Basics
This ACT concept involves opening up to uncomfortable thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them.
What is acceptance?
Values are different from goals because values are ongoing directions, not... these.
What are destinations/endpoints?
Instead of saying “I’m a failure,” ACT encourages adding this phrase beforehand.
What is “I’m having the thought that…”?
Avoiding uncomfortable feelings often makes them do this over time.
What is grow/intensify?
ACT encourages paying attention to this moment instead of living entirely in the past or future.
What is the present moment?
The “C” in ACT stands for this.
What is commitment?
A person who values connection may demonstrate it by doing this during conflict.
What is communicating honestly/listening/reaching out?
This silly technique involves repeating a difficult word until it loses meaning.
What is word repetition?
This ACT metaphor compares struggling with emotions to sinking in what substance?
What is quicksand.
Taking small actions guided by values even when uncomfortable is called this.
What is committed action?
This ACT skill helps people notice thoughts without automatically believing them.
What is cognitive defusion?
This ACT metaphor compares values to directions on this type of apparatus.
What is a compass?
Thoughts are not necessarily these.
Trying to suppress thoughts often causes this ironic rebound effect.
What is thinking about them more?
This observing part of ourselves notices thoughts and emotions without being consumed by them.
What is the observing self/self-as-context?
ACT focuses less on eliminating symptoms and more on building this kind of life.
What is a values-driven or meaningful life?
Values are chosen qualities of action, not things society says you “should” do. This reflects acting in alignment with this.
What is authenticity/the true self?
This metaphor teaches that thoughts can come and go like passing vehicles.
What is “Leaves on a Stream” or “Passengers on the Bus”?
ACT teaches that emotions are not “good” or “bad,” but instead temporary internal what?
What are experiences/events?
In ACT, mindfulness involves noticing thoughts and feelings without immediately trying to do this to them.
What is change/control/judge them?
These are the six core processes of ACT collectively called this.
What is psychological flexibility?
Choosing honesty in a difficult conversation because connection matters more than comfort is an example of this.
What is values-based action?
Defusion helps reduce the power of thoughts by changing our relationship to them rather than trying to do this.
What is eliminate/control thoughts?
According to ACT, pain is unavoidable, but suffering is often increased by this.
What is resistance/avoidance/struggling with pain?
ACT teaches that small consistent actions taken toward values are more important than waiting for this before acting.
What is motivation/confidence/feeling ready?