This book was recommended to me by a practicing clinical psychologist. I was very disappointed with it. The author claims to be targeting both professional and retail readers but in my opinion doesn't succeed in doing either very well.
It is a fairly long book but the essence of what the author has to say could have easily been conveyed in a well edited 100 pages with perhaps an extensive appendix of the many ACT techniques that he mentions throughout the book with a summary of evidence for the claims about these techniques. For a book claiming professional and scientific integrity, proper and credible proof of claims was sadly lacking.
Early in the book, Heyes states that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is heavily based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). He further states that the extensions to CBT which ACT offers are based on ancient spiritual practices such as meditation and mindfulness. These claims seem reasonable and would be interesting if properly explored. Instead we get dozens of stories about these techniques but little in the way of valid evidence to support most of the them.
More conservative research about ACT techniques suggest that they work a little better than conventional CBT in some situations and a little worse in others.
As the book progresses, Heyes' claims become increasingly ambitious. Towards the end he is more or less saying that ACT will cure anything from warts to cancer.
A Liberated Mind: The Essential Guide to ACT
Audible Audiobook
– Unabridged
| Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
Read & Listen
Switch between reading the Kindle book & listening to the Audible narration with Whispersync for Voice.
Get the Audible audiobook for the reduced price of $12.49 after you buy the Kindle book.
Get the Audible audiobook for the reduced price of $12.49 after you buy the Kindle book.
People who viewed this also viewed
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries
Mr. S. Alidina
Psychological flexibility matters more than anything else. This book is the guide.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2019Verified Purchase
Psychological flexibility matters more than anything else. This book is the guide.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2019
This book is based on a wonderful evidence based therapy and training process called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It's written by the originator of ACT, so it's a definitive guide which I think will be a classic.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2019
I read a fair amount of books. This is the first book in years in which I read each page carefully and filled with notes and underlined sentences. Usually I just read on Kindle but the contents of this book seemed too precious to me to just scan read it. It surprised me too.
Steven has through his research with his colleagues discovered fundamental insights into the way the human mind works and why it causes itself so much suffering. So whether you are suffering from too much stress, anxiety, depression or just experience the challenging ups and downs of life, you will learn something new within these pages for sure. There's definitely lots of new insights in here.
I hope many therapists read this book. I know there are many forms of therapy. But I personally believe in evidence-based therapies rather than approaches that feel good but may or may not work in the long run.
The reason I say this is because there seems to be a good quality evidence base for ACT. If it didn't have that, I wouldn't be so interested. And some of the stories of the research work they've done on ACT and the findings are very exciting!
There are also some fundamental differences in the way ACT has been researched compared to CBT. ACT is based on lab research rather than just clinical studies so it arguably has a more solid basis to its findings and possibility of wider ranging applications beyond the therapist room and out into offices, schools, communities, prisons and hospitals.
The book is written partly in a story style and partly includes powerful exercises that have been well tested and found to work. There's a lot of content and it's well organised.
Ultimately this book is about the power of improving your psychological flexibility which may be scientifically speaking the most well-founded quality of humans to measure and improve for our mental and emotional well-being. These are developed through 6 skills which can be considered as 6 pivots, as a small shift in mindset and energy can lead to their flourishing rather than a lifetime of effort.
If you want to read something different and like to be challenged and love the need for evidence based work and want to do exercises that have been found to work for others and want to create a rich, full and meaningful life, this book will probably be a great fit for you.
Through reading this book I've managed to discover some hidden thoughts that were holding me back and feel I'm freer from them now. And have taken some brave new steps in my life that I'm proud of. Not just just changing my mindset but taking action too.
Buy and read this book slowly and carefully and begin the journey to an authentic, meaningful life. 🙏🏽
Images in this review
Elles
Hard going
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 September 2020Verified Purchase
Hard going
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 September 2020
This is a 400 Page thesis. I chose this as it’s by Dr Hayes the originator of ACT. I have only read 100 pages (of part 1) but it’s been a hard slog & all about how they got to creating ACT & how the fusion of Dr Hayes personal experiences with anxiety & his research brought movement in from CBT. I tried skipping to part 2 but found too many terms from part 1 I wasn’t familiar with. I’m hoping parts 2&3 will be more helpful when I finally get there & that I’ll regret my 3star rating.....Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 September 2020
There is also a minor air of “but of course, behavioural/ humanistic psychologists knew this & no one else did” which just grates slightly.
Currently part 1 is a great book for a psychology student but not for a depressed mother.... if you are the latter, I’d say opt for a lighter introduction/ handbook for ACT!
Images in this review
Sean Ferguson
An Excellent and Thorough New Approach
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 September 2019Verified Purchase
Tony Burton
ACT explained in a highly user-friendly way...buy it, use it, benefit from it.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 September 2019Verified Purchase
Joseph Augustine
We hurt where we care...so there!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 October 2020Verified Purchase
