Your Life, Your Way: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills to Help Teens Manage Emotions and Build Resilience

by Joseph V. Ciarrochi PhD, Louise L. Hayes PhD, Katharine Hall (Illustrator)

Overview

The ultimate teen guide to handling all the pressures and challenges of life—your own way!

Being a teen in today’s world is tough. Between school pressure, family, friends, and extracurricular activities—sometimes it can feel like you’re being pulled in a dozen different directions, and none of them are your way. On top of that, you may feel lonely, angry, or depressed; or you may wonder if you’re good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough. So, how can you overcome these self-doubts, and cultivate the strength to face life’s challenges and reach your full potential?

In Your Life, Your Way, you’ll learn how to deal with all the changes and challenges of the teen years—and how to grow into the person you want to be. You’ll learn doable skills grounded in mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and positive psychology to help you form positive friendships, manage difficult emotions, and get unstuck from bad habits. You’ll also learn real tips for dealing with several life challenges, including:

• Feelings of uncertainty
• Concerns about your looks
• Deadlines
• School/college/work
• Family
• Worries about the future
• Relationship stress

 

Once you identify your own personal struggles, you can decide how you want to face them—as strong, assertive, kind, honorable, caring, fun, supportive, friendly, agreeable, bold, persistent, or giving.

If you’re ready to take charge of your destiny and face problems head on in your own way, this fun and illustrated book has everything you need to get started today!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684034659
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	09/01/2020
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Joseph V. Ciarrochi, PhD, is a professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at Australian Catholic University. He has published more than 140 scientific journal articles and many books, including the widely acclaimed Emotional Intelligence in Everyday Life and The Weight Escape. Ciarrochi has been honored with more than four million dollars in research funding. His work has been discussed on TV and radio, and in magazines and newspaper articles. He is ranked in the top 2 percent of scientists in the world across all disciplines.

Louise L. Hayes, PhD, is an international acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) trainer, speaker, clinical psychologist, and researcher collaborating on interventions for adults and young people. Hayes has published research trials using ACT, and is coauthor of The Thriving Adolescent—the book that introduced DNA-v—plus the best-selling books, Your Life Your Way and Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens.

Katharine Hall is based in Wellington, New Zealand. From her wonderful studio in Aotearoa, she tells stories that can translate across language—specializing in ink work and digital designs for individuals, start-ups, and businesses both big and small.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction / How to use this Book 1

Part 1 Building your Skills 5

Chapter 1 Let Your Heart Guide Your Journey 7

Chapter 2 Take Control of Your Life 15

Noticer: Hear the Messages in Your Body 22

Advisor: Use Your Inner Voice 27

Discoverer: Do, Test, and Build Experience 33

Chapter 3 Transform Your Viewpoint, Transform Your World 41

Part 2 Focusing Your Skills 49

Chapter 4 When You Can't Stop Thinking or Worrying 51

Chapter 5 When You Are Anxious or Nervous 61

Chapter 6 Build Strong, Supportive Relationships 73

Chapter 7 Manage Bullies 87

Chapter 8 When You Feel Low or Sad 99

Chapter 9 When You Have Been Hurt, Been Afraid, or Feel Unsafe 111

Chapter 10 When Your Online Life is a Hassle 117

Chapter 11 Develop Authentic Self-Confidence 129

Chapter 12 Become Excellent at Anything 141

Afterword 153

Dial into Your DNA-V Strengths 154

Resources & References 155

Interviews

Ciarrochi resides in Austinmer, Australia; Hayes resides in Bacchus Marsh, Australia.
 

Editorial Reviews

“The DNA-V model is a game changer; one of the most exciting third-wave interventions in years. This cool-looking book presents the model in a way that teens will love and find helpful.”
—Ben Sedley, PhD, clinical psychologist, and author of Stuff That Sucks

Ben Sedley

“Your Life, Your Way is not only filled with thoughtful and valuable guidance, it is also filled with rich, textured, and fun images and exercises. It is the perfect book to aid teenagers in relating to their emotions in an effective fashion. It is ideal for helping them build resiliency. I was wonderfully captured by each page. Ciarrochi and Hayes have ‘nailed it’ with this amazing self-help guide for those who are young and struggling. I might even suggest that us grown-ups could use it too! Thank you for creating such an amazing journey; it will be invaluable to all who explore its pages.”
—Robyn D. Walser, PhD, codirector of the Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinic; assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley; author of The Heart of ACT; and coauthor of Learning ACT and The Mindful Couple

