What is ACCEPTANCE in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? Pushing away paper exercise (Russ Harris)

Here is my ALL TIME favourite Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ACT exercise and metaphor. It comes from ACT made simple by Dr Russ Harris and is used extensively by ACT therapists.

This is a MUST for any ACT or CBT therapist and I get massive perspective shifts from my clients. A great lesson in you don’t HAVE to challenge thoughts.

🙎🏻‍♂️ WHO AM I?
I am a BABCP accredited cognitive and behavioural psychotherapist living in the south of England. I specialise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and predominantly work with people who have experienced trauma to help them move forward with their lives. Its a job I absolutely love and connects with my own values and purpose.

My qualifications:

PhD (trauma informed services)- Ongoing
Master of Science (MSc) Psychology
Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (High Intensity Workers)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) (Levels 1,2,3,4)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Child and Adolescent Level 1 and 2)
Bachelor of Science (BSc) Mental Health Nursing

[rogerlaro]

I appreciated this brief lesson. Thanks for taking the time.

[hellie_el]

i'd say you're too good for youtube, frankly. ❤

[Sambam]

Your teaching style is clear and succinct. I’m a therapist who has been learning and practicing ACT for a year now and found this helpful!

[RazDorNV]

I thought your channel was already super popular due to the production quality and the content value so I think you're doing great. Just keep 'em videos coming and you'll be good 👍

[nechtojA]

Thank you very much!! It was a beautiful exercise

[patrick_now_or_never]

Love this beautifully clear overview of those 6 component parts. ❤. Will never look at a piece of paper in the same way again!

[AngDevigne]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! It was very helpful. 😊

[laurenv]

Thank u so much for these videos Stu! They really do help me! Of all the therapists I watch on YouTube, u are the most compassionate & sincere so I find myself watching ur videos the most. Thank u for ur time, effort & caring. You DEF r good enough for Youtube! Thank u!🥰💜

[bethstratton]

Accepting we have certain thoughts and noticing when they are occurring and how frequently; and also how we feel about having particular thoughts is key to making progress. However, I think it would be helpful to have a video explaining how ownership or the absence of ownership of thoughts correlates to acceptance or otherwise of thoughts in order to deal with them; because acceptance is generally positive, whereas ownership isn’t always that way.

[mahnoor]

Does this work for core beliefs/schemas? Wouldn't keeping the paper in front of you keep you stuck in rumination about the painful belief by reminding you of it at all times?
Also, do you use this in the initial session with your clients?