The ACT Matrix: A New Approach to Building Psychological Flexibility Across Settings and Populations

281 Pages·2014·3.35 MB·English

by  Kevin L. Polk PhD

“I love the matrix. Sometimes you need a way of thinking about ACT that
is so focused on what is critical and so simple that you cannot forget it. That’s
the matrix. The number of situations that call for it is stunning: as a tool for dif-
ficult clients; when you feel lost in therapy; for an elevator speech with a busi-
ness person; to do a thirty-minute talk with a lay group; to guide a chat with
a school principal; and on and on. This is the first book on the matrix and
how to use it. Let me simplify it for you: Get it. Read it. Use it.”
—Steven C. Hayes, PhD, cofounder of ACT and professor of
psychology at the University of Nevada
“This book is a must-have for anyone interested in practicing or teaching
ACT.”
—JoAnne Dahl, PhD, professor of psychology at Uppsala
University, Sweden, and coauthor of ACT and RFT in
Relationships
“The matrix method of delivering ACT has experienced a rapid increase in
popularity in the last few years. The ACT Matrix provides a simple, mindful
framework for delivering ACT in a wide number of contexts, including areas
involving emotional disorders, eating disorders, addiction, pain, post-trau-
matic stress disorder (PTSD), and pro-social behavior. It can be used in the
clinic, in schools, in organizations, or any setting [where someone] would
benefit from increased psychological flexibility and resilience. If you would
like a quick, accessible way to learn and start practicing ACT, this book is for
you.”
—Joseph Ciarrochi, PhD, author of the best-selling teen book,
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens
“The matrix is transparent and user-friendly for both mental health and
medical providers working in brief treatment settings. As a matrix practitio-
ner, you will help many people, including those with addictions, chronic pain,
and relationship problems. Add The ACT Matrix to your bookshelf now and
benefit from Polk and Schoendorff’s numerous examples of how to use this
highly accessible tool.”
—Patricia J. Robinson, PhD, author of Real Behavior Change in
Primary Care and Brief Interventions for Radical Change
“In The ACT Matrix, editors Kevin Polk and Benjamin Schoendorff sim-
plify the entire ACT model into two basic distinctions. The first two chap-
ters of the book, written by the editors and collaborators, summarize the
matrix diagram by discriminating between sensory and mental experienc-
ing and between moving toward versus away from your values. These are
well-written and entertaining. I was unfamiliar with the matrix, and after
reading these introductory paragraphs, I had a good feel for what the work
would look and feel like with a client in the therapy room.
“The remaining chapters of the book apply to specific settings, pre-
senting problems and populations. I believe that you could skip to whatever
work you most commonly do, or read straight through—either would be
useful! These chapters are written by practitioners who are experts in each
of the areas, and the subtle details of how the matrix can be used differently
with each issue really shine through. I believe this will be a great addition
to many office bookshelves, and I would say to pick up a copy right away!”
—Amy R. Murrell, PhD, associate professor at the University
of North Texas
TAhe C T
m Atr i x
A New Approach to Building
Psychological Flexibility
Across Settings Populations
&
Edited by
KEviN L.
PoLK, PhD

