The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook: Cope with Emotional Pain, Connect with What Matters, and Transform Your Life

by Matthew S. Boone LCSW, Jennifer Gregg PhD, Steven C. Hayes PhD (Foreword by)

Overview

Transform your life & make lasting, positive change

Do you struggle with painful emotions—such as sadness, anger, or fear? Are you in a constant state of worry and anxiety? Do you find yourself reacting negatively to others or behaving in ways that don’t reflect your values and beliefs? If so, you aren’t alone. In our increasingly disconnected and uncertain world, many people struggle to find balance, connection, and peace of mind. If you feel like your thoughts and feelings have turned against you, this workbook can help you navigate your emotions and live a more meaningful life.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a powerful method for transforming the psychological and emotional pain that keeps you from reaching your full potential. This workbook presents essential ACT skills—including present-moment awareness, willingness, and flexible perspective taking—that you can use right away to change how you react to difficult thoughts and feelings. You’ll also learn strategies from positive psychology and self-compassion to enhance feelings of connection, pleasure, and gratitude—so you can embrace life with a renewed spirit and commitment to what matters.

Discover skills to help you:

• Identify your values
• Live fully in the moment
• Face life’s challenges with resilience
• Make a commitment to positive change

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781648483738
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	12/01/2024
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.42(d)

About the Author

Matthew S. Boone, LCSW, is a social worker, psychotherapist, and educator who specializes in translating mental health concepts for the general public. Boone is a nationally recognized, peer-reviewed trainer in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), coauthor of Stop Avoiding Stuff, and editor of Mindfulness and Acceptance in Social Work. He is associate director of student mental health services at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he is an instructor in psychiatry. He regularly gives ACT workshops around the country.

Jennifer Gregg, PhD, is a psychologist, author, professor, and trainer. She is a professor at San Jose State University, and has spent twenty years treating cancer patients and their families. Gregg has been studying, delivering, and evaluating ACT since 1995, and she has published dozens of research papers, book chapters, and articles on ACT. She is coauthor of Stop Avoiding Stuff and The Diabetes Workbook.

Steven C. Hayes, PhD, is Nevada Foundation Professor in the department of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has been president of numerous professional organizations, and is author of nearly fifty books and more than 700 articles and book chapters. Hayes is originator and codeveloper of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a powerful therapy method that is useful in a wide variety of areas.

Editorial Reviews

An extremely friendly and approachable introduction to the core concepts of ACT. The authors have done a spectacular job of taking complex material and making it accessible, useful, and fun. I learned a lot and will take these exercises and ideas into my daily life. I especially enjoyed the chapter on gratitude, awe, and savoring. What a wonderful addition to the ACT literature! Read this book. You’ll get a lot out of it.” 
—Spencer Smith, coauthor of Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life

Spencer Smith

‘It’s kinda lovely here.’ Join the authors as they help you embrace your humanity, face struggles, and live according to what matters to you. This book gives you the best evidence-based strategies to travel along the valued life journey. It’s practical and written by folks who are the real deal. They’ve helped thousands of people and found their way through their own struggles to a life lived well.” 
—Louise Hayes, author of What Makes You Stronger and Your Life Your Way; developer of DNA-V; and clinical psychologist and adjunct senior research fellow at La Trobe University, Melbourne

Louise Hayes

In this excellent, very human, easily accessible, and deeply engaging book written by clinicians for all of us who struggle with feeling and thinking things we’d rather not, you will find the best of ACT distilled into clear, immediately usable, effective tools. Boone and Gregg have written a beautiful book that will be a fixture on your night table, or pulled off your shelf again and again. If I could put a book on speed dial, this would be it!” 
—Lisa W. Coyne, PhD, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and CEO of the New England Center for OCD and Anxiety

Lisa W. Coyne

Boone and Gregg have created a really accessible, transdiagnostic self-help workbook grounded in ACT. It offers practical guidance to address a range of emotional struggles, helping you cultivate mindfulness, embrace your values, and navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience. With a gentle and compassionate approach, this book serves as a beacon for those seeking a more meaningful and authentic life.” 
—Kelly G. Wilson, professor emeritus at the University of Mississippi, and author of Mindfulness for Two and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Kelly G. Wilson

This is an excellent resource for the many professionals who work in primary care and general practice clinics. So many people come to their doctors with emotional pain, and this book can help them and their behavioral health teammates recognize and address that pain. So, if you have emotional pain, read this book and tell your doctor! Thanks, Matt and Jen, for a concise and powerful book that can alleviate suffering at many levels.” 
—Patricia Robinson, PhD, president of Mountainview Consulting Group, and author of Behavioral Consultation and Primary Care

Patricia Robinson

The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook is an insightful book offering a comprehensive approach to personal growth and emotional well-being. From mastering defusion and present-moment awareness to embracing willingness and aligning actions with values, each chapter is a stepping stone toward meaningful living. Matthew Boone and Jennifer Gregg have created an integrated process exploring perspective taking and positive psychology principles, empowering readers to cultivate resilience that supports living with greater flexibility and purpose. An essential read for anyone seeking transformation through ACT.” 
—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 the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma-Based Problems, and The ACT Workbook for Anger

Robyn D. Walser

Less than a chapter in, I already knew I’d be recommending this book to all my therapy clients. I have read a LOT of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) workbooks in my over twenty years as an ACT practitioner, and this is one of the very best. A must-have for anyone looking to practice cultivating psychological flexibility skills for a well-lived life.” 
—Jill Stoddard, PhD, coauthor of The Big Book of ACT Metaphors

Jill Stoddard

If you were going to buy just one book to help you flourish both on the inside and the outside, The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook would be it! Beautifully written in a humble, straightforward way, this book is chock-full of practical ideas and personal growth exercises that will carry you through life’s ups and downs. Take this gift home with you and unwrap it into your life!” 
—Kirk D. Strosahl, PhD, coauthor of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression

Kirk D. Strosahl

The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook is a superb guide to building a better life. With a compassionate, wise, and easy-to-understand writing style, the authors introduce you to a wide range of powerful tools and strategies that can help just about anyone to reduce suffering and make life richer and fuller. Highly recommended!” 
—Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap and ACT Made Simple

Russ Harris