes scripts tailored to different client populations, and special metaphors and exercises that address unique problems that may sometimes arise in your therapy sessions.
Several ACT texts and workbooks have been published for the treatment of a variety of psychological problems. However, no one resource exists where you can find an exhaustive list of metaphors and experiential exercises geared toward the six core elements of ACT. Whether you are treating a client with anxiety, depression, trauma, or an eating disorder, this book will provide you with the skills needed to improve lives, one exercise at a time.

With a special foreword by ACT cofounder Steven C. Hayes, PhD, this book is a must-have for any ACT Practitioner.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Social Work

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Jill Stoddard is passionate about sharing science-backed ideas from psychology to help people thrive. She is a psychologist, writer, TEDx speaker, award-winning teacher, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, and co-host of the popular Psychologists Off the Clock podcast. Dr. Stoddard is the author of three books: The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner’s Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Be Mighty: A Woman’s Guide to Liberation from Anxiety, Worry, and Stress Using Mindfulness and; and Imposter No More: Overcome Self-doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career. Her writing has also appeared in Psychology Today, Scary Mommy, Thrive Global, The Good Men Project, and Mindful Return. She regularly appears on podcasts and as an expert source for various media outlets. Dr. Stoddard received her PhD from Boston University in 2007. She lives in Newburyport, MA with her husband, two kids, and disobedient French Bulldog.

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good reference book and one that I’ll keep on my shelf to pull out and read exercises from. It even has a pretty good summary of the major ACT concepts, and a primer on RFT.

The authors’ definition of psychological flexibility is excellent: “the ability to be fully present and open to our experiences so that we can take actions guided by our values” (11).

The reason metaphors and experiential exercises are so central to ACT is because they are “specifically intended to bring clients into direct contact with experience as well as to undermine the adverse effects of language in general and verbal instructions in therapy in particular” (169). Furthermore, “Metaphors and exercises are used to bring clients into closer contact with experiential knowing versus verbal or logical knowing” (172-3).

On RFT, the authors clearly explain how the theory can be used to build strong metaphors: “you first need to conduct a precise functional analysis of the client’s difficulties to ensure accurate targeting of the relevant ACT processes. Using the client’s cultural background or personal experience will help the client observe the relationship between the metaphor and his own situation. Likewise, creating a functional match between the metaphor and the client’s situation will facilitate the client’s understanding of the similarities between the consequences observed in the metaphor and his own situation. In addition, elements such as topographical similarities that can help the client perceive the connections between his personal situation and the metaphor should be considered when building the metaphor.” The authors also advise using the present indicative tense (visualize that you are in a pile of quicksand) rather than the conditional (imagine if you were in a pile of quicksand), so the client can connect with the metaphor as though it were in the here and now (21).


Big ideas:
- There is a difference between what works in the outside world and what works under the skin (32)
- “We have the ability to choose how to respond - whether to accept or to change - and to discern which response may be better suited to a given situation” (33)
- Highlight the importance of self-acceptance and self-compassion because unworthiness interferes with willingness and living according to values (58)
- Two main categories of defusion are 1) Stepping back to observe and 2) Deliteralization of language. Some clients experience #2 as invalidating so it’s important to use these exercises in a context of genuine compassion (65)
- “Universally, people report that after saying the same word over and over, the word becomes meaningless” (72)
- Mindfulness includes concentrative and open awareness meditations (86)
- Attachment to “I” statements - whether positive, negative, or neutral - can result in psychological inflexibility (110)
- “The goal is not to change the story, but to let go of attachment to its content” (113)
- “When people are able to see the self as separate from the content of their internal experiences, it becomes possible for them to think one way and act another” (118)
- Values are stated with verbs and adverbs (talk honestly), not nouns and adjectives (big house) (127)
- “The goal should always be couched in the value” (143)
- “Any apparent [values] conflict probably results from behavioral and psychological avoidance that stands in the way of choosing goals and actions flexibly” (153)
- “The mind tends to immediately give reasons why various goals aren’t possible. Encourage the client to thank the mind - after all, it’s just trying to keep him safe - and then carry on” (160)


