Skip to main content
Log in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Altering the Verbal Support for Experiential Avoidance

  • Published:
The Behavior Analyst Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a behavior-analytically-based psychotherapy approach that attempts to undermine emotional avoidance and increase the capacity for behavior change. An overview of this approach is given, followed by several specific examples of the techniques used within ACT. In each instance the behavioral rationale of these techniques is described. A contemporary view of verbal relations provides the basis for new approaches to adult outpatient psychotherapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barlow, D. H., Hayes, S. C., & Nelson, R. O. (1984). The scientist-practitioner: Research and accountability in clinical and educational settings. New York: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biglan, A. (1990). A contextual approach to treating family distress. In G. Singer & L. Irvin (Eds.), Supporting the family: Enabling a positive adjustment to children with disabilities (pp. 299–311). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C. (1984). Making sense of spirituality. Behaviorism, 12, 99–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C. (1987). A contextual approach to therapeutic change. In N. S. Jacobson (Ed.), Psychotherapists in clinical practice: Cognitive and behavioral perspectives (pp. 327–387). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C. (Ed.). (1989). Rule-governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Afari, N., McCurry, S. M., & Wilson, K. (1990, May). The efficacy of comprehensive distancing in the treatment of agoraphobia. Poster presented at the 16th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis, Nashville, TN.

  • Hayes, S. C., Brownstein, A. J., Devany, J. M., Kohlenberg, B. S., & Shelby, J. (1987). Stimulus equivalence and the symbolic control of behavior. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 13, 361–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., & Hayes, L. J. (1989). The verbal action of the listener as a basis for rule-governance. In S. C. Hayes (Ed.), Rule-governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control (pp. 153–190). New York: Plenum.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., & Hayes, L. J. (1992). Verbal relations and the evolution of behavior analysis. American Psychologist, 47, 1383–1395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Hayes, L. J., & Reese, H. W. (1988). Finding the philosophical core: A review of Stephen C. Pepper’s World hypotheses. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 50, 97–111.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Hayes, L. J., Reese, H. W., & Sarbin, T. R. (Eds.). (1993). Varieties of scientific contextualism. Reno, NV: Context Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Kohlenberg, B. S., & Hayes, L. J. (1991). Transfer of consequential functions through simple and conditional equivalence classes. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 56, 119–137.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Kohlenberg, B. S., & Melancon, S. M. (1989). Avoiding and altering rule control as a strategy of clinical treatment. In S. C. Hayes (Ed.), Rule-governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control (pp. 359–385). New York: Plenum.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., & Melancon, S. M. (1989). Comprehensive distancing, paradox, and the treatment of emotional avoidance. In M. Ascher (Ed.), Paradoxical procedures in psychotherapy (pp. 184–218). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. D. (in press). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. New York: Guilford.

  • Hayes, S. C., & Wilson, K. G. (1993). Some applied implications of a contemporary behavior-analytic account of verbal events. The Behavior Analyst, 16, 283–301.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Khorakiwala, D. (1991). An analysis of the process of client change in a contextual approach to therapy. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Nevada, Reno.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohlenberg, B. S., Hayes, S. C., & Hayes, L. J. (1991). The transfer of contextual control over equivalence classes through equivalence classes: A possible model of social stereotyping. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 56, 505–518.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kohlenberg, R. J., Hayes, S. C., & Tsai, M. (1993). Radical behavioral psychotherapy: Two contemporary examples. Clinical Psychology Review, 13, 579–592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohlenberg, R. J., Tsai, M., & Dougher, M. J. (1993). The dimensions of clinical behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 16, 271–282.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • McCurry, S. M. (1991). Client metaphor use in a contextual form of therapy. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Nevada, Reno.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCurry, S. M., & Hayes, S. C. (1993). Metaphor: A basic and applied analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 12, 763–785.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sidman, M., & Tailby, W. (1982). Conditional discrimination versus matching to sample: An expansion of the testing paradigm. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 37, 5–22.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wulfert, E., & Hayes, S. C. (1988). The transfer of conditional sequencing through conditional equivalence classes. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 50, 125–144.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zettle, R. D. (1984). Cognitive therapy of depression: A conceptual and empirical analysis of component and process issues. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zettle, R. D., & Hayes, S. C. (1986). Dysfunctional control by client verbal behavior: The context of reason giving. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 4, 30–38.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zettle, R. D., & Raines, J. C. (1989). Group cognitive and contextual therapies in treatment of depression. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45, 438–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by Grant DA08634 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hayes, S.C., Wilson, K.G. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Altering the Verbal Support for Experiential Avoidance. BEHAV ANALYST 17, 289–303 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392677

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392677

Key words

Navigation