Overview of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a third wave behavioral therapy (along with

Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Minfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) that uses Mindfulness skills to develop psychological flexibility and helps clarify and direct values-guided behavior. ACT, pronounced act, (not by it s initials A-C-T) is a directive and experiential form of therapy based on Relational Frame Theory (RFT), its underlying scientific theory of human language and cognition. This theory emerges from the philosophy of Functional Contextualism, as opposed to mechanistic models, which aim to repair, change, or fix problems. Instead ACT does not see clients as damaged or flawed, and do not define unwanted experiences as symptoms or problems, but resolves to define the function and context of behavior (ACT defines behavior to encompass both private and public activity, ie. actions, thoughts, memories, emotions, sensations) in order to determine its workability, for the purposes of creating rich and meaningful lives.

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Contact with the Present Moment Self-as-Context Defusion Acceptance Values Committed Action

These six process are not separate, but overlapping and interconnected. All six of these processes are introduced and developed experientially over the course of treatment. Psychological flexibility can be defined simply as the ability to be present, open up, and do what matters.

Being present means being in direct contact with the present moment, rather than drifting off into automatic pilot, and getting in touch with the observing self, the part that is aware of, but separate from the thinking self. Mindfulness techniques are taught to experience the observing self firsthand, whether they bring awareness to each of the five senses, thoughts, or emotions.

The aim of ACT is to experience the fullness and vitality in life, which includes a wide spectrum of human experience, including the pain that inevitably goes with it. Acceptance (not the same as approval) of how things are, without evaluation or attempts to change it, is a skill that is developed through Mindfulness exercises in and out of session. ACT does not attempt to directly change or stop unwanted thoughts or feelings (as in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), but to develop a new mindful relationship with those experiences that can free a person up to be open to take action that is consistent with their chosen values. Thus, values clarification is a key component to ACT. Opening up is the ability to detach from thoughts (defusion) and accepting, or making space for and dropping the struggle with painful feelings, urges, sensations, etc. Acceptance is the ability to allow what is to be as it is instead of fighting or avoiding it. If someone is thinking, I m a terrible person, they might be instructed to say, I am having the thought that I m a terrible person. This effectively separates the person from the cognition, thereby stripping it of its negative charge. When someone is experiencing painful emotions, like anxiety for example, they might be instructed to open up, breath into, or make space for the physical experience of anxiety and allow it to remain Psychological flexibility is the main goal of ACT and is created through six core processes: there, just as it is, without exacerbating or minimizing it.

And finally doing what matters is all about values clarification, knowing what matters to you personally, and taking effective action guided by those values. Various exercises are employed to help identify chosen values, which act like a compass from which to direct intentional and effective behavior. People who are fused with their thoughts and tend to struggle with or avoid painful emotions, often struggle with choosing purposeful and values-guided action. Through mindful liberation from such struggle they find acting congruently with their values quite natural and fulfilling.

experience and unite them so as to achieve fulfillment and satisfaction.

Interplay is based on the premise of fun. It relies on this spirited element as a key tool to finding inner knowledge and teaches this dialect to its participants. Interplay strives to recognize the positive influences internally and externally as they relate to the person. Whether someone sees themselves as creative is irrelevant. The element of creativity can be learned and is offered in a whimsical, introspective, collaborative, and supportive environment. Interplay can offer relief of many negative

Overview of InterPlay: Interplay is a highly creative method of gaining awareness of our inner self. We connect to our internal wisdom by engaging in seemingly simple, playful activities. This form of therapy can provide immense and intense insight into the way we live our lives and interact with others. The therapy is performed in a fun and relaxed environment and is enjoyable to the participant. This easily mastered technique considers the heart, mind, body and spirit as equally relevant to our peace and fullness. The ultimate goal of Interplay is to facilitate change by removing the barriers created by others and our own expectations. Those who participate in Interplay find that it fundamentally changes their manner of living and allows them to fully and completely live life peacefully within themselves and their community.

emotions and symptoms, including stress, anxiety, pessimism, and despair. Overview of Voice Dialogue: In voice dialogue, a therapist addresses specific parts of a client s psyche by engaging those parts in a form of dialogue. The goal of voice dialogue is to determine which parts of the psyche a client most identifies with and to teach the client how to separate themselves from their psyche in order to eliminate the negative implications it has on their life. A client is enlightened to the many different inner beings, energies and aspects that rely within him and is given the skills necessary to balance the harmony of each level simultaneously. Voice therapy results in a more level sense of self, clearer self-awareness, improved relationships and vibrant self-expression.

The voice dialogue technique allows a client to gain a Interplay is conducted through a series of forms that take a participant on a journey through story, movement, song, silence, amusement, and ease. It employs the body, heart, spirit, and mind in its effort to help a client discover their inner wisdom. In our modern society, many people experience fragmented and disconnected lives. The basis for Interplay is that everything is connected and in order to live a more vibrant life, people must reach out to every area of their deeper sense of inner wisdom and gives them the opportunity to identify and examine the voices within. Being armed with this powerful knowledge provides a greater resource from which the client can draw upon when faced with difficult circumstances. The voice dialogue guides a client into realizing that there are parts of their inner being that propel them, but they are separate from those parts. They begin to understand that they are made up of many parts and each serves a function and has an energy force that sustains it. With

this awareness, a client is able to create a balance among all of his corresponding and correlating parts and can determine which ones to silence and which ones to accentuate.

relationships. The objects represent perceptions of real people in a person s life experience. Because these relationships are forged in infancy, they continue to pervade a person s existence throughout his or her life.