Some good therapy questions to ask or things to say:
- If no one knew you were doing this, would it still be important to you? (10)
- It doesn’t matter whose fault it was or how it happened. Once you’re in a rip you have an important choice to make: Keep struggling and eventually succumb to exhaustion and drown, or stop struggling and start taking effective action by swimming across the rip toward your values (44)
- Will you stand next to your car until you understand how it works, or will you accept that it works, get in it, and drive home? (56)
- Can you notice that it seems impossible not to react to the words of this thought, and yet when you hear it in another language, you don’t seem as controlled by it?
- It’s possible to disobey language, and there’s no intrinsic link between thoughts (language) and actions, even if behaving independent of language seems difficult at first (75-6)
- As we swim in the stream of life, there are flies floating by on the surface all the time. As we get better at spotting flies and recognize that we don’t have to bite them, we get hooked less often and have more flexibility to swim in the direction of our values (79)
- Imagine this urge is an ocean wave and that you’re a surfer, riding that wave of craving with your breath, using your breath as a surfboard (97)
- The observing self isn’t the “real” self, but merely a perspective you can take on thoughts and feelings to provide freedom to choose values-directed actions (116)
- Identifying your values is like creating a solid foundation for your home (144)



Potent Quotables:

The verbal rules we successfully use to solve many problems in the external world typically cause suffering when we attempt to use them to “solve” painful thoughts and feelings (6).

Simply observing the thought gives you the space to make a different choice. This doesn’t mean the thought disappears; it simply means that you’re no longer driven by its content (9).

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

ACT - LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

[Cliff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I only give this a "Three stars" it is still worth having if you are serious about using ACT in coaching, counseling, parenting, or any other area where you need to dynamically interact with others to build the six core ACT skills.

I think that once we get the hang of ACT metaphors, we can come up with our own, or when working with other people hear their language and find metaphors that are likely to work for them. A metaphor that is powerful to me is weak to someone else. Some of the classic ACT metaphors (The bus, the chessboard, etc.) are great, but they are sometimes presented as if they have more objective value than they do.

[Alireza Farahani · Rating 3 out of 5]

این‌گونه می‌نویسم که، انسان بودن یعنی داشتن احساسات متنوع؛ برخی احساسات را دوست داریم و برخی دیگر را نه. درد، چه جسمی و چه عاطفی، تجربه‌ای همگانی است. هرچند درد ممکن است ناخوشایند به نظر برسد، اما تلاش برای فرار یا اجتناب از آن اغلب به درد و رنج واقعی منجر می‌شود.
این فرض در بطن درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد (ACT) قرار دارد.

درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد چیست؟

درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد یا ACT، یک درمان رفتاری است که بر درگیری ارزشمند در زندگی تمرکز می‌کند.

این درمان از طریق شش فرآیند مرکزی شامل پذیرش و تمایل، گسستگی شناختی، خود به عنوان زمینه، ارتباط با لحظه حال، ارزش‌ها و عمل متعهدانه، مراجعان را به سمت گشودگی و تجربه واقعی افکار و احساسات، چه تاریک و چه روشن، هدایت و دعوت می‌کند.

‏ACT طرفدار گشوده بودن به تجربیات درونی است، نه به این خاطر که در احساس درد شکوه و عظمت وجود دارد، بلکه به این دلیل که تلاش برای اجتناب از احساسات دردناک مانند نوشیدن الکل، منفعل بودن در روابط یا اجتناب از صحبت در جمع، درد و رنج ایجاد می‌کند. این تلاش‌ها ما را از چیزهایی که برایمان مهم بوده و به زندگیمان معنا و اعتبار می‌بخشند، دور می‌سازد.

‏ACT بر شناسایی افکار و احساساتی که به عنوان موانع برای زندگی ارزشمند عمل می‌کنند، تمرکز کرده و هدفش تغییر ارتباط ما با آن تجربیات درونی به جای تغییر خود تجربیات است.

استعاره‌ها و تمرین‌ها در ACT

‏ACT بیان می‌کند که عدم انعطاف‌پذیری روانی در بطن رنج بشری نهفته است و این عدم انعطاف‌پذیری از درگیری با قوانین کلامی و تله‌های زبانی ناشی می‌شود.

از طریق شش فرآیند درمانی، مراجعان یاد می‌گیرند تأثیر زبان لفظی را کاهش دهند و پیام‌های ذهن را از نظر ارزش ظاهری و محتوای آن‌ها تفکیک کنند.
این فضای مورد نیاز برای انجام اقداماتی است که به جای وقایع درونی خصوصی، به سوی ارزش‌های فرد هدایت می‌شود. با این حال، اگر زبان در بطن و هسته رنج بشری باشد، چگونه می‌توانیم از روان‌درمانی برای کاهش درد و رنج استفاده کنیم؟ البته نیاز به استفاده از ارتباط شفاهی را دور نمی‌زنیم؛ با این حال، ACT سعی می‌کند برخی از مشکلات ذاتی در زبان لفظی را با تغییر تعالیم و مکالمات سنتی دور بزند و به سمت مواجهه تجربی‌تر حرکت کند.

