ABSTRACT
Central to the theory is the notion that we should work to change our thinking when the content of it is unwelcome. This idea has become more and more mainstream, adding another dimension to separate cultural beliefs about the benefits of thinking ‘positively’. Whilst it might start out in a compassionate place inside of us, there is a danger that it comes across as invalidating if not delivered carefully. Imagine experiencing the thought, ‘I am worthless’. On its own, and without knowing the context, this event has little predictive validity or particular power to influence behaviour, although the context in which it occurs can markedly influence how it functions. Context is just as important in therapeutic interactions. One task of an Acceptance & Commitment Therapy practitioner is to maintain the focus of their work on influencing the context in which clients experience their thoughts, perhaps through working on the processes of acceptance and defusion, and resist getting drawn into unhelpful discussions about the content.
