Acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT (pronounced “act”), is an evidence-based therapy that blends Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), humanistic, and mindfulness-based approaches to treatment.
There are many good things contained in the treatment that can help your clients.
You are reading: Books on acceptance and commitment therapy
There is no better way to learn acting than to take a course and get supervision. That said, there’s also a lot you can learn about acting by reading books.
In this post, we break down our 14 favorite acting and acting-related books, and some relevant materials on our website, to get you started on your acting education.
Before we continue, you can download our three mindfulness exercises for free. These comprehensive, science-based exercises will help you cultivate a sense of inner peace throughout your daily life and give you the tools to improve mindfulness in your clients, students, or employees.
the 11 best books on the act
There is so much good writing on acting that it was hard to narrow down this list. The books below are divided into three categories:
- self-help books, which apply to all readers
- textbooks, which are academic in style and more relevant to students and professionals
- “do not act , but close”, which are books selected for their mindset and tone adjacent to the act, but not directly related to the treatment itself.
self-help books
1. get out of your mind and into your life – steven hayes
act’s founder, dr. steven hayes wrote this book.
hayes writes in accessible language, translating some of the more esoteric act concepts into a format readers can use to improve their lives.
As someone who has personally struggled with anxiety, Hayes easily adapts to the reader’s mindset. The exercises in this book are easy to do and can be very helpful to you or your clients.
look for the book on amazon.
2. activate your life: using acceptance and mindfulness to build a rich, fulfilling, and fun life – joe oliver, jon hill, and eric morris
This is another book aimed at helping people improve their life skills.
The book uses act to help readers become more involved, open, and accepting of themselves and others.
There is also a strong mindfulness component, which is perfect for readers looking to develop or expand their mindfulness practice.
look for the book on amazon.
3. cognitive behavioral therapy: a guide to self-empowerment with cbt, dbt and act – tom shepherd
This book uses an integrative approach, combining concepts from ACT, CBT, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help readers live a more valuable and meaningful life.
Teaching yourself CBT could be an interesting adjunct to formal treatment; the book helps readers learn about the tools therapists use in these approaches to enhance their sense of self-empowerment.
look for the book on amazon.
textbooks
1. acceptance and commitment therapy, second edition: the process and practice of conscious change – steven hayes, kirk strosahl, and kelly wilson
This is a classic textbook on act, written by the founder of act and two colleagues.
This was the textbook my professor assigned in the first-act course I took in grad school. begins with an explanation of relational frame theory, which is the theory that underlies the entire treatment.
The text is a bit wordy and dense, so I would recommend this book for people looking for an academic experience, rather than an informal introduction to treatment.
look for the book on amazon.
2. act made simple, second edition: an easy-to-read handbook on acceptance and commitment therapy – russ harris
This book is written by Russ Harris, who is probably the best-known acting writer to a popular audience.
Harris writes with humor, his style is very accessible, and his teachings are easy to implement.
In this book, which is structured like a textbook but reads much more easily than most, Harris breaks down the concepts in a way that makes it easy for the practitioner to get started.
If you’re curious about this book, consider accessing the first two chapters, provided by the publisher, new harbinger and posted on the harris website.
look for the book on amazon.
3. the act practitioner’s guide to the science of compassion: tools for fostering psychological flexibility – dennis tirch, benjamin schoendorff, and laura silberstein
This book is an excellent resource for those working with their clients on self-compassion.
Self-compassion is an important part of acting treatment, as it can be a difficult and contradictory approach for many clients.
This book equips therapists with the skills to help clients be kinder to themselves, while also working to increase their psychological flexibility and broaden their behavioral repertoire.
look for the amazon book.
4. The Big Book of Act Metaphors: A Practical Guide to Experiential Exercises & metaphors in acceptance & commitment therapy – jill stoddard and niloofar afari
See Also: P.T. Deutermann – Book Series In Order
Acting professionals often use metaphors to explain concepts in a therapy session.
