1. ContexaRFTaFlex Jerold Hambright, Ph.D. Kevin Polk, Ph.D. and John Agee, Ph.D. Veterans Affairs Hospital Togus, Maine USA

2. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” ACT is based on a philosophy of science called Functional Contextualism. From this point of view we are always answering the question, “What works.” ACT: Philosophy, Theory & Practice

3. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values But to answer the question, “What works?” we need to know what we are working toward. In ACT the answer is…

4. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values And the best time for learning what works for values is the… Present Moment

5. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment And how we learn in the present moment is explained by… Relational Frame Theory (RFT)

6. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment Relational Frame Theory (RFT) RFT shows that as babies we start constantly learning through Experience

7. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Experience And learning through experience involves… Relational Framing

8. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Experience Relational Framing Relational Framing as babies leads to a new kind of learning through… Language & Cognition

9. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Experience Relational Framing Language & Cognition Learning through language and cognition is secondary to learning through experience. It’s cool, but it has a price. At times it interferes with learning what works for values and we get stuck using solutions that don’t work for what we value. The solutions instead lead us to suffering. For people who are stuck and suffering we have… Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

10. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Experience Relational Framing Language & Cognition Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) In ACT the work of “letting go” of solutions that work for suffering instead of values is called… Defusion

11. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Experience Relational Framing Language & Cognition Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Defusion Part of defusion work is being fully aware of yourself in the present moment. That awareness is called… Self as Context

12. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Experience Relational Framing Language & Cognition Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) DefusionSelf as Context Self-as-context awareness allows us to return to effective learning through experience by taking… Committed Action

13. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Experience Relational Framing Language & Cognition Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) DefusionSelf as ContextCommitted Action By taking actions toward values while being fully aware we learn… Acceptance

14. Functional Contextualism: “What works?” Values Present Moment Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Experience Relational Framing Language & Cognition Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) DefusionSelf as ContextCommitted Action Acceptance And by taking committed actions toward values while being fully aware of ourselves in the present moment we return to a healthy level of… Psychological Flexibility