Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy Treating Anxiety and Related Challenges

Developed over decades of ongoing clinical research, acceptance-based behavioral therapy (ABBT) is a flexible framework with proven effectiveness for treating anxiety disorders and co-occurring problems. This authoritative guide provides a complete overview of ABBT along with practical guidelines for assessment, case formulation, and individualized intervention. Clinicians learn powerful ways to help clients reduce experiential avoidance; cultivate acceptance, self-compassion, and mindful awareness; and increase engagement in personally meaningful behaviors. Illustrated with vivid case material, the book includes 29 reproducible handouts and forms. Purchasers get access to a companion website where they can download printable copies of the reproducible materials and audio recordings of guided meditation practices. A separate website for clients includes the audio recordings only.
 

Lizabeth Roemer, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she is actively involved in research and clinical training of doctoral students in clinical psychology. Dr. Roemer's research examines how people understand, react to, and cope with intense emotional reactions, most often in the contexts of anxiety disorders and posttraumatic functioning. She also supports her students in examining the relevance of cultural and contextual factors in these phenomena, with an emphasis on helping people thrive in the face of discrimination and racism. Her research team has a recent focus on dissemination, health promotion, and identifying and addressing barriers to care. Dr. Roemer has published over 120 journal articles and book chapters. Her books with Susan M. Orsillo include The Mindful Way through Anxiety and Worry Less, Live More (for general readers) and Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy (for mental health professionals). Their website is www.mindfulwaythroughanxiety.com.
 
Susan M. Orsillo, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Suffolk University in Boston, where she is actively involved in the education, training, and professional development of undergraduates and doctoral students in clinical psychology. Dr. Orsillo studies how acceptance-based behavioral therapy–informed strategies can help buffer against contextual stressors, build resilience, improve psychosocial functioning, and enhance quality of life. Her research team also has a focus on improving widespread access to evidence-based care. Dr. Orsillo has published over 120 journal articles and book chapters. Her books with Lizabeth Roemer include The Mindful Way through Anxiety and Worry Less, Live More (for general readers) and Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy (for mental health professionals). Their website is www.mindfulwaythroughanxiety.com.
 

I. Setting the Stage for Change
1. Overview of an Acceptance-Based Behavioral Model of Clinical Problems
2. Gathering Clinical Information to Prepare a Case Formulation
3. Sharing Case Formulation and Treatment Plan: Setting the Stage for Therapy
II. Cultivating Acceptance-Based Skills and Clarifying Values
4. The Therapeutic Relationship: A Context and a Mechanism for Change
5. Psychoeducation to Cultivate Acceptance
6. Mindfulness and Other Experiential Methods
7. Using ABBT Methods to Cultivate Self-Compassion
8. Articulating and Clarifying Personal Values
III. Putting It All Together: Promoting Mindful, Valued Action
9. Integrating the Three Goals of ABBT into Each Session
10. Working with Contextual Inequities and External Barriers to Values-Based Actions
11. Evaluating Progress, Relapse Prevention, and Ending Treatment
Appendix A: Measures That Can Be Used to Assess ABBT Model-Specific Processes
Appendix B: Mindfulness Exercises
Appendix C: A Model of Integration of Topics, Exercises, and Forms across Sessions
References
Index

List of Audio Tracks:
- Mindfulness of Breath (3 minutes)
- Mindfulness of Sounds (5 minutes)
- Mindfulness of Physical Sensations (3 minutes)
- Mindfulness-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Instructions (11 minutes)
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation, 16 Muscle Group Exercise (37 minutes)
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation, 7 Muscle Group Exercise (19 minutes)
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation, 4 Muscle Group Exercise (13 minutes)
- Mindfulness of Emotions (5 minutes)
- Mindfulness of Emotions and Physical Sensations (6 minutes)
- Mindfulness of Clouds and Sky (7 minutes)
- Mountain Meditation (8 minutes)
- Inviting a Difficulty In and Working It through the Body (6 minutes)
- Your Personal Experience with Self-Compassion (4 minutes)
- Mindful Observation of Self-Critical Thoughts (4 minutes)