A Metaphor for Committed Actions in ACT: Where the Rubber Hits the Road
MidAmerican Psychological Institute
Pickslyde Consulting
Key Points
- Committed action can be metaphorically viewed as where the rubber hits the road in ACT.
- ACT is listed on the American Psychological Association’s Society of Clinical Psychology Research-Supported Treatment List.
- ACT utilizes evidence-based, applied behavioral science and can supplement other empirically supported treatment plans.
Materials Downloads
Transcript
Committed action is behaving in the service of chosen values even when there are difficult personal psychological concerns that arise during such behavior.
Committed action is where the rubber hits the road in ACT. It is a small part of the model but it is a crucial part. The metaphor where the rubber hits the road calls on us to imagine ACT like it is an automobile. And there are many important parts to the vehicle, the carburetor, the steering wheel, the fan belts, the front seat. And no matter how complex and well taken care of these components are, this car will go nowhere without a very small part of the car and that is where the tire is in contact with the asphalt or in other words, where the rubber hits the road. It can be a fraction of the whole car but without it, there is no traction, there is no advancement and you don’t get to where you want to be. Committed action is where the rubber hits the road in ACT. It can be a very small component but it is critical for measurable success in therapy. In order to effectively understand committed action in ACT, let’s revisit the definition from module 1.
