Learning ACT for Group Treatment: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Training Manual for Therapists

by Darrah Westrup, M. Joann Wright

For many clients, group therapy is a more practical treatment option than one-on-one therapy sessions. The financial cost of group therapy is substantially less than individual therapy, and research shows it can be just as effective. However, group therapy also presents unique challenges, and is often more difficult to administer. That’s why professionals need a solid plan of action when using group therapy to treat clients. In recent years, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has gained immense popularity. Based in values, mindfulness, and committed action, this therapeutic model has proven successful in treating a number of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, stress, addictions, eating disorders, trauma, and relationship problems. However, despite the popularity of this modality, there are very limited resources available when it comes to applying ACT in a group setting. Learning ACT for Group Treatment is a comprehensive, powerful manual for clinicians, therapists, and counselors looking to implement ACT in group therapy with clients. A composite of stand-alone sessions, the book provides detailed explanations of each of the core ACT processes, printable worksheets, tips on group session formatting, and a wide range of activities that foster willingness, cooperation, and connection among participants. In the book, professionals will see how the benefits of ACT can actually be enhanced in a group setting, particularly because there are more participants for ACT exercises. This leads to increased accountability among clients, and allows them to play both an active role and the role of the observer during treatment. The book also includes concrete tips for applying ACT to a number of treatment scenarios, including inpatient group therapy, partial hospitalization programs, outpatient programs, and community self-help groups. With detailed exercises and group activities, this book has everything therapists need to start using ACT in group settings right away.

Genres: Psychology

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 25, 1930

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I've found this read being worth every page!

The authors lay out one possibile version of delivering ACT in a 12 session, closed group therapy. The last chapter includes further ideas on how to deliver ACT in other group settings (e.g. open groups, single session groups). The books starts with a short introduction to ACT, which I found really helpful, even though I alreay had some background knowledge in ACT. Westrup & Wright were right to the point!

The main part of the book contains excercises, methaphors and sample scripts from a (ficticious) therapy group. Every chapter follows the same outline. The manual cannot be used as a strict recipe for group therapy (in the sense of: "First, the therapists says xyz, then does exercise a, then explains bcd" with verbatim texts for the therapist). And frankly: I believe if you want to deliver solid ACT group therapy, you cannot rely on such recipes. However, the book does a very good job of offering one possible sequence of ACT processes and corresponding metaphors and exercises to use in a group setting. Plus, the included sample scripts/dialogues enable the reader to get a feeling for how ACT can be delivered and modelled in a group. The books also includes additional exercises that can be downloaded via the publisher's website.

All in all, I think this a very good book - for therapists who want to deliver ACT in a group setting and for new ACT therapists that have some theoretical knowledge but don't quite know how this might look like in practice.

[Stephen O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful Resource

The book fits the bill for anyone interested in learning about the core concepts of ACT and how to bring that to life in a group setting. You’ll find many useful ideas to support planning and running an ACT group.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really helpful for my upcoming group!

[Susan Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good ideas by authors who obviously know their stuff. Could have been easier to read with less "now we are going to talk about this ..." formalities.

[Zell Murdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the suggestions in this book, but felt that it sticks super closely to one possible group structure with other possibilities as afterthoughts. But the exercises and interactions feel extremely useful and applicable.