Robyn D. Walser

“Adolescence is a time of discovery, of taking mindful risks, and of learning flexibility in the face of the uncertainty and adversity involved in growing up in our world as it is today. This book is a gift to adolescents and their parents, as well as clinicians, teachers, counselors, and coaches who work with them. Created by Joe Ciarriochi and Louise Hayes, this brilliant book based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is just what every teen needs: a pragmatic, accessible, down-to-earth guide that will empower them to go out and live their way into their best lives. Sixteen-year-old me really, really loves this book, and highly recommends it!”
—Lisa W. Coyne, PhD, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; founder of the New England Center for OCD and Anxiety in Boston, MA; and author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Lisa W. Coyne

“What would it be like to own your own life? I don’t mean a life that’s perfect, or smooth, or easy. I mean a life that’s about what your heart yearns for it to be about. That can happen, and this book is about how to get it to happen. It’s based on scores of studies about people just like you, but it is easy to read, clear, and wise. If you want your life, your way—this book will show you how.”
—Steven C. Hayes, PhD, Nevada Foundation Professor in the department of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno; and codeveloper of ACT

Steven C. Hayes

“A unique, skillfully crafted tool kit for empowering young people, no matter what they are struggling with. This beautifully illustrated workbook shows young people that they are the person they have been waiting for—they have the power to transform and move their lives in a direction that sets their hearts on fire. I cannot think of a more perfect and timely resource for teens (and the adults who support them).”
—Evelyn Gould, PhD, BCBA-D, clinical behavior analyst at the New England Center for OCD and Anxiety, and research associate at Harvard Medical School

Evelyn Gould

“Your Life, Your Way speaks authentically to young people setting out to figure out who and how they want to be. The authors’ DNA-V model is a practical, accessible framework that is clearly grounded in well-researched principles of behavior change, as well as adolescent development. With meaningful questions to ponder and exercises to build new skills, this book provides exceptional tools to guide teens throughout their life’s journey.”
—Siri Ming, PhD, BCBA-D, behavior analyst, and coauthor of Using RFT to Promote Generative Language

Siri Ming

“Your Life, Your Way takes a scientific model and makes it tangible and practical. Parents ought to buy this book for their teens. But, please parents, read it and try the exercises first. You might just change with your teens. Also, as a supervisor, I would certainly offer this book to trainees as a treatment outline. The structure is simple, direct, and flexible enough to fit real-world therapy.”
—Kelly Wilson, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Mississippi, founding president of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), and coauthor of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Kelly Wilson

11/01/2020

Gr 6 Up—This self-help guide provides step-by-step coping strategies for teens who struggle with social-emotional challenges. Based on acceptance and commitment therapy practices, the text identifies specific actions that will produce desired changes. Part one introduces viewpoint switching skills, which examine life challenges from different perspectives. Part two describes how to use the skills to solve common issues that most teens face on a daily basis. Topics include dealing with anxiety and depression, building relationships, managing bullying, creating a healthy online presence, and increasing self-confidence. Rather than reading all of part two, Ciarrochi and Hayes suggest studying the chapters that are the most personally relevant. Librarians should note that this interactive text offers blank lines, checklists, and charts to write answers to guided questions and reflection sections. Each chapter begins with an inspirational quote from a pop culture figure and ends with a summary. Humorous pen illustrations are featured throughout, and the use of subtitles and bullets keeps the somewhat complex content organized. The conversational, encouraging tone will put readers at ease. However, the many steps involved in the different strategies can be overwhelming. Those who are committed to reading closely and journaling thoughtful responses will get the most out of the text. Younger middle schoolers would benefit from guidance from parents or counselors while reading the book. The authors provide a link to their website with additional resources and videos. VERDICT Recommended for middle and high school libraries that need to expand their self-help sections.—Maile Steimer, Jones M.S., Buford, GA

School Library Journal

2020-07-28
This self-help workbook offers practical interventions to help teens navigate their life journeys.

Some readers may initially be drawn in by the example of environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who struggled with depression but brought about change in herself, and, eventually, many other people, by tapping into her deepest values and acting on them. Straightforward truisms encourage teens to read on, and the text promises that it will help them understand how some adults end up unhappy and unfulfilled. Readers learn to identify three aspects of their inner selves—the discoverer, noticer, and adviser. Specific exercises encourage them to figure out how to use these skills for their own empowerment. Whatever the chapter’s specific concern—anxiety, bullying, internet addiction, and more—the text reassures readers of their self-worth. Teens are encouraged to create unique personal choices when their first choice in problem-solving has failed, with the caveat that aggression is rarely a successful strategy. At appropriate moments, adult intervention is advised, and overall, the language used is accessible and nonpatronizing. One chapter mentions post-traumatic growth in the context of overcoming abuse and identity-based prejudice, but teens struggling with serious bias and oppression may find the examples in this book do not resonate. Whimsical ink drawings, pithy quotations, and frequent use of humor enhance this handbook for healthy living.

Be the change! (resources, references) (Self-help. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews