Psychological flexibility: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

I'm currently doing some research into neuroplasticity and the brain changes related to mindfulness. In layman's terms I guess it is a technical way of saying how we can actually rewrite our brain patterns, even as adults, to change emotional responses and behaviour.

This report gives a good grounding to springboard to further investigation. It relates to ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) and how it fits in with a process of change to pyschopathology, through cognitive practices.

The report is entitled: Psychological flexibility as a mechanism of change in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy .

It is published by:
Joseph Ciarrochi, Linda Bilich, & Clair Godsell
School of Psychology, University of Wollongong
Ciarrochi, J. Bilich, L., & Godsel, C. (2010).

Here is an excerpt to give an idea of what the process is about. This is from page 6:

The Hexaflex:

Figure 1:

The six core processes targeted by ACT are expected to build psychological flexibility

The hexaflex illustrates that these processes are all connected and support each other.

There is no correct order for focusing on the processes and not all individuals need to concentrate extensively on each of the processes (Hayes et al., 2005; Strosahl, Hayes, Wilson, & Gifford, 2004).

The ultimate goal is to help people to persist in or change their behaviour, depending on what the situation affords, in order to move towards what they value.

From the Conclusion:

There is perhaps no form of psychotherapy that has as inspired as much mediational research as ACT. We identified over 50 studies, many of which have been completed in the last 5 years. The evidence suggests that ACT improves three markers of psychological flexibility: it reduces believability of dysfunctional thoughts, increases acceptance of private experience, and reduces believability that private experience acts as a barrier to action. More research needs to be done to evaluate the other components of the hexaflex.

Full pdf link to downloadable report:

http://thehappinesstrap.com/upimages/Ciarrocchi_Bilich_Godsel_Psychological_Flexibility.pdf

( @Appleblossom )