Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Psychological Flexibility in Occupational and Community Groups

Speaker:  Dr Jo Lloyd, Goldsmiths, University of London

Location

 Abstract: 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is best described as a mindfulness- and acceptance-focussed cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Mindfulness- and acceptance-focussed CBTs are the newest addition to the cognitive behavioural tradition and are distinct from earlier approaches in their proposed mechanisms of change and core therapeutic techniques. The goal of ACT is to enhance psychological flexibility, which is its therapeutic mechanism of change and describes people's ability to fully contact the present moment and pursue their meaningful life directions even when experiencing difficult or challenging internal experiences. This presentation will discuss published and developing research examining ACT and psychological flexibility across different occupational and community groups, highlighting a diverse range of methodological approaches and analytic strategies. Theoretical and practical implications of ACT and psychological flexibility for wellbeing and behavioural effectiveness will be discussed, and the potential implications for psychiatry research will be explored.