New Therapy called ACT

[ann3]

Hello Everyone,

I’ve been googling the net and came across a new type of therapy called ACT : Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Here’s the essence of ACT:
ACT therapy suggests that, rather than attempting to challenge and change negative thoughts and beliefs (as cognitive therapy advocates), we should accept and feel our negative thoughts and feelings (in effect, embrace our pain) in an attempt to defuse them -- the acceptance part of the ACT therapy equation. The defusing process develops from allowing the negative thoughts and beliefs to wash over us until they become meaningless, stripped of emotion, and we can distance ourselves from them.

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/depression_anxiety/JohnsHopkinsDepressionAnxietyHealthAlert_1774-1.html

I'm not planning on going to a therapist for ACT therapy, but I've ordered a book on it: The Worry Trap: How to Free Yourself from Worry & Anxiety using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
by Chad Lejeune.

I love the idea of stripping meaning and distancing ourselves from negative thoughts.

[darren]

I have lots of problems with negative thoughts, and getting through certain situations.  Sometimes I feel as though I'm refusing to feel or avoiding negative feelings so they stay just below the surface... and I never really get through or past them.  That type of therapy sounds interesting to me. 

[ann3]

Hi Darren,

Here's the web site of the book, The Worry Trap.  I found good info here:
http://www.anxietyhappens.com/TheWorryTrap/

[darren]

Thanks, ann3

I will definitely take a look! 

[axa]

Think I must be ahead of my time!!! This is what I do.  I try and acknowledge the negative without judgement - I think this is an important step.  I bring myself into awareness that I am feeling negative, say out loud the feeling I am having and try and visualise it and the more I do this the less power the negativity has.  It is similiar to the discussions we have had here about embracing the shadow which I find terribly useful.

xx

axa

[Ami]

Thank you for this book recommendation!!!!  I am going to get it!           Love   Ami