ABSTRACT

The process of exploring the interplay between emotions, thoughts, and behaviour is common to many cognitive behavioural therapies. Using the principles of operant conditioning, the practitioner can see that the avoidant behaviour is negatively reinforced by the reduction in anxiety, increasing the likelihood of it happening more frequently in future. This behaviour can be seen as being under aversive control since it is motivated by a desire to experience less anxiety. Comparing acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) like this is akin to comparing apples and fruit, and is not a particularly helpful comparison. Just like in other forms of CBT, an ACT practitioner is interested in gathering information about the client’s thoughts, emotions, behaviours, physiological sensations, and the context in which these experiences occur. Functional analysis involves identifying relevant specific behaviours and carefully considering them in the context of their antecedents and the consequences that follow them.