Table Of Content“Physical and emotional suffering bring to light the spiritual in most persons, whether
overtly expressed or not. Frontline care of the spiritual needs of the suffering usually falls
to spiritual care providers, such as clergy and pastoral counselors, yet does not escape the
responsibility of the ‘secular’ therapist. When spiritual care providers meet the patient,
the encounter can vary widely across the same faith tradition, not to mention different
traditions. In addition, persons suffering are both vulnerable to ill- advised comments by
these care providers, and resistant to anyone viewed as tampering with their faith.
Nieuwsma, Walser, and Hayes provide a guide into and through this most important yet
tenuous relationship— the application of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
The central tenants of ACT— openness, centeredness in the present, and engagement
through commitment— clarify this confusing experience for those suffering through
informed and empathic intervention by the spiritual care provider. ‘If I am suffering, what
am I to do with my faith?’ Recognize who you are, recognize where you are at this critical
stage in your life, and recognize and engage your core values. This approach is inclusive
yet does not devolve into a watered down generic spirituality. Rather it calls upon the
inner values and strengths that each faith tradition brings to the healing of the body and
the emotions.”
— Dan Blazer MD, MPH, PhD, J.P. Gibbons Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry
at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC
“This superb volume is practically the ‘bible’ on how to integrate religion and spirituality
into ACT. It is the first and last word on ACT in religious contexts and for professional
pastoral settings. Highly recommended.”
— Jeff Levin, PhD, MPH, professor of epidemiology and population health, and
director of the religion and population health program at Baylor University
“Nieuwsma, Walser, and Hayes have provided valuable guidance to spiritual care
providers— congregational clergy, laypersons, chaplains, and pastoral counselors— on
how to integrate the principles of ACT into their practice. Without trying to turn spiri-
tual care providers into therapists, they nonetheless show how ACT is consistent with
some current practices, and can be used to extend spiritual interventions even further.
Spiritual care providers benefit from having an evidence- based therapeutic model to draw
on. The authors and editors have held ACT like a jewel to the light, and shown how ACT
can be utilized across major faith traditions and in the full diversity of settings in which
spiritual care is provided.”
— Daniel H. Grossoehme, DMin, MS, BCC, associate professor of pediatrics
who focuses his research on ways in which faith influences health behaviors
in pediatric chronic diseases, and Staff Chaplain III serving the cystic fibrosis
team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
“ACT’s flexibility is marvelously on display in this adaptation for religious persons and
contexts.”
—T imothy A. Sisemore, PhD, director of research, and professor of
psychology and counseling at Richmont Graduate University, and author of
The Clinician’s Guide to Exposure Therapies for Anxiety Spectrum Disorders
“Evidence is mounting seemingly by the day supporting the relationship between meeting
spiritual and religious needs and positive health outcomes in both the psychological and
physical domains. However, there is a major shortage of tested interventions positioned to
help deliver these outcomes effectively and efficiently. This problem is compounded by
the long- standing barriers to partnering ‘spiritual’ and ‘psychological’ interventions to the
benefit of the whole human person. This book makes a major contribution to filling this
gap and overcoming these barriers. In doing so, it gives both spiritual care and mental
health professions a powerful new tool to help reduce suffering. Bravo!”
— The Rev. George Handzo, BCC, CSSBB, director of Health Services
Research and Quality at the HealthCare Chaplaincy Network
“ACT for Clergy and Pastoral Counselors is the perfect resource for clergy, pastoral educa-
tors, and mental health providers dedicated to continuing the legacy of Rev. Anton Boisen
and Richard C. Cabot of bridging mental health and spiritual care. The book is excellent
for clinical pastoral education (CPE) supervisors who want to introduce students to an
established, evidence- based practice that is patient centered, flexible, and values based.
Clinical staff chaplains will find it provides practical tools to help them work more effec-
tively as a member of mental health interdisciplinary teams. It’s an outstanding text for
any professional healthcare provider!”
— A. Keith Ethridge, MDiv, BCC, ACPE CPE Supervisor, former director of
the VA Chaplain Service, and associate director of Mental Health Integration
for Chaplain Service at the VA National Chaplain Center in Hampton, VA
“This is a timely and important book, making ACT accessible to spiritually sensitive pro-
viders, not only as an evidence- and philosophically- based practice, but one capable of
informing a range of theological perspectives to human suffering, in demonstrably practi-
cal ways. Both clinicians and spiritual care providers will find it a valuable resource.”
— John Raymond Peteet, MD, psychiatrist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
and Dana- Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, and associate professor
of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School
ACT for
Clergy and
Pastoral
Counselors
Using Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy to Bridge Psychological
and Spiritual Care
Edited by
JASON A. NIEUWSMA, P D
h
ROBYN D. WALSER, P D
h
STEVEN C. HAYES, P D
h
C P
ontext ress
An Imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Publisher’s Note
This 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, finan-
cial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a compe-
tent professional should be sought.