Metaphors can cut through the literalness of our minds, allowing for a more visceral and emotional experience. they also tend to stick with us more than plain language.
many practitioners of acts have created metaphors that have been passed from one doctor to another.
These are collected in this book, which is an excellent resource for therapists looking to expand their repertoires of acts and perfect the delivery of these powerful tools.
look for the book on amazon.
do not act, but close
1. when things fall apart: heartfelt advice for tough times – pema chodron
pema chodron’s classic book is best explained by its subtitle: heartfelt advice for tough times.
As a Buddhist monk from Canada, Chodron has been one of the most prolific modern writers on Buddhism in the Western world.
Since act is based on Buddhism, the teachings in this book are relevant to practitioners and laymen alike, and will help you improve your mindfulness practice and coping skills in everyday life.
look for the book on amazon.
2. siddhartha – herman hesse
This classic novel tells the parable of Siddhartha, a person who spends much of his life wandering, trying to find his true calling in life.
another story with buddhist roots, at one point siddhartha meets the same buddha. only when siddhartha stops striving and searching does he really find what he is looking for.
This lesson translates closely into action, encouraging clients to stop fighting themselves and embrace the qualities and experiences that come naturally to them.
look for the book on amazon.
3. ismael: a novel – daniel quinn
This novel has an environmental message and explains human behavior from an evolutionary point of view.
Told from the point of view of an ancient gorilla, this book is funny and disturbing. the reader ends up getting a perspective on life that incorporates more empathy and compassion, as well as a new context for human suffering.
Although the text has little to do with the performance, the fundamentals fit quite well.
look for the book on amazon.
4. illusions: the adventures of a reluctant messiah – richard bach
A final novel to inform his worldview, this book tells the story of a wandering messiah as he helps his fellow traveler rekindle his faith in himself.
A novel that blurs the lines between secular and religious belief, Bach’s writing carries a message of self-empowerment, wonder at the universe, and belief.
look for the book on amazon.
3 recommended books for your clients
1. the happiness trap: how to stop fighting and start living – russ harris
This book is the quintessential self-help book for taking action. Written for a lay audience, The Happiness Trap shows the reader how the pursuit of happiness is a trap that can lead to chronic unhappiness.
The book teaches concrete skills that help the reader shift from a struggle mindset to one in which happiness becomes the byproduct of living a meaningful life, rather than the futile object of meaningless activity.
look for the book on amazon.
2. how to be kind to yourself: the daily guide to self-compassion – laura silberstein-tirch
As stated above, self-compassion is an essential part of the act therapy process.
This book is a practical manual that clients can use to improve self-criticism and increase self-love.
look for the book on amazon.
3. how to live: mindfulness basics series boxed set – thich nhat hanh
I personally recommend this series to clients who want to learn more about mindfulness.
Written by Thich Nhat Hanh, another monk and a prolific writer on Buddhism for a Western audience, these books break mindfulness into a number of components that can help you live a more mindful life.
Included in the series is how to sit, fight, eat, love and relax. the books help readers develop basic mindfulness skills and integrate them into these domains of everyday life.
They are short and easy to read, making them a minor engagement for busy clients with the potential to make a big impact.
look for the book on amazon.
See Also: Best Books for Mixing and Mastering | Countingup
For a complete list of self-help books, you can refer to the Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences website.
resources from positivepsychology.com
You can find courses, tools, and blog posts that can help you get started right here on our website. for example, acceptance & Commitment Therapy Training: The 17 Best Courses Give You Legio Options For On-The-Job Training.
since act and positive psychology share a similar theoretical foundation, there is a lot of crossover between the books listed above and the content available on this site.
See below for some of our best event-related resources.
positive psychology courses.com
mindfulness x
mindfulness x© is a fully customizable training template for learning about mindfulness. you can practice using this product on your own or you can integrate it into your work with clients.
