ACT Books

The Happiness Trap | Russ Harris

Many find that it presents the ACT concepts in a clear, concise manner. Too many of us are caught in the happiness trap: we think that we should be happy all or most of the time, and we believe that we can control the circumstances of our lives in order to avoid unpleasant experiences. Using the principles of ACT, Harris offers key concepts and specific techniques for escaping the “happiness trap” to create a full, rich, and meaningful life. 

Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life | Steven Hayes

This workbook teaches you how to learn life-enhancing behavior strategies that work to further the goals you value most. The realization that painful feelings cannot be controlled will open you to the possibility of fully emotional living. Once present, engaged, and aware, you can begin to build a new life for yourself filled with significance and meaning.

Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong: A Guide to Life Liberated from Anxiety | Kelly Wilson & Troy DuFrene

Dr. Wilson, an original architect of ACT, writes skillfully and compassionately about anxiety and how to stop struggling with it.

Stuff That Sucks | Ben Sedley

This is humorous, honest application of ACT for adolescents. Having said that, it is relevant and accessible and is good in the hands of people of all ages.

ACT Videos

Russ Harris Presentations

About ACT in simple terms | Russ Harris | Interview with Zara

The struggle switch | Russ Harris | Short animation

The choice point | Russ Harris | Short animation

ACT-Themed TED Talks and Other Videos

Psychological flexibility: How love turns pain into purpose | Steven Hayes | TEDxUniversity of Nevada

The secret to self control | Jonathan Bricker | TEDxRainier

Create extraordinary interactions | Mavis Tsai | TEDxEverett

Finding your passion by inhaling meaningfulness | Steven Hayes | Interview with Rachel Collis

Using the ACT Matrix to help you to be the person you want to be… more often | Rachel Collis

Animated ACT Metaphors

Passengers on the Bus

Struggling with Internal Hijackers?

The Unwanted Party Guest

ACT Podcast & ACT Interview

For the first year of Beyond Well, Dr. Jenna LeJeune and I co-hosted this podcast, along with author and radio personality Sheila Hamilton, and brought a decidedly ACT-friendly perspective to our conversations with guests. These were usually well-known authors, musicians, etc. who shared their own personal story of struggle and the ways they had come to understand and manage those struggles. Our aim was to have very human and normalizing conversations about psychological struggles that were both entertaining and helpful.

Hear Sheila Hamilton interview me about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on KINK’s Speaking Freely. Sheila is a five-time Emmy Award winning journalist, radio personality, advocate, and the author of All the Things We Never Knew.  

Other ACT Therapists

At times, my schedule will be full, and I’ll be unable to accept new clients. Other issues (e.g., location, schedule, insurance) might make working with me impractical. With these realities in mind, here is a searchable database to find an ACT therapist. (This list is not an endorsement of any one therapist.)

Evergreen Clinical

I founded Evergreen Clinical (EGC) in 2004. It was created out of a desire to provide services to those without insurance and thus had limited options for receiving care. The original model was simple, and it has remained so for over two decades: Keep fees very low by keeping expenses very low. EGC is an IRS-recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization, so donations are tax-deductible. Tax ID: 26-0685758.  You can learn more at evergreenclinical.org.