9. Experiential avoidance
Cognitive Fusion
Loss of Contact with Present moment
‘Self as Content’ /
rigid sense of self
Loss of contact with
Values
Reduced, aimless or
counter-productive
behaviour
Sources of difficulty
10. Acceptance / Willingness to
experience
“making room for
whatever shows up”
Defusion
“watching your
thinking”
Present Moment Awareness / Mindfulness
“staying present”
Awareness of Values
“knowing what matters
to you”
Committed Action (in
service of Values)
“doing what it takes”
Core processes of
ACT
Self-as-Context / self-as-observer
“just noticing”
11. Experiential avoidance
-> Acceptance /
Willingness
Cognitive Fusion
-> Defusion
Loss of Contact with Present
moment -> Present Moment
Awareness / Mindfulness
Self-as-Content ->
Self-as-Context
Loss of contact with
Values ->
Awareness of
Values
Reduced, aimless or
counter-productive
behaviour ->
Committed Action (in
service of Values)
Shifting from ‘being
stuck’ to ‘flexibility /
vitality’
16. SSoommee VVaalluueess
► “respecting traditions”
► “influencing others”
► “leading”
► “experiencing new things”
► “having excitement”
► “being loyal”
► “being dependable”
► “helping those in need”
► “being creative”
► “being curious”
► “promoting justice / fairness”
► “appreciating beauty”
► “getting things done
► “looking after my health”
► “being emotionally close to
those who matter to me”
► “living in a spiritual or religious
way”
N = not so important to me
I = important to me
V = very important to me
► “having self-control”
► “being honest”
► “looking after those I love”
► “being in contact with nature”
► “being competitive”
► “being respectful towards others”
► “nurturing others / helping them
develop”
► “making a contribution to the
world”
► “being sociable”
► “setting myself challenges
(because I want to, not because I
have to)”
► “being a good ‘team-player’”
► “being fun-loving”
“something else, that’s not on this list?”
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29. Experiential avoidance
Cognitive Fusion
Loss of Contact with Present moment
‘Self as Content’ /
rigid sense of self
Loss of contact with
Values
Reduced, aimless or
counter-productive
behaviour
Sources of difficulty
(inflexibility)
30. Experiential avoidance
Cognitive Fusion
Loss of Contact with Present moment
• Thinking about future
• Comparing to past
• Especially at night
‘Self as Content’ /
rigid sense of self
Loss of contact with Values
Reduced, aimless or
counter-productive
behaviour
Sources of difficulty
• Feel useless if can’t do what I
used to, so don’t try
• If children worry about me,
feel a burden, so minimise
contact
• When anger builds up, need
to hide it or vent it privately
• I’m turning into a cripple
•The future is terrible for me
• I’m no good to anyone
•Good people don’t get angry
• I’m a cripple
• I’m the one who’s
willing help out
•I don’t make a fuss
Diane
• Activities seem pointless
• If not good carer, what am I
for?
•Not engaged with family
• avoiding contact with others
• reducing self-care
• not following interests
31. Acceptance / Willingness to
experience
“making room for
whatever shows up”
Defusion
“watching your
thinking”
Present Moment Awareness / Mindfulness
“staying present”
Awareness of Values
“knowing what matters
to you”
Committed Action (in
service of Values)
“doing what it takes”
Core processes of
ACT
Self-as-Context / self-as-observer
“just noticing”
32. Acceptance / Willingness to
experience
Learn to ‘sit with’ unwanted
feelings, without engaging in
counterproductive attempts to
control / avoid
Defusion
Learn to recognise
thoughts AS
THOUGHTS as occur
Learn not to see world
through those thoughts
Present Moment Awareness / Mindfulness
Help her become more able to notice when mind
wandering, and choose where to pay attention
Use this to help manage night-time rumination
Self-as-Context / self-as-observer
Help her notice what is going on inside
herself
Help her recognise unhelpful, rigid
views of self
Awareness of Values
Identify the things that
matter most to Diane
Committed Action (in
service of Values)
Work out what it will take
to serve those values, and
support her in doing them
even with the thoughts &
feelings they bring
Core processes of
ACT