act ii: specific examples from an act trial
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ACT II: Specific Examples from an ACT Trial. Jon Abramowitz, Laura Fabricant, & Ryan Jacoby Clinical Lunch Spring 2014. Overview. ACT principles O ur study on exposure therapy and ACT Techniques to foster acceptance Techniques to foster defusion Techniques to pursue values - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ACT II:Specific Examples from an ACT Trial
Jon Abramowitz, Laura Fabricant, & Ryan JacobyClinical Lunch Spring 2014
Overview ACT principles Our study on exposure therapy and ACT Techniques to foster acceptance Techniques to foster defusion Techniques to pursue values Discussion (applying ACT to other problems)
ACT Principles
My thoughts tell me how things really are, and determine what I do next
I constantly struggle with my thoughts and feelings
I spend most of my time lost in thought about the
past or futureI don’t know what I want from life
I don‘t manage to act on the things I care aboutDeep down, my
thoughts and feelings are the
real me
I spend most of my time paying attention to what is happening in
the present moment
I am clear about what I choose to value in life
I work out what I need to do about the things I care about, andI see it through
My thoughts and feelings come and go, but deep down the real me doesn’t change
I see each of my thoughts as just one of many ways to think about things – what I do next is up to me
I willingly accept my thoughts and feelings even when I don’t like them
ACCEPTANCE SCALE
ATTENTION TO PRESENT SCALE
VALUES IDENTIFICATION SCALE
COMMITMENT & TAKING ACTION SCALE
DEFUSIONSCALE
SELF AS OBSERVER SCALE
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Our study: Exposure + ACT
Our Study How did we get interested in ACT? Our study An ACT perspective on OCD: 3 parts Exposure from an ACT framework
Similarities and differences (SUDS vs. willingness) Exposure therapy to facilitate the ACT processes
ACT Techniques
Acceptance Willingness to experience internal events Examples from OCD patients Metaphors and techniques
“Jerk at the door” Chessboard Exposure
Habituation vs. fear tolerance
Defusion
Distancing and disconnecting from thoughts Seeing thoughts and feelings for what they
are, not what they say they are
Examples from OCD patients Metaphors and techniques
Milk, Milk, Milk Passengers on the bus Imaginal exposure
Passengers on the Bus Metaphor You’re the driver and the passengers are your
OCD related thoughts, feelings, physiological sensations, etc.
The passengers try to direct where the bus goes They are loud and bossy about what you do They quiet down when you do what they want
If you drive the bus where you want to go, what will happen? You can allow them to shout and keep your
attention focused on where you want to go
Values Choosing what direction one wants life to take
(not letting OCD choose the direction life goes)
Examples from OCD patients Metaphors and techniques
Bull's-eye Moving through a swamp Exposure
BULL’S EYE ILLUSTRATION
My life is just as I want it to be
My life is far from how I want it to be
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Work/ Education
Leisure
Personal growth/ Health
Relationships
What do you value?
What do you want your life to be about?
What do each of these categories mean to you?
In what ways has OCD been getting in the way of living life in the direction of your values?
Moving through a swamp Swamp = OCD-related inner experiences and
triggers Exposure = learning how to handle whatever
comes up while still moving forward through swamp
Willingness to go into the swamp without resisting (avoiding or using compulsive rituals) Why are we doing this? Getting dirty and muddy
but for a purpose Not wallowing in the
swamp Things you value are on the
other side of the swamp (only way is through it!)
Exposures and values Emotional moves vs. values moves
Motivation
Anxiety reduction is not an explicit goal Successful outcome = you doing something
important to you despite having anxiety
Discussion
Discussion How could we apply these techniques to other
problems?
Similarities and differences with other therapies?
Questions?
Thank you!