ACT Made Simple
Ratings1
Average rating5
15
Ratings1
Average rating5
Now fully-revised and updated, this second edition of ACT Made Simple includes new information and chapters on self-compassion, flexible perspective taking, working with trauma, and more. Why is it so hard to be happy? Why is life so difficult? Why do humans suffer so much? And what can we realistically do about it? No matter how rewarding your job, as a mental health professional, you may sometimes feel helpless in the face of these questions. You are also well aware of the challenges and frustrations that can present during therapy. If you’re looking for ways to optimize your client sessions, consider joining the many thousands of therapists and life coaches worldwide who are learning acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). With a focus on mindfulness, client values, and a commitment to change, ACT is proven-effective in treating depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, eating disorders, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and myriad other psychological issues. It’s also a revolutionary new way to view the human condition—packed full of exciting new tools, techniques, and strategies for promoting profound behavioral change. A practical primer, ideal for ACT newcomers and experienced ACT professionals alike, ACT Made Simple offers clear explanations of the six ACT processes and a set of real-world tips and solutions for rapidly and effectively implementing them in your practice. This book gives you everything you need to start using ACT with your clients for impressive results. Inside, you’ll find: scripts, exercises, metaphors, and worksheets to use with your clients; a session-by-session guide to implementing ACT; transcripts from therapy sessions; guidance for creating your own therapeutic techniques and exercises; and practical tips to overcome “therapy roadblocks.” This book aims to take the complex theory and practice of ACT and make it accessible and enjoyable for therapists and clients.
Reviews with the most likes.
As a therapy modality, I love ACT. Though it's a cohesive theory in it's own right, I find it really brings together the best parts of a multitude of therapy modalities. It takes from some therapy techniques I love (motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and even a sort of pastoral approach to values) and even takes the good and disregards the bad of therapies I don't resonate with as much (here's looking at you, CBT and Narrative Therapy). So as a way to grow and treat others, I really like ACT.
However, some of the same caveats to most talk therapies apply here. It's not good with severe mental health disorders, nor with people on the autism spectrum. is very complicated and very big. There's a process based therapy and not a technique. So it's not linear.
But this is a review of the book, not the treatment. And this is maybe the best therapy modality textbook I've ever read. It is clear, winsome, comprehensive, realistic, and even funny. This is surprising, as ACT is a process based therapy modality, and not a technique based one. So it is not linear at all. That makes the task all the more difficult to write a textbook about it, and this is done with amazing clarity and succinctness in this book.
It's a fun read, but it's a lot. Some chapters are only a page or two, as it touches on one topic before changing gears into the next. This shotgun approach, while necessary with such a modality and done very well here, makes information retention near-impossible. The author says as much, saying these things really need to be practiced as you learn it, otherwise it'll never sink in.
The book, therefore, seems to straddle between being a treatment manual, reference work, and general audience nonfiction how-to. It's best to read this once all the way through, accept that you won't remember much, and then use the book as a reference tool moving forward. I also appreciate the copious amount of free online resources available that accompany the content of this book. This is all very, very well done. I encourage every therapist and therapist-to-be to at least check out ACT, and this textbook is the best way I know to do it.
