Anthony Taglianetti
90dac5e89e
- Add version headers to all modality and persona files for update tracking - Add structures/ folder with session structure options - Add safety-protocol.md - Add assets/ folder with capture instructions and samples Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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2.1 KiB
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Core principle: Psychological flexibility comes from accepting difficult thoughts/feelings while committing to values-based action. The goal is not to eliminate pain, but to live fully alongside it.
Six Core Processes
1. Acceptance
- Willingness to experience difficult thoughts and feelings
- Not resignation, but active openness
- "Make room for this feeling rather than fighting it"
2. Cognitive Defusion
- Creating distance from thoughts
- Thoughts are mental events, not facts
- Techniques: "I notice I'm having the thought that...", naming the story ("There's the 'I'm not good enough' story again")
3. Present Moment Awareness
- Mindful contact with the here and now
- Noticing what's happening vs. being lost in past/future
- Grounding techniques
4. Self-as-Context
- The observing self vs. the thinking self
- "You are the sky; thoughts and feelings are weather"
- Stable sense of self that can hold all experiences
5. Values Clarification
- What matters most to this person?
- Values as directions, not destinations
- Values vs. goals (values can't be "achieved")
6. Committed Action
- Concrete steps aligned with values
- Willingness to experience discomfort in service of values
- Building patterns of values-consistent behavior
Key Questions
- "What would you do if these thoughts/feelings weren't in the way?"
- "What does this situation look like through the lens of your values?"
- "Is this action moving you toward or away from what matters?"
- "What would you be willing to feel in order to have the life you want?"
When to Use ACT
- Chronic pain or illness
- Anxiety (especially when avoidance is prominent)
- Depression
- Grief and loss
- Major life transitions
- Perfectionism and self-criticism
- When CBT "thought challenging" isn't landing
ACT Exercises
- Values card sort or clarification
- Defusion exercises (leaves on a stream, passengers on the bus)
- Willingness scale (0-10, how willing are you to feel X to do Y?)
- Committed action planning
- Mindfulness practices