Table Of ContentPsychology
New Directions in the Treatment of PTSD
ceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) ofers a promising, empiri- A cceptance &
Acally validated approach to the treatment of post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and other trauma related problems. In this volume, you’ll
fnd a complete theoretical and practical guide to making this revolutionary
new model work in your practice.
After a quick overview of PTSD, the frst part of the book explains the
problem of experiential avoidance as it relates to trauma, and it explores Commitment
the verbal nature of post-traumatic stress. You’ll learn the importance of
mindfulness and acceptance in the ACT model, fnd out how to structure
sessions with your clients, and examine the problem of control. The section
concludes by introducing you to the idea of creative hopelessness as the
starting point for creating a new, workable life after trauma.
The bok’s second section ofers a practical, step-by-step clinical guide T herapy
to the six core ACT components in chronological order:
• Creative hopelessness
• The problem of control
• Wilingness and defusion for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic
• Self-as-context
• Valued living
Stress Disorder & Trauma-
• Committed action
Each chapter explains how to introduce these topics to clients who
sufer from PTSD, ilustrates each with case examples, and ofers homework Related Problems
for your clients to use between sessions.
A Practitioner’s Guide to Using
Mindfulness & Acceptance Strategies
ROBYN D. WALSER, PhD, is a psychologist, consultant, and work-
shop presenter. Her work focuses on clients suffering from post-traumatic
stress disorder.
DARRAH WESTRUP, PhD, is a psychologist with clinical and Includes
research expertise in post-traumatic stress disorder.
online link to
ROBYN D. WALSER, PhD
downloadable
DARRAH WESTRUP, PhD
client
worksheets FOREWORD BY
newharbingerpublications, inc.
www.newharbinger.com STEVEN C. HAYES, PhD
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for the Treatment of WALSER
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & Trauma-Related Problems WESTRUP
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To order, call toll free 1-800-748-6273 or visit our online bookstore at www.newharbinger.com
(V, MC, AMEX • prices subject to change without notice)
Te hardcover edition of this book came with a bound-in CD-ROM that contained
copies of the worksheets you’ll fnd in Acceptance and Commitment Terapy for the
Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma-Related Problems. All these
fles are available to you as a free download at: 23338.nhpubs.com
Tis outstanding book ofers clinicians a clear understanding of the traps of language and
the paradoxical implications of trying to control our internal experiences. Te authors
bring years of experience working with survivors of trauma and a comprehensive grasp of
their topic to this lucid explanation of acceptance and commitment therapy. Each of the
treatment components is presented clearly and succinctly, yet integrated into a comprehen-
sive whole. Illustrative case examples and session transcripts ofer a vivid picture of the
ACT approach.
—Chad LeJeune, Ph.D., author of Te Worry Trap: How to
Free Yourself from Worry and Anxiety Using Acceptance and
Commitment Terapy
Acceptance &
Commitment
T herapy
for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder &
Trauma-Related Problems
A Practitioner’s Guide to Using
Mindfulness & Acceptance Strategies
ROBYN D. WALSER, PhD
DARRAH WESTRUP, PhD
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Publisher’s Note
Tis publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter
covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, fnancial,
legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional
should be sought.
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Copyright © 2007 by Robyn D. Walser and Darrah Westrup
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Acquired by Catharine Sutker; Cover design by Amy Shoup; Illustrations by Susan Pickett;
Edited by Carole Honeychurch; Text design by Tracy Carlson
ISBN-13: 978-1-60882-333-8
Te Library of Congress has cataloged the hard cover edition as:
Walser, Robyn D.
Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma-related
problems : a practitioner’s guide to using mindfulness and acceptance strategies / Robyn D. Walser and
Darrah Westrup.
p. ; cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-57224-472-6 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-57224-472-0 (hardcover)
1. Post-traumatic stress disorder--Treatment. 2. Acceptance and commitment therapy. 3. Trauma--Treatment.
I. Westrup, Darrah. II. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic--therapy. 2. Cognitive Terapy--methods. 3. Stress Disorders,
Traumatic, Acute--therapy. WM 170 W222a 2007]
RC552.P67W374 2007
616.85’2106--dc22
2006102707
13 12 11
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Contents
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1 A cceptance, Mindfulness, and Trauma: Te Problem of Experiential
Avoidance and the Verbal Nature of Trauma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Mindfulness and Acceptance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
3 Preparing to Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
4 C reative Hopelessness: Finding the Place Where Something
New Can Happen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
5 C ontrol as the Problem: Experiential Avoidance and
Unworkable Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
6 Willingness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
7 Self-as-Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
8 Valued Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
9 Committed Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
10 Terapist and Treatment Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
11 Clinical Issues and Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Conclusion: Opening to Vitality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
iv
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all those who have provided support in putting this book
together, including friends and family. Most importantly, we each would like to thank
our husbands, Mark Castoreno and Andrew Aitken. Tey have supported and tol-
erated many hours devoted to writing at the temporary expense of hours devoted
to being together. We would like to acknowledge and thank Steven Hayes, whose
incredible mind and talent have provided us with this compassionate approach to
addressing human sufering. Finally, we would also like to thank our clients, who
have struggled through this therapy, changed their lives, and provided hope for others
who seek treatment for PTSD.
We would like to ofer a special thanks to Susan Pickett (Robyn’s wonderful
mom) for illustrating this book and for taking the time to put her artistic talents to
work. Tanks, Mom
