1.50 CE Credits Available
Control and Acceptance
by Steven Hayes
In this second video of the ACT in Action series, you will learn how ACT takes on the power of our unruly thoughts and unwanted feelings.  
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Working with a client who struggles with intense social anxiety, ACT founder Stephen Hayes, PhD, demonstrates the principle of accepting what we cannot control. Though his client believes eliminating his anxiety is that path to freedom, Hayes helps him understand that he may never eliminate his anxiety, because he cannot control his inner world. Instead, he can choose to accept it without struggle and live in accordance with his highest personal values.

However, there’s also a risk of falling too quickly into what Hayes calls “pseudo-acceptance,” which is what we see in the next session with a teacher struggling with panic disorder. With Hayes insightful commentary, you’ll learn to identify the signs and manage this pitfall with your own clients.

Then in a poignant session with a mother suffering from depression, Hayes introduces us to the classic principle of cognitive defusion, which he employs to help his client detach from her thoughts and engage more deeply in therapy.

What therapists are saying…

"These videos are an incredible learning resource for any practitioner. You will witness some of the world’s leading ACT therapists weaving their magic, and gain valuable insight into the many different ways there are of doing ACT. It’s a world apart from reading a book; essential viewing for anyone interested in honing their ACT skills."

-- Russ Harris, MD, author of The Happiness Trap & ACT Made Simple
"Counselors, psychologists and social workers attend professional development activities for a variety of reasons, some of which include learning something new, learning more about something they already know, and becoming reinvigorated by their work. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find professional development activities that meet even one of these goals. ACT in Action is a 6-video series that meets all three goals and more. The didactic portion of the series is clear and informative, and the counseling demonstrations bring it all to life. After watching just one video, I was able to immediately incorporate ACT strategies, conceptualizations, and analogies into my work with clients. With tight budgets leaving little money for conferences and travel, the series offers quality in-house training for all staff, not just 'the lucky one' who attended the conference."

-- Jennifer M. Whitney, PhD, Associate Director, The Counseling Center, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
In Depth
Specs
Bios
CE Test
Disclosures
By watching this video, you will:
• Learn how to help clients accept their thoughts and feelings, releasing the need to control or eliminate them.
• Begin to understand cognitive defusion and learn methods for introducing it to clients.
• Learn to seamlessly integrate ACT “eyes closed” techniques into your sessions with powerful effects.

Length of video: 1:44:00

English subtitles available

Individual ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-350-2

Group ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-351-0

Group ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-351-5

Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada. He is the founder of the ACT model, and author of 35 books and over 500 scientific articles. Hayes has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the field, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.

See all Steven Hayes videos.

Steven Hayes was compensated for his/her/their contribution. None of his/her/their books or additional offerings are required for any of the Psychotherapy.net content. Should such materials be references, it is as an additional resource.

Psychotherapy.net defines ineligible companies as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. There is no minimum financial threshold; individuals must disclose all financial relationships, regardless of the amount, with ineligible companies. We ask that all contributors disclose any and all financial relationships they have with any ineligible companies whether the individual views them as relevant to the education or not.

Additionally, there is no commercial support for this activity. None of the planners or any employee at Psychotherapy.net who has worked on this educational activity has relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies.

CE credits: 1.5

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain how to help clients effectively process their thoughts and feelings
  • Recite methods for introducing cognitive defusion to clients
  • Apply ACT techniques into your clinical

Bibliography available upon request

This course is offered for ASWB ACE credit for social workers. See complete list of CE approvals here

© 2007

Course Reviewed January 2025

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