Self-as-Context in Therapy (Help Your Clients Build a Flexible Self with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

Gain a deeper understanding of self-as-context, learn practical interventions, and help your clients thrive.

Self-as-context is one of the most important of the six core processes of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), yet it is also one of the least understood. Many therapists struggle to fully implement it in their practice—perhaps due to a lack of concrete techniques for real world application—or they may become stuck when facing roadblocks in-session. So how can you gain a deeper understanding of self-as-context as a behavior and learn practical interventions for empowering clients with this essential capacity?

Self-as-Context in Therapy takes a challenging concept and translates it into an accessible, actionable process for helping clients cultivate a more flexible self and take valued action. You will start with an exploration of how the self develops, and the clinical implications of inhibiting factors in this process. You’ll also learn about three useful aspects of experiencing our self—self-as-process, self-as-content, and self-as-context—and how to recognize when self-as-context work is beneficial in therapy.

Finally, the book offers simple strategies to train clients in self-as-context, so they can integrate key lessons and techniques into their daily lives. With clear examples of how to apply self-as-context to common causes of suffering such as grief and loss, burnout, stress, addiction, depression, as well as the challenges of parenting and relationships, you will come away with concrete skills for helping clients improve their lives.

If you’re looking for resources to help your clients embrace new possibilities and move toward a life more deeply aligned with their values, this comprehensive guide can help you get started.