Mindfulness X Masterclass includes eight sessions you can run with clients, as well as eight lessons you can use to train yourself as a mindful practitioner.
Since mindfulness is such an important part of ACT work, this product can be a great addition to your ACT clinician training.
meaning and value of life
This coaching masterclass focuses on the humanistic concepts of meaning and value, which are two of the building blocks of act work.
The course contains eight lessons to help you understand the concepts and then apply them in your clinical work.
This course is very consistent and is a way to help you focus on two topics that can sometimes be difficult to define.
positivepsychology.com toolkit
the positivepsychology.com toolkit contains many tools that are directly related to or consistent with act. These are some of the most relevant tools for this type of work.
moving from cognitive fusion to defusion
cognitive defusion is one of the six aspects of hexaflex, the main diagnostic treatment tool in use. this tool is adapted from an activity developed by act founder steven hayes.
In the exercise, the client gains psychological distance from difficult thoughts by learning to recognize and label the thought process. this allows the client to continue living a valuable life despite having thoughts they don’t like.
leaves in a stream
This is another defusion exercise. leaves in a stream is a type of meditation in which the client imagines placing their thoughts on a series of leaves floating peacefully in a stream.
This visualization helps the client recognize the transitory nature of thoughts, seeing them come and go without having to do anything at all.
the chessboard metaphor
The checkerboard metaphor is another de-escalation tool to help your clients stop fighting themselves.
the client is helped to see that they are not the chess pieces, but the board on which it is played.
use intrinsic values to promote commitment to goals
One of the most difficult tasks in therapy is helping the client commit to achieving their goals. in this tool, use customer values to increase commitment to the change process.
the sailboat
This comprehensive metaphor helps to convey a certain way of thinking about life that is very consistent with the act work.
Consider using different aspects of this metaphor, such as the compass, to help improve your act-based approaches.
core values in romantic relationships
In relationships, it’s easy to lose sight of our own values. this tool can help your clients use what drives them to improve or change their relationships with others.
prioritize personal values
Another values-based tool, this is a quick and easy intervention to help clients act on their own values. this can be useful for clients who have difficulty hearing what they want.
valued living in difficult times
We all experience stressful moments at some point in our lives. this values exercise focuses on helping clients under pressure to live by their values, despite the stress.
choice point
This tool, which was adapted from an exercise developed by Russ Harris, provides clients with a useful metaphor for making everyday decisions based on their values.
my tombstone
While it’s hard to think about our own death, it can also help us prioritize and change direction if we get off course. This exercise helps the client imagine what might be written on his tombstone and helps him think about changes he should make if he doesn’t like the message.
17 mindfulness & meditation exercises
If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others enjoy the benefits of mindfulness, this collection contains 17 validated mindfulness tools for professionals. use them to help others reduce stress and create positive changes in their mental, physical, and emotional health.
blog posts about the act
How does acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) work?
This blog post clearly explains acting as a treatment and provides fresh ideas on how you can apply these concepts in your own work.
act: the theory behind acceptance and commitment therapy
This article describes the fundamentals of act therapy, starting at the theoretical level and moving towards its application in everyday life.
21 act worksheets and ways to apply acceptance & commitment therapy
This practical publication provides you with act worksheets and tips for using act in your clinical work.
a message to take home
Acceptance and commitment therapy is a fascinating and effective treatment for many types of life challenges and mental illnesses.
The best way to learn to use act is to attend a course and get supervision. These books provide excellent material to boost your learning process.
Because the act is so relatable, lay people may also enjoy reading about it. Readers who enjoy the intersection of mindfulness, Eastern thought, and Western psychology will be especially interested.
if you’re new to the field, consider reading the novels mentioned above and then move on to more academic material.
We also have a lot of great acting resources on this site, so look around and enjoy.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three free mindfulness exercises.
See Also: 12 Best Preschool STEM Books for Little Learners – STEM Education Guide