از طریق تمرین‌های ذهن‌آگاهی، مراجعان تشویق می‌شوند تا برقراری ارتباط با افکار و هیجانات را به محض وقوع هم در جلسه و هم خارج از آن مشاهده کنند. به علاوه، استفاده از تنوع بسیار گسترده‌ای از استعاره‌ها و تمرین‌های تجربی برای کمک به مراجعان در درک رویکرد به شیوه‌های تجربی به جای منطقی اهمیت دارد.

درمانگران زمانی که با شیوه‌هایی که زبان بر روی افرادی که از مشکلات روانی رنج می‌برند تأثیر می‌گذارد، روبرو می‌شوند، به‌ طور کلی باید ارتباط مراجعان را با عناصر مفید تجربه‌شان دوباره برقرار نمایند. این کار در روان‌درمانی انجام می‌شود و بدون زبان امکان‌پذیر نیست، چراکه تقریباً تمامی اتفاقاتی که در جلسات درمانی رخ می‌دهد، از تعاملات نمادین تشکیل شده است. حتی لحظه‌ای سکوت غالباً دارای بار معنایی است. بنابراین، درمانگران باید از زبان به نحو تجربی استفاده نمایند.

[Aylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi (ACT) , rahatsız edici düşünceler ve hislerden kaçınmak yerine, onlara yer açmanın ve hayatta önem atfedilen değerler doğrultusunda yaşamı sürdürmenin önemini vurgulayan bir psikolojik müdahale yaklaşımıdır. Arabanın bozulması, iş yaşantısında karşılaşılan sorunlar gibi dış çevre deneyimlerinde başarılı olan problem çözme yöntemlerinin , duygu ve düşüncelerden oluşan içsel deneyimlere uygulandığında yaşantısal kaçınmaya ve daha çok ızdıraba sebep olduğunu savunur.

Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi , davranışsal katılığın ve acı verici duygulardan kaçınma eğiliminin merkezinde dil kullanımının olduğunu vurgular. Toplumsal öğretiler ve deneyimlerle şekillenmiş bireysel kurallar ve dilin sorunlu kullanımı ile başetmede bu müdahale yaklaşımının önemli rol verdiği unsurlardan bir tanesi "Metaforlar"dır. Hikayeler, anektotlar ve benzetmeler ; kişinin kendi davranışını objektif olarak değerlendirmesine, şimdiki zamanda farkında olarak,kendisi için anlamlı olduğunu düşündüğü istikamete yönelmesine motive eden araçlar olarak önemli rol oynamaktadır.

İşte Act Metaforları; Psikolojik esnekliği geliştirmek amacı ile 6 terapötik süreç bağlamında bu metaforlara örnek vermekte, hedef aldığı davranış ile duyguları açıklayarak incelemektedir. Bu terapötik süreçler:
1. Başımıza gelen deneyimlere izin vermek ve açık olmak anlamına gelen Kabul ve Gönüllük
2. Düşüncelere mesafe almak ve içerikle kaynaşmamayı temsil eden Bilişsel Defüzyon
3. Anın farkında olarak yaşamayı temel alan Şimdiki Zaman Farkındalığı
4. Kişinin kendini tanımlamak için başvurduğu öykülerin sebep olduğu davranışsal katılığı gösteren Bağlamsal Benlik
5. Kişinin kendisine göre anlamlı ve önemli bulduğu yönde ilerlemesine ışık tutan Değerler
6. Değerlere uyumlu ve o doğrultuda ilerlemek için yapılan davranışları ifade eden Adanmış Eylem.

Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi hakkında bilgi sahibi olan ve bu yaklaşımla çalışan Ruh Sağlığı Uzmanlarına önerimdir.

[Nicholas Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book full of good exercises and metaphors for each part of the ACT hexaflex. Highly recommended to the new and seasoned ACT therapist. I found this content to build upon my therapeutic repertoire.

[Debra Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book for getting to grips with the concept of ACT

[Taylor Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay therapy

[Alex B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worksheets great!

[Evil Secret Ninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great ideas some I will use in my groups some of them I will not use but it is nice to have a bunch of group ideas

[Ian Felton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book. Combines a lot of existing ACT content into one source (and references plenty of other sources). My only complaint about the New Harbinger ACT books I've purchased is that much of the content overlaps. For example, this book and an "ACT Made Easy" each have a lot of introductory and theoretical content that is essentially the same.

[Zell Murdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Solid metaphors. Some outdated or judgemental content but easy to adapt. Good descriptions of the hexaflex components and how to interact with them.