Canada: Improve client outcomes with ACT courses on present-moment awareness and self-as-context, moving away from past and future focus.
This talk explores two further processes within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): moving from attachment to the past and future towards present-moment awareness, and from self-as-content towards self-as-context. Participants will examine how rumination, hindsight, hypothetical anxiety and rigid identity stories can narrow psychological flexibility, and how these patterns show up in clinical work.
The talk combines concise theory with practical exercises that can be used directly with clients. These include breath-based present-moment practice, attention switching, the Life as a Stage exercise, perspective-shifting questions and “My mind tells me that…”. The emphasis throughout is on helping clients create more awareness, perspective and choice, rather than trying to eliminate thoughts, emotions or identity content.
- Identify when past- or future-focused thinking is functioning as rumination, hindsight or hypothetical anxiety rather than useful reflection or planning.
- Describe the difference between self-as-content and self-as-context and how rigid identity statements can influence behaviour.
- Apply practical present-moment awareness exercises to help clients notice and deliberately redirect attention.
- Apply self-as-context exercises to help clients create perspective around rigid identity stories.
Identify when an ACT exercise is increasing psychological flexibility and when it risks becoming another rigid rule or avoidance strategy.