Learning ACT for Group Treatment by Darrah Westrup & M. Joann Wright

Author:Darrah Westrup & M. Joann Wright
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: PSY048000 Psychology / Psychotherapy / Group, PSY045070 Psychology / Movements / Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (cbt), MED105000 Medical / Psychiatry / General, SOC025000 Social Science / Social Work
Publisher: New Harbinger

Moving from Willingness to Defusion

At the end of this discussion, our therapist has concluded that while some members seem to have a better grasp than others, overall the group shows a reasonable understanding of both the unworkability of misapplied control and what is meant by willingness as an alternative. She decides it is good timing to move from verbal to experiential learning, and she prepares to move into the Eyes On exercise (see the Supplemental Exercises at http://www.newharbinger.com/23994), which involves breaking members into pairs and having the partners sit closely across from one another, simply gazing without speaking. During the exercise, she is most interested to see whether or not members will engage in the exercise. The willingness opportunity is that members can choose to participate despite whatever comes up for them. Giggling, struggling, looking away then looking back—all are reactions to be noticed as opposed to signs of doing the exercise “wrong.” After concluding the exercise, in fact, the therapist points out that those who struggled in this way and yet continued with the exercise demonstrated willingness quite nicely.

In processing the exercise with the group afterwards, the therapist is assessing the degree to which individual members are on board. For example, she might find that one or two members are still firmly invested in control as a strategy based on their comments following the exercise. In such a scenario, it might be prudent to revisit creative hopelessness and control as being the larger problem. However, in this instance, our therapist observed that all of her group members successfully participated in the exercise, continuing to engage with their partners despite their discomfort. Their comments during the group discussion following the exercise also led her to believe that members are starting to understand and experience what is meant by willingness in ACT. She determines they are ready to move ahead.

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