Before getting into my experiences with acceptance and mindfulness, I wanted to mention the specific psychotherapies and self-help resources I’ve been working with. I’m no expert in this field, but I’ve learned a lot even from my limited exposure to the key methods and practices.
I’ve become most familiar with four therapies that have been well supported by clinical evidence. Each of these has its gifted practitioners and interpreters who have made the ideas readily accessible. There are several additional training programs and self-help resources developed independently by individual practitioners that have a lot to offer.
Here are some of the most helpful websites, videos and books I’ve consulted.
1. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook
Mindfulnet: the mindfulness information website
Jon Kabat-Zinn Coming to Our Senses (video)
2. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Wikipedia)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (website)
Dr. Russ Harris on ACT (video)
Get Our of Your Mind and Into Your Life (book)
ACT Made Simple (book)
3. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (wikipedia)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook (book)
DBT Self-Help (website)
4. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (website)
The Mindful Way through Depression (book)
5. Tom Wooton:
Bipolar Advantage (website)
The Depression Advantage (book)
Bipolar IN Order – From Freedom To Self-Mastery (video)
6. Daniel Siegel:
Dr. Dan Siegel (website)
Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation (book)
Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation (video)
Are there other helpful resources you can add to this list?
This is a great list, John. Interestingly, I just had a physical last week with my primary care doctor, who is not formally part of my mental health care team (I have a separate team for that). When I mentioned anxiety, she told me about ACT and suggested “The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living” by Russ Harris with a foreward by Steven Hayes, who authored the ACT books you suggested above. It seems like we are running in some of the same depression management/prevention circles. Cheers!
Hi, Patty –
I understand that ACT is getting a lot of attention from therapists these days, as well it should. Russ Harris is the best popular interpreter of ACT and has a couple of other books I’ve ordered from the library. I may post a video interview of his in which he explains several basic ideas. Let me know what you think of the book.
John
The book is on its way to me in the mail. I will definitely circle around to you after I read it and let you know what I think.
I read this article on Beyond Meds today:
http://beyondmeds.com/2012/03/26/darkemo/
I thought of this article series reading it and its worth a read!
I can strongly recommend Compassion Focused Therapy to add to this list. Dr Paul Gilbert has written a couple of books on CFT. It is similar to the therapies listed in the article in that it is based on evidence-based psychological research, and has a mindfulness approach.
Hi, Andrew –
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I’m not familiar with this therapy, though I’ve read a bit about focusing. I’ll look for the Gilbert books soon. Perhaps you could let us know here how Compassion Focused Therapy has been helpful to you.
John
Thanks for the information. I recently read about ACT and mindfulness in a book, and found the the principles and theories very helpful and effective. I ahve been reading more and more about them to understand them better and get the maximum befit from them. If you can share your perspective and experience of ACT and mindfulness, it would be great.
Hi, vipul –
I’m still learning too. I hope you’ll let us know how ACT and mindfulness work for you.
John
John, I’m sorry to use your comment section to ask if you’d like to add my blog to your blog list, and I hope it’s not inappropriate to do so. I tried to contact you the other way but it seemed to be denying me access. Anyway, my blog is a daily personal growth journal focusing on the idea of effortlessness and acceptance as an antidote to striving and struggling with ourselves and with life. It sits well within the approach to depression you are currently exploring.
Kind regards,
Ann
Hi, Ann –
Sorry you had trouble with the comment form, but your message actually did reach me by that route. It’s fine to mention your blog here as well. There are so many good blogs that I felt I needed to do a separate post on them – and I’ll include yours in that. In the meantime, I’ll add you to the blog list in the resource section.
John
Thanks, John. I appreciate that.
Ann