In Voice dialogue, this heightened sense of awareness is referred to as the aware ego. An aware ego is not a trait that one possesses, rather it is a process by which we begin to know all of the layers of our consciousness on an intimate level. Because there is an negative for every positive, the aware ego assumes that you can experience both the beneficial part of your consciousness and it s opposite. With enough insight into your own identity, you can choose freely which one will serve you better, and can adjust, alter and align the parts within to meet your goals for healing.

The Objects Relations theory suggests that during the formation of early relationships, the infant psyche identifies part objects by the function they serve. For example, a breast that produces milk is seen as a good breast. A hand that touches and caresses is seen as a good hand. But a mouth that yells and hurts is seen as a bad mouth. These object identities develop through years of receiving care and the events that occur during that time. Although these representations are skewed and do not accurately depict the tangible object, they eventually grow to represent them. This causes extreme ambivalence within a client who has seen good and bad

Overview of Object Relations: Object Relations is based on the theory that the primary motivational factors in one's life are based on human relationships, rather than sexual or aggressive triggers. Object Relations is a variation of psychoanalytic theory and diverges from Freud s belief that we are pleasure seeking beings; instead it suggests that humans seek relationships. Because relationships are at the center of this method of therapy, the client-therapist allegiance is paramount to the success of the treatment.

parts of the same person.

Overview of Schema Therapy: Schema Therapy is utilized for the treatment of chronic mental disorders such as eating disorders, depression, and personality disorders. This therapy blends techniques from various therapeutic methods as a means to permanently alter the behavior patterns of clients with these life-long issues. Schema Therapy is founded in the belief that schemas, or maladaptive behaviors, are formed in early childhood and relived throughout adulthood.

This primary center of the theory is a reflection of the mother-infant dyad. Object Relations Therapy is a marriage of theories developed by Ronald Fairbairn, Donald Winnicott, and other members of the British Independent group, as well as the Kleinian theory. Although each has varying components and suggests different underlying structures, the theories all agree that the mother-infant experience is responsible for the formation of a child s psychic structure during the first three years of life. Object Relations believes that a person s mind develops as a direct result of formidable Therapists who administer Schema Therapy do so in a secure, empathetic and nonjudgmental environment in order to identify and explain skewed cognitive perceptions from a client s past. The therapist offers validation and acceptance to the client and this serves as a mechanism for ensuring continued treatment, as the persistency and success rates are very high with this type of therapy. Schema Therapy employs the use of imagery to examine destructive beliefs a client has about himself or others in his life. Video therapy has also been

known to be an effective element of this type of therapeutic treatment and can aid in the rapid transformation of a client s views. This powerful form of therapy is flexible enough to incorporate the use of language response, audio cues, and other external stimuli to engage the client in the recovery process.

the idea of self, considers the entire life experience, including living and breathing, as one connected, multi-dimensional unit in and around a person. When this symbolic ideal is recognized, it opens the door for evolutionary thinking and sets the stage for a change in our inner perceptions as well as our relational perceptions. Ultimately, these changes influence our daily habits, behaviors and thought processes. There are many therapies that use symbols, metaphors and imagery that are recognized as being highly effective treatment methods. However, Symbolic Modeling relies on a more holistic, dignified technique that is wholly noninvasive and non-coercive. A therapist who uses this form of treatment prompts the client to develop his own metaphors, rather than leading him with suggestive symbolism or hypnotic imagery. This fundamental difference is based on the implementation of Clean Language. Symbolic Modeling therapy is based on research and evidence into systems theory, which is among the most recent study in human functionality.

The core belief that Schema Therapy is founded on is that of needs fulfillment. If the basic needs of childhood, affection, guidance, love, shelter, and safety are not met, then the clients will enter into adulthood with an emotional deficit in these areas. That is when the schemas form and continue to disrupt the life of the client through unhealthy choices, toxic relationships, diminished social skills, destructive behavior patterns, poor sense of judgment, poor feelings of self-worth, and a general dysfunction on all levels of behavior. Constructing nurturing relationships and discovering one s own true origins through Schema Therapy can help a client build feelings of self-worth and adequacy. With these as a foundation, the client can work with the therapist to design and achieve goals that result in a healthier, happier life experience

Overview of Clean Language, Symbolic, Modeling and the Metaphor Therapy: Metaphors are so pervasive in our every action and thought that we are often unaware of the impact they have on us. Symbols and metaphors are woven together to form the fabric of our being. Metaphors are the foundation of our thoughts and symbols are tied closely to metaphorical thinking and behavior patterns. In Symbolic Modeling, a client is awakened to the effect that metaphors have on life experiences. The therapist will aid the client in discovering a new method of perception using the whole person, mind, body and spirit to achieve a seamlessly fluid system. Metaphor Landscape, or Metaphor therapy allows a person to view things in a more profound way without the threat of harm, aggression, or destruction. In this method of therapy, metaphors are applied to traumatic situations and negative circumstances. The resulting negative emotions are also examined in this context. In this way, a client can separate himself from the emotions and the events and be able to gain control over situations that present themselves in a more productive and healthier way.