Enhance your clinical practice with this comprehensive talk on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for South African psychologists. Explore the crucial ACT processes of cognitive fusion vs. defusion and experiential avoidance vs. acceptance. Understand how these influence client behaviour and learn practical, evidence-based interventions to foster psychological flexibility and values-directed action within the South African mental health landscape.
This second course in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy series explores cognitive fusion versus defusion and experiential avoidance versus acceptance, and is accredited by the HPCSA for CPD points. It starts from the observation that clients get stuck when thoughts function as facts and difficult inner experiences feel like something to control or escape. Delivered in two parts, each pairing theory with practical clinical application, it shows South African psychologists and counsellors how to help clients, and themselves, move towards defusion, acceptance and willingness. It distinguishes acceptance from resignation or passive tolerance and closes by placing both processes within the wider ACT model of psychological flexibility.
Patients often become stuck not because they do not know what is happening, but because thoughts begin to function as facts and difficult internal experiences become something they feel compelled to control, suppress or escape. This talk explores two central ACT processes: cognitive fusion vs cognitive defusion and experiential avoidance vs acceptance, showing how they influence behaviour, choice and psychological flexibility.
The talk is delivered in two 30-minute parts. Each part combines 15 minutes of theory with 15 minutes of practical clinical application. Part One focuses on recognising fusion and helping clients, and ourselves, move towards defusion. Following a short movement break, Part Two explores experiential avoidance and how to support movement towards acceptance and willingness. The talk concludes with an integrated overview of both processes and their place within the wider ACT model.
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
This talk is part of a wider series on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Each talk takes one core ACT process and turns it into something clinically clear, practical and usable.
Continue with the other talks in the series to build a more complete understanding of psychological flexibility and strengthen how you apply ACT in practice.
Explore the full ACT series and continue your learning.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Part 3. Lack of Contact with Values vs Values and Inaction/Impulsivity vs Committed_Action