Recognizing common clinical mistakes in ACT: A quick analysis and call to awareness

• Watching other people do ACT well can certainly help but self-practice is required.
• A value is not a better rule to govern behavior, flexibly choosing behaviors is key.
• ACT is not mechanical or a therapy that is applied to the client.
• Therapists addressing personal inflexibility develop solid ACT therapy.

Developing and understanding, both verbally and experientially, the flexible use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in real-world application may pose challenges for both therapists new to the intervention and seasoned ACT therapists alike. Some of the subtleties of distinguishing the content of behavior from the function of behavior and developing facility with ACT core processes in these areas may, at times, prove difficult. Clinical supervision with proficient ACT therapists can assist in addressing some of these issues. Although there are a number of ‘sticking points’ that therapists new to ACT may encounter, we explore several of the most common here. Each clinical sticking point can serve as a ‘heads up’ to therapists new to ACT, followed by possible ACT consistent paths designed to support the therapist in overcoming common barriers. Although targeted to new ACT therapists, the reminders are appropriate for ACT practitioners of all levels of clinical experience, as well as supervisors providing training in ACT.