Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Deliberate Practice to Develop and Enhance Skills in ACT

by Walser, Robyn D.; O’Connell, Manuela

• ISBN13: 9781433844195
• ISBN10: 1433844192
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781433844201
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2026-03-17
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

This book empowers both new and seasoned clinicians to enhance their proficiency in acceptance and commitment therapy.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is rooted in a behavioral and contextual understanding of human suffering, with language and cognition playing a central role. While the capacity for language enables creativity, planning, and connection, it also allows humans to engage in internal dialogue that can generate and prolong distress, increasing suffering. ACT is a psychological intervention that aims to increase psychological flexibility—the ability to stay present, open up to experience, and take action guided by deeply held values.

With their book, the authors aim to help newer and seasoned clinicians understand the underpinnings of ACT, and learn and develop skills in implementing ACT as an integrated therapy. Deliberate practice of ACT is designed to guide readers through learning ACT in a structured, step-by-step way—from core theory and model to applied clinical skills. The book is organized into a series of parts that build on one another, each laying the foundation for the next to support deep, integrated learning. Chapters address basic, intermediate, and advanced skills development, complemented with engaging personal and clinical practice exercises to help readers understand the process both conceptually and experientially. The book offers theory and skills building on a personal level by inviting readers to examine the impact of ACT concepts on their own experience before applying them in session, and to practice exploring the full model with feedback from students and other professionals interested in learning ACT.

 

Author Biography

Robyn D. Walser, PhD, is the director of Trauma and Life Consultation and Psychology Services, assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of research at Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services. Dr. Walser has contributed significantly to the dissemination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and holds a pivotal role in implementing ACT in one of the largest U.S. healthcare systems. She also works at the National Center for PTSD, where her focus is on trauma recovery, depression, and moral injury. Dr. Walser has coauthored nine influential books on ACT and has led ACT workshops worldwide.

Manuela O’Connell, Lic., is a licensed psychologist from Buenos Aires, Argentina, internationally recognized for her work in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, compassion, and functional analytic psychotherapy. She is a fellow of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), she currently serves as president of ACBS and of the Awareness, Courage and Love Global Foundation.

Dr. O’Connell is a trainer, supervisor, and retreat leader, offering programs in Spanish and English for clinicians worldwide, and facilitating over 10 ongoing study groups for professionals across Spanish-speaking countries. She has published widely on ACT, and the therapeutic relationship, alliance, and rupture..

Table of Contents

Part I. Overview of ACT and Deliberate Practice
Introduction: Orientation to the Deliberate Practice of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 
Chapter 1. Foundations of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Deliberate Practice in ACT
Part II. Theoretical Underpinnings of ACT
Chapter 2. Functional Contextualism Defined and Explored
Chapter 3. Behavioral Principles in Applied Work: Using the Functional Analysis Framework
Chapter 4. Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Defined and Explored
Chapter 5. CT and Suffering
Chapter 6. Psychological Flexibility
Part III.  Beginner: Introduction to the Six Core Processes of ACT
Chapter 7. Flexible Experiencing in Action: Acceptance
Chapter 8. Flexible Experiencing In Action: Defusion
Chapter 9. Flexible Experiencing in Action: Present Moment
Chapter 10. Experiencing Self as Context: Flexible Perspective Taking
Chapter 11. Values-Based Behavior: Chosen Purpose
Chapter 12. Committed Action: Behavioral Flexibility
Part IV. Intermediate: Skills Building in the Six Core Processes of ACT
Chapter 13. Case Conceptualization
Chapter 14. Skill Building and Competencies in Acceptance
Chapter 15. Skill Building and Competencies: Defusion
Chapter 16. Skill Building and Competencies: Contact with the Present Moment
Chapter 17. Skill Building and Competencies in Perspective Taking: Self as Context
Chapter 18. Skill Building and Competencies in Values-based Living: Chosen Purpose
Chapter 19. Skill Building and Competencies in Behavioral Flexibility: Committed Action 
Part V. Advanced: Integration of ACT Pillars and the Therapeutic Relationship
Chapter 20. Open, Aware and Engaged: Integrating the Three Pillars
Chapter 21. ACT Skill in the Therapeutic Relationship and Alliance
Chapter 22. Relationship Rupture
Epilogue: Exploring the Future
References
Index
About the Authors