Question

Mindfulness teaches the brain to pay attention, to be in the moment, and to be free of judgment. Considering the input of Fletcher and Hayes, how does acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) use mindfulness? Why is this significant? What are some of the benefits of mindfulness? How might the notion of mindfulness be applied to your dissertation research?

Answer 1

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a behavioural therapy that utilizes mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions to enable active engagement with life with greater psychological flexibility, clarity of values, and effective action.According to this theory,psychological suffering tends to be the result of maladaptive interactions between human language and thoughts, attempts to exert control, attachment to the conceptualized self, disconnection from the present moment, and unwillingness to engage in behaviors driven by one’s true values.

ACT is based on the philosophy that pain is inevitable, but suffering is not,negetive experiences are a part of life.ACT helps us identify what is truly important to ourselves – what we value in the core of our being. In concert with goals and values, the process of ACT is to then promote action to live a full and meaningful life while accepting the inevitable pain that accompanies it.