It's impossible to avoid pain in life--but why not add joy? For anyone interested in living more fully and freely, Gijs Jansen distills the essence of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in this compassionate, witty guide. Practical tools, relatable stories, and clear exercises teach readers proven ways to handle painful emotions and loosen the grip of self-criticism, avoidance, and fear. Dr. Jansen provides an accessible introduction to ACT through a three-step approach that integrates head, body, and heart. He blazes a path to identifying and working toward deeply felt personal goals, from overcoming anxiety and stress to healing old wounds and building stronger relationships. Readers learn doable strategies to actively pursue what they value and keep honing their vision of the life they want. Mental health professionals, see also Jansen's Making ACT Happen, a concise primer that helps therapists develop their clinical skills.
Gijs Jansen, PsyD, is a psychologist, author, and internationally recognized trainer in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Dr. Jansen has trained thousands of mental health professionals and worked with clients from all walks of life. A former faculty member at Radboud University Nijmegen, he has contributed extensively to the development of ACT in the Netherlands.
Foreword: What Makes All the Difference, Steven C. Hayes Introduction I. Head 1. Why Are You Reading This Book? 2. Avoidance and Control 3. The Power of Language II. Body 4. Acceptance 5. Mindfulness III. Heart 6. The Self 7. Values 8. Committed Action 9. Dancing with ACT 10. My Personal Wish for You ThataEUR (TM)s a Wrap! Index
aEURoeIf you practice what is in this book with honesty, and let it challenge some of the rules your mind has given you, I believe you will be moved. It wonaEUR (TM)t make you perfect. It wonaEUR (TM)t make the pain disappear. But it may help you live with greater freedom to be you. And that makes all the difference.aEUR--from the Foreword by Steven C. Hayes, PhD, author of Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life aEURoeThis book is packed full of tools, techniques, and strategies that you can use right away to take the power out of difficult thoughts and feelings, live by your values, and strengthen your focus on the here and now.aEUR--Russ Harris, MBBS, author of The Happiness Trap aEURoeWith warmth, humor, and refreshing honesty, Dr. Jansen translates complex ideas into simple, direct guidance. He doesn't promise you a pain-free life, but shows how to live fully in the presence of difficulty. Through engaging exercises and examples, Dr. Jansen helps you reconnect with what truly matters.aEUR--Robyn D. Walser, PhD, author of You Are Not Your Trauma -
