ABSTRACT
Increasing mindful, present moment, awareness and the ability to take an observer perspective on one’s internal experience are key processes to develop in the early stages of using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) with a client. An increased ability to notice self-related thoughts implies the opportunity to take a more distanced perspective on them. There are many techniques in ACT that work to foster the observing self perspective. A notable example, widely promoted by Russ Harris, is the ‘Sky and Weather’ exercise, which utilises an idea from the Buddhist author, Pema Chodron. The sky is the container for the weather. It is the context for it, or the place where it happens, and no matter how violent the weather might be the sky cannot be damaged by it. Clients will offer some description of the weather, at which point one can engage them in a discussion of how changeable the weather can be.
