ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety: Creating Effective, Innovative, and Values-Based Exposures Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

by Brian L. Thompson PhD, Brian C. Pilecki PhD, Joanne C. Chan PsyD, Steven C. Hayes PhD (Foreword by)

Overview

Powerfully effective, innovative, values-driven exposures for treating clients with anxiety. 

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) offers a proven effective model rooted in cutting edge research for guiding the use of exposure therapy—one of the most effective treatments for anxiety-related disorders. This comprehensive book provides easy-to-implement guidance in utilizing ACT-informed exposure while remaining grounded in theory, so you can help your clients approach what they’re afraid of in order to live their best lives. 

As you know, there are many different styles and ways of practicing exposure. This essential professional guide synthesizes evidence-based science, clinical studies, and complex theory into one powerfully effective resource, and makes ACT-informed exposure accessible to any practicing clinician. The book also offers practical suggestions for tailoring exposure exercises grounded in ACT to effectively address common client and therapist barriers to exposure therapy.

Whether you are new to ACT and exposure, or are experienced in other models of exposure therapy and interested in incorporating ACT into your practice, this book is an essential resource for your professional library.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781648480812
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	05/01/2023
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Brian L. Thompson, PhD, is a licensed psychologist; and director of the anxiety clinic at the Portland Psychotherapy in Portland, OR. He specializes in working with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and has published research in these areas.

Brian C. Pilecki, PhD, is a clinical psychologist at Portland Psychotherapy who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and matters related to the use of psychedelics. Brian also has extensive experience in the areas of mindfulness and meditation, and incorporates them into his therapy with clients. He is an active researcher and has published on topics such as anxiety disorders, mindfulness, and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Joanne C. Chan, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist, and assistant professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) where she provides psychological support to medical and dental faculty, residents, and fellows. Joanne specializes in exposure therapy for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and regularly provides training and education in her areas of expertise.

Steven C. Hayes, PhD, is Foundation Professor Emeritus at the University of Nevada, Reno; and president of the Institute for Better Health. Author of forty-eight books and more than 700 scientific articles, he has been president of numerous professional organizations and is among the most cited living psychologists. He has shown in his research on relational frame theory (RFT) how and why language and symbolic thought leads both to human achievement and to human suffering, and has guided the extension of RFT to acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)—a powerful therapy method that is among the most widely researched and broadly applicable behavior change methods known to science.

Editorial Reviews

If you work with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or trauma, you should read this book. ACT-informed exposures will enrich your practice and provide you with useful case conceptualizations and treatment moves.”
—Michael Twohig, PhD, professor, and coauthor of The Anxious Perfectionist

Michael Twohig

Always a champion of emphasizing the work of exposure in ACT, I am delighted to highly recommend ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety. This book is ideal for therapists wishing to provide an effective and excellent intervention for their anxious clients. Authors Brian Thompson, Brian Pilecki, and Joanne Chan guide therapists in implementing exposure—tucked inside of willingness linked to values—in their process and the clients’ process in a straightforward and implementable way. A must for therapists.”
—Robyn D. Walser, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist; author of The Heart of ACT; and coauthor of Learning ACT, The Mindful Couple, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma-Related Problems, and The ACT Workbook for Anger

Robyn D. Walser

ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety by Thompson, Pilecki, and Chan is an excellent, well-researched, and comprehensive guide to process-based exposure. This is more than a handbook on integrating ACT with exposure and response prevention (ERP)—it demystifies how to conduct exposure founded in basic principles of fear acquisition and applied behavior analysis (ABA). Thank goodness these stellar clinicians and researchers put in the hard work to write this for us. It will be a go-to guide for all clinicians who treat anxiety disorders and OCD.”
—Lisa Coyne, clinical psychologist, founding director of the New England Center for OCD and Anxiety, and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School/Mclean

Lisa Coyne

Evidence-based treatment for anxiety emphasizes exposure. However, this treatment is a challenge for even the most seasoned clinician to carry out. ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety reframes exposure through a lens that is accessible to clinicians, and eases their own apprehensions about the method while also presenting a highly contemporary treatment method in a digestible way. It is sure to be an indispensable guide for therapists of all levels.”
—Dean McKay, PhD, ABPP, professor of psychology at Fordham University; and past president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology

Dean McKay

Pairing decades of strong efficacy data for exposure therapy with the strengths of ACT to build willingness and cognitive flexibility—this book is the perfect pairing of both! The book contains ‘how to’ pointers for developing therapists and real-world problem-solving for experienced therapists. It’s for the exposure therapist who wants to better help clients choose to engage and cultivate new learning. It’s for the ACT therapist who wants to better harness the power of exposure.”
—Lori Zoellner, PhD, director of the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress, and professor of psychology at the University of Washington; and coeditor of Facilitating Resilience and Recovery After Trauma

Lori Zoellner

When we are willing to open up to our anxieties and fears, we gain the space and freedom needed to live our lives in line with what we care about. There is no shortcutting this process. Yet, inside ACT, we do this ‘exposure’ work in the service of helping our clients live well when faced with life’s inevitable obstacles, problems, and pain. In the process, your clients learn to cultivate a new relationship with their anxieties and fears, and hence regain control over their lives. This gentle and wise guide will show you how to do just that. A must-read for all mental health professionals interested in ACT, including those who wish to learn how to do process-based exposure work.”
—John P. Forsyth, PhD, professor of psychology, and director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program at the University at Albany, SUNY; clinical psychologist; ACT researcher, trainer, and clinical supervisor; and coauthor of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety and Anxiety Happens

John P. Forsyth

Exposure-based treatments are some of the most effective, but still poorly understood, clinical strategies for anxiety problems. This book is an important step forward by embracing a process-based perspective and linking it to acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). It is an intelligent and thoughtful integration, providing clear recommendations for improving treatment. I highly recommend this book.”
—Stefan G. Hofmann, PhD, Alexander von Humboldt Professor at the Philipps University of Marburg, and author of The Anxiety Skills Workbook and CBT for Social Anxiety

Stefan G. Hofmann

In this book, Thompson, Pilecki, and Chan articulate the core principles of ACT-informed exposure as clearly and accessibly as I have ever read. The content is comprehensive—even discussing cultural considerations—making the book an essential resource for any clinician doing exposures with their clients. Even if you’re already doing ACT-based exposures, you will still learn something new from the authors’ masterful dissection of this approach.”
—Clarissa Ong, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Toledo, and coauthor of The Anxious Perfectionist

Clarissa Ong