BENjAmiN
SchoENDorFF,
mA, mSc
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, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or
counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
“The Bull’s Eye” and “Join the DOTS” from ACT MADE SIMPLE by Russ Harris,
copyright © 2009 Russ Harris. Used by permission of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Copyright © 2014 by Kevin L. Polk and Benjamin Schoendorff
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
All Rights Reserved
Acquired by Tesilya Hanauer; Cover design by Sara Christian;
Edited by Jasmine Star; Text design by Tracy Marie Carlson;
Indexed by James Minkin
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The ACT matrix : a new approach to building psychological flexibility across settings
and populations / edited by Kevin L. Polk, PhD, and Benjamin Schoendorf, MSc, MPs.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60882-923-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-60882-924-8 (pdf e-book)
-- ISBN 978-1-60882-925-5 (epub) 1. Acceptance and commitment therapy. 2. Mental
illness--Psychological aspects. 3. Adaptability (Psychology) I. Polk, Kevin L., 1955- II.
Schoendorf, Benjamin. III. Title: Acceptance and commitment therapy matrix.
RC489.A32A28 2014
616.89’1425--dc23
2013050528
The love of my life, Mary Alyce Burkhart, PhD. Her love,
support, and collaboration lift me each and every day.
— Kevin Polk
To all the people who have made it their life’s mission to ferry
others through the dark straits of their suffering over into a
life worth living. Ours is a sacred calling, and my fervent hope
is that you’ll find within these pages a seaworthy vessel in
which to safely steer through the waters of this scary,
wondrous, and ultimately beautiful life.
— Benjamin Schoendorff

CONTENTS
Introduction: What the Matrix Is All About . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Kevin Polk
PART 1
Understanding the Matrix
1 The Psychological Flexibility Warm- Up . . . . . . . . . . 7
Kevin Polk
2 Under the Hood: Basic Processes Underlying
the Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Benjamin Schoendorff, Mark Webster, and Kevin Polk
PART 2
Populations and Settings
3 ACT for the Masses: Using the Matrix with the
General Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Aisling Curtin
4 You, Me, and the Matrix: A Guide to
Relationship- Oriented ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Benjamin Schoendorff and Marie- France Bolduc
5 Rolling Out the Matrix, Rolling Back Addiction . . 77
Mark Webster
6 The Pain Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Amanda Adcock Vander Lugt
7 ACT in Digestible Bites: The Matrix and
Eating Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Florian Saffer
The ACT Matrix
8 Out of the Hole: The Matrix with Chronic
and Severe Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Rob Purssey
9 Something You Can Never Forget: The Matrix
and PTSD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Kevin Polk and Mary Alyce Burkhart
10 Spot the Matrix: Psychological Flexibility in
Private Psychiatric Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Jean- Michel Vincent
11 Casing the Matrix: A Tool for Case
Conceptualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Benjamin Schoendorff
PART 3
The Matrix Outside the Box
12 The Matrix Goes to School: Promoting
Psychological Flexibility in Education . . . . . . . . . . 207
Phil Tenaglia
13 In Business: The Matrix for Team Building
and Professional Stress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
Annick Seys
14 The Matrix, Evolution, and Improving Work-
Group Functioning with Ostrom’s Eight Design
Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235
Kevin Polk
Conclusion: Going Viral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .251
Kevin Polk and Benjamin Schoendorff
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257
vi
Foreword
Since I arrived at the University of Mississippi in 2000, I have run an
acceptance and commitment therapy seminar every other spring. The
seminars are odd. I host them at my home. They are typically composed
of seven or eight graduate students. I use what one might generously
describe as a fluid syllabus. (That is, it can really only be written after the
class has happened.) Ole Miss has allowed me considerable latitude to
use these seminars as a place for intellectual and experiential play. We
pursue interesting topics. And, if we see something new and interesting,
we drop everything and chase it.
In the spring of 2007, I had just placed one of my graduate students
at the Togus Veterans Administration Medical Center. Kevin Polk, who
would be my student’s supervisor, was traveling to Mississippi and asked
about stopping in Oxford. The timing was right, so it was a natural fit to
have Kevin come and talk to my grad students about the ways he was
using ACT in groups of veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress
disorder.
I am not quite sure what Kevin thought when he arrived at my house.
He found a living room full of students, a couple of press pots of danger-
ously strong coffee brewing in the kitchen, a six-month-old baby, and
nursing grad-student mom. We were all there, interested and ready to
learn. I am sure it seemed odd to someone who thought he was visiting a
“class,” but it was entirely typical for my little training group.
I briefly introduced Kevin and gave him the floor. What followed
was a description of ACT in groups that was unlike anything I’d ever