ABSTRACT
Obstructions are a normal and natural part of the change process, but at times the balance can tip to the point when forward progress is impossible. One solution is to use the ‘On Track, Off Track’ exercise as a method to proactively manage client obstructions when they arise. Essentially, the exercise involves the practitioner and client ‘catching’ obstructions as they occur live in the session and labelling them. The practitioner first asks permission to run the exercise. The exercise also allows for experiential learning about defusion, but also about mindful acceptance as the client is repeatedly invited back into the present moment to address the task at hand and contact the discomfort that is presented. There is also a strong values and committed action component as the therapist helps the client to make choices based on what is important, not just on the basis of what arrives in the moment.