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Copyright © 2016 by Jason A. Nieuwsma, Robyn D. Walser, and Steven C. Hayes
Context Press
An imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
Cover design by Amy Shoup
Acquired by Catharine Meyers
Edited by Melanie Bell
Indexed by James Minkin
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file
Printed in the United States of America
18 17 16
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Printing
To Rev. Lee Copeland (1942– 2015),
whose pastoring and counseling embodied
practices of acceptance and commitment
— J.A.N.
To Susan Lynn Pickett (1945– 2008),
a bold and independent spirit, and my loving mother
— R.D.W.
To Carlo Weber, S. J., Irving Kessler, PhD,
and the other faculty at Loyola Marymount University
who had faith in me and understood my explorations
— S.C.H.
Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Foreword: Integrating Religion and Spirituality
with ACT xi
Preface: Bridging Spiritual Care and Evidence- Based
Psychotherapy xv
Foundations for Integrating ACT and Spirituality
Part 1:
Empirical Foundations for Integrating Religious and
1
Spiritual Practices with Psychotherapy 3
Jason A. Nieuwsma, PhD, Duke University Medical Center,
VA Mental Health and Chaplaincy
A Theological Lens for Integrating ACT
2
with Conceptions of Health, Healing, and
Human Flourishing 19
Joshua J. Knabb, PsyD, ABPP, California Baptist University;
Keith G. Meador, MD, ThM, MPH, Vanderbilt University,
VA Mental Health and Chaplaincy
Bridging ACT and Spiritual Care 41
3
Robyn D. Walser, PhD, University of California, Berkeley,
National Center for PTSD; Steven C. Hayes, PhD, University
of Nevada; Jason A. Nieuwsma, PhD, Duke University Medical
Center, VA Mental Health and Chaplaincy
ACT for Clergy and Pastoral Counselors
Linking ACT Core Processes and Spiritual Practices
Part 2:
Developing Awareness: Being Present and
4
Self- as- Context 63
Robyn D. Walser, PhD, University of California, Berkeley,
National Center for PTSD
Opening Up: Acceptance & Defusion 85
5
Hank Robb, PhD, ABPP, Private Practice, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Enhancing Religious and Spiritual Values Through
6
Committed Action 109
Jacob K. Farnsworth, PhD, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, Eastern Colorado Health Care System
ACT Across Different Religious Landscapes
Part 3:
ACT and Buddhism 129
7
Hiroaki Kumano, MD, PhD, Waseda University, Japan;
Phrayuki Naradevo, Wat Pa Sukato, Thailand
ACT and Islam 139
8
K. Fatih Yavuz, MD, Bakirkoy Mazhar Osman Mental Health
and Neurological Diseases Education and Research Hospital,
Istanbul, Turkey
ACT and Judaism: Suffering and the Commitment
9
to Valued Action 149
Barbara S. Kohlenberg, Ph.D., University of Nevada School
of Medicine
ACT and Christianity 163
10
Ingrid Ord, MSc
Ingrid Ord, MSc, Private Practice, Western Cape, South Africa
vi
Contents
ACT and the Religiously Unaffiliated 173
11
Steven C. Hayes, PhD, University of Nevada; Jason A.
Nieuwsma, PhD, Duke University Medical Center, VA Mental
Health and Chaplaincy; Robyn D. Walser, PhD, University of
California, Berkeley, National Center for PTSD
Applying ACT in Different Spiritual Roles
Part 4:
ACT and Clergy 185
12
Kent D. Drescher, MDiv, PhD, National Center for PTSD;
Daniel M. Saperstein, DMin, Presbytery of Lake Huron
ACT Core Processes in Faith- Based Counseling 203
13
Mark R. McMinn, PhD; Brian C. Goff, PhD;
Clinton J. Smith, MA, George Fox University
Using ACT in the Context of Health Care Chaplaincy 219
14
Jason A. Nieuwsma, PhD, Duke University Medical Center,
VA Mental Health and Chaplaincy; Joe McMahan, MDiv,
BCC, ACPE Supervisor, VA Southern Oregon
Rehabilitation Center
ACT for Military Chaplains 245
15
William C. Cantrell, MDiv, BCC, VA Mental Health and
Chaplaincy, US Navy Reserve; Jason A. Nieuwsma, PhD, Duke
University Medical Center, VA Mental Health and Chaplaincy
ACT for Clergy and Pastoral Counselors:
16
Addressing Spiritual Self- Care 263
Sky Kershner, MSW, DMin, Kanawha Pastoral Counseling
Center, Charleston, WV, West Virginia University, Charleston
Division; Jacob K. Farnsworth, PhD, Denver Veterans Affairs
Medical Center, Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Index 281
vii
