Learning Act For Group Treatment

“Finally! The scientific literature on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is heavily based on group intervention methods, but through nearly three decades of such studies, no book has been available to walk clinicians through the myriad choice points, barriers, and opportunities presented by ACT in groups. No more. This wonderful and readable volume walks through every relevant area and issue in a way that is wise, evidence-­based, and clear. How can you organize an open membership ACT group? What if a group member just wants to tell stories? In area after area and issue after issue, Westrup and Wright have skillfully done the heavy lifting for you. If you’re doing ACT in groups, you now have a much easier job: buy the book, read it, and use it.” —­Steven C. Hayes, PhD, Foundation Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, and cofounder of ACT “This long-­awaited book finally provides therapists with the guidance they needed to do ACT in groups. Darrah Westrup and Joann Wright have turned their scientific expertise and clinical wisdom into a wonderfully written text that covers all the key aspects of the psychological flexibility model while addressing the typical pitfalls and advantages of doing ACT in this context. This is an essential read for all therapists doing ACT in groups!” —­Matthieu Villatte, PhD, coauthor of Mastering the Clinical Conversation “Life’s too short to beat around the bush, so I’m going to be blunt: if you do ACT with groups, or if you wish to start doing so, you need this book. Chockablock full of wisdom and experience from experts in the field, it’s not just an optional extra; it’s an absolute essential. If you want to help groups of people to discover ACT, and leave them glowing with a sense of vitality and fulfilment, then be smart about it: allow Westrup and Wright to light the way for you.” —­Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap and ACT Made Simple “Westrup and Wright have masterfully woven the ACT approach into the group therapy milieu.  Contextual behavioral science, the foundation of ACT, suggests the human condition evolved through the blending of two levels of selection: the group and the individual. The ACT community has long endeavored to address the human condition in a way that reduces suffering and improves quality of living by using applied behavioral science to help at the individual level. Thankfully Westrup and Wright are contributing to the applied literature with an eye on utilizing group therapy to direct the therapeutic process in important, valuable directions. Learning ACT for Group Treatment highlights advanced ACT topics in a manner accessible for a novice. This pioneering book offers practical exercises for immediate application, and gives incisive examples of how to use them in an ACT-­consistent manner. Most importantly, Westrup and Wright created a flexible framework to create unique, impactful group therapy interactions. Highly recommended, even if you are not a group therapist.” —­D.J. Moran, PhD, BCBA-­D, founder of Pickslyde Consulting and the MidAmerican Psychological Institute “It’s here! And it’s just what’s needed for the therapist looking to do ACT in a group format. For those who have been waiting and asking for a thoughtful and effective guide—­including material ranging from brief basics on ACT to utilizing core processes in a powerful and dynamic way in group therapy to supplementary content designed to support its implementation—­this is the book for you. Darrah Westrup and Joann Wright have written this manual in a user-­friendly fashion. The book is comprehensive in nature, while also maintaining a compassionate clinical voice—­felt in both the example dialogue and the overall approach. ACT delivered in the context o