The 6 pillars of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

In recent years, in Psychology the application of more recent therapeutic currents in clinical practice has gained special relevance. Thus, to the traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy, a powerful competitor has emerged, third-generation contextual therapies. It includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Let's see what it is based on.

• Related article: "What are third generation therapies?"

The Basics of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

From the perspective of Acceptance and Commitment, it is understood that the origin of psychopathology would be found in a “psychological rigidity”. The 6 processes that are part of this rigidity would be the following:

1. Cognitive fusion

Refers to process by which verbal events (thoughts) exert strong control over our behavior. That is, when a person behaves according to what he thinks, regardless of whether the consequences of doing so are negative for the person. This prevents us from being able to contrast our experience with reality.

2. Experiential avoidance

It takes place chen the person is not willing to stay in touch with their personal inner experiences (thoughts, emotions or physiological sensations) and does everything possible to avoid experiencing them. The avoidance of negative emotions, such as, for example; sadness, loneliness, fear, anxiety, guilt, etc.

3. Absent from the present moment

It refers to the attentional rigidity and the predominance of the past and the future. This prevents the person from being in the present moment, which is associated with pain, rumination, worries, etc.

4. I-concept

Make reference to a way of relating to oneself according to categories, evaluations and names. That is, the person tries to be who they say they are. What favors self-deception.

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5. Lack of clarity and commitment to values

When the person is not in contact with their own values ​​or those values ​​are not identified, loss of meaning in life is experienced.

6. Inactivity / impulsivity

These are behavior patterns of avoidance of actions or excessive actions whose objective is to reduce aversive emotional states.

How to achieve Psychological Flexibility?

The goal of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is to eliminate psychological rigidity and achieve “psychological flexibility”.

Namely, intends for the person to be in touch with the present moment, as a fully conscious human being without the need for defense (with reality as is, not how it claims to be) and persist in a behavior or change it based on their own values chosen. It is then when the person will be able to achieve psychological health, consisting of an open, focused and committed posture.

For all this, it is based on the use of the following procedures, understood as the pillars of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy:

1. Of fusion

It tries to weaken the functional dominance of cognitive content. Namely, that the person can understand the thoughts, memories or beliefs as elements that occur, but they do not represent absolute truths.

2. Acceptance

The goal is for the person to accept the emotional aspects of the human experience. It aims to open a space in which the person experiences these emotional aspects, without judging them, without becoming mentally entangled in them. It is about a willingness to be open, receptive and flexible.

3. Attention to the present

Pay attention to what is happening in a focused, voluntary and flexible way. So that It is possible to respond adequately to the natural contingencies that are occurring in every moment.

4. I-context and I-content

The self as context understands the self as a process and as a place from which what is present can be noticed, without judging it. That is, understand a self, here and now.

5. Values

Values ​​are not set goals or objectives. Rather, they represent life directions freely chosen, constructed, undiscovered, and social in focus. The clarification of these values enables the person to be involved in ongoing activity patterns.

6. Committed action

It is about commitment to behavior guidelines. Or what is the same, materialize values ​​in the present.

Psychological intervention in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Malaga psychologist Ana Romero Gómez, expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the cabinet Psychologists Málaga PsicoAbreu, emphasizes that it is a complex and scientifically endorsed therapy that should be carried out only by professionals specialized in this trend.