ACT Components and Goals for Trauma Survivors
Booz Allen
Department of Veterans Affairs
Yale University
University of Nevada, Reno
Key Points
- There are specific nuances to the treatment when it’s provided to trauma survivors.
- ACT has its own unique applications to shame, guilt, grief, and exposure-based treatments.
- Learning the principles of successful committed action is useful for preparing clients to maintain and continue progress after leaving therapy.
Materials Downloads
ACT for Trauma Online Training
Expand your ACT tools to treat clients experiencing PTSD and trauma issues.
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Transcript
Welcome to Module 7, where we’ll go over special topics and tips for working with trauma survivors using ACT. Regardless of the specific presenting problem, there are many components of ACT that are rolled out and applied similarly across patient populations. Throughout this course, I have provided examples of how to execute the core ACT components in a nuanced way for survivors of various types of trauma.
There are also though some very specific topics that I’d like to go over with you that are more unique to the presenting problems of trauma survivors, including characteristics that are particular to specific types of trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse or the experience of being a combatant in a war zone.
Batten, S. V. (2011). Essentials of acceptance and commitment therapy. SAGE Publications Ltd.,Batten, S. V., Orsillo, S. M., & Walser, R. D. (2005). Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. In S. M. Orsillo & L. Roemer (Eds.), Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to anxiety: Conceptualization and treatment (p. 241–269). Springer Science + Business Media.
These issues relate to topics such as guilt, shame, and self-identity as well as particular types of symptomatology, including anger, depression, and suicidality.
Batten, S. V. (2011). Essentials of acceptance and commitment therapy. SAGE Publications Ltd.,Batten, S. V., Orsillo, S. M., & Walser, R. D. (2005). Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. In S. M. Orsillo & L. Roemer (Eds.), Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to anxiety: Conceptualization and treatment (p. 241–269). Springer Science + Business Media.