Dr Richard Bennett introduces you to acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), exploring its roots, key principles and the ACT Matrix. You’ll discover how ACT supports psychological flexibility through mindfulness, values and committed action. Continue reading to explore its practical applications.
In this lecture, you will learn from clinical psychologist and CBT psychotherapist Dr Richard Bennett about:
Originally developed in the USA by Dr Steven Hayes, ACT is one of the third-wave CBT approaches, seeking to remedy perceived deficiencies in the CBT approach by drawing on Eastern ideas.
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In particular, ACT replaces the traditional CBT notion of thought challenging with mindfulness, so supporting clients to let go of unhelpful thoughts and become more able to live fully in the present moment. ACT works with clients to help them:
Through listening to Richard’s lecture, you will be introduced to:
Richard explains the ACT Matrix, which – comprising four quadrants – depicts the key elements of the model, based on:
You will come to understand what each of these means in practice, and what key questions you can use with clients to support them in exploring each quadrant.
To help you develop your learning further in this relatively young modality – which is increasingly attracting attention in the world of counselling and psychotherapy – Richard signposts you to further resources. These include a core textbook and a professional association dedicated to the development of a coherent and progressive science of human action.
Richard Bennett works as a Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist.
He is employed as a lecturer in the Centre for Applied Psychology at the University of Birmingham, where he leads the Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for High Intensity Workers.
He worked in adult and forensic mental health services in the NHS for over 20 years before setting up Think Psychology, an independent psychology practice offering, therapy, supervision, and training.
Richard is also an active member of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Sciences (ACBS) and the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP).
He is recognised as a BABCP accredited psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer, and an ACBS Peer-reviewed ACT trainer.
He is the co-editor of ‘Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy in Sport and Exercise’ and co-author of ‘Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques’, and ‘The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Self-esteem’.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Lecture Overview