Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Working With Values: An Overview of Approaches and Considerations in Implementation

  • SI: Acceptance and Commitment Training in Behavior Analysis
  • Published:
Behavior Analysis in Practice Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Acceptance and commitment training (ACT) has received support for addressing a number of difficulties within clinical behavior analysis, organizational settings, caregiver support, and other behavior change efforts. ACT is distinguished from many other approaches in its emphasis on values: aspects of life that clients find meaningful and important. Working with values lets behavior analysts draw on the functional properties of language to influence behavior. These techniques can help organize behavior to be influenced by long-term reinforcers, even in the face of short-term aversives, which may arise in the course of behavior change. Many exercises have been developed within the values arena with various strengths and limitations. This article provides an overview of commonly used approaches and aspects relevant to implementation. Considerations related to scope of practice, social desirability in responding, and aversive private events are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Blackledge, J. T., & Hayes, S. C. (2006). Using acceptance and commitment training in the support of parents of children diagnosed with autism. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 28(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1300/j019v28n01_01.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciarrochi, J. V., & Bailey, A. (2008). A CBT practitioner’s guide to ACT: How to bridge the gap between cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. New Harbinger Publications.

  • Dahl, J., Plumb, J., Steward, I., & Lundgren, T. (2014). Ten steps to trying on a value. In J. A. Stoddard & N. Afari (Eds.), The big book of ACT metaphors: A practitioner’s guide to experiential exercises and metaphors in acceptance and commitment therapy (pp. 137–139). New Harbinger Publications.

  • Dixon, M. R., Hayes, S. C., Stanley, C., Law, S., & al-Nasser, T. (2020). Is acceptance and commitment training or therapy (ACT) a method that applied behavior analysts can and should use? The Psychological Record, 70(4), 559–579. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-020-00436-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, M. R., & Paliliunas, D. (2020). Clinical behavior analysis: Integrating ACT and ABA. In M. E. Levin, M. P. Twohig, & J. Krafft (Eds.), Innovations in acceptance and commitment therapy (pp. 16–29).

  • Eifert, G. H., & Forsyth, J. P. (2013). Acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety disorders: A practitioner’s treatment guide to using mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based behavior change strategies. New Harbinger Publications.

  • Flaxman, P. E., & Bond, F. W. (2010). A randomised worksite comparison of acceptance and commitment therapy and stress inoculation training. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(8), 816–820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2010.05.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foody, M., Barnes-Holmes, Y., Barnes-Holmes, D., Törneke, N., Luciano, C., Stewart, I., & McEnteggart, C. (2014). RFT for clinical use: The example of metaphor. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3(4), 305–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2014.08.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, E. R., Tarbox, J., & Coyne, L. (2018). Evaluating the effects of acceptance and commitment training on the overt behavior of parents of children with autism. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 7, 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2017.06.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Fox, E., Gifford, E. V., & Wilson, K. G. (2001). Derived relational responding as learned behavior. In S. C. Hayes, D. Barnes-Holmes, & B. Roche (Eds.), Relational frame theory: A post-Skinnerian account of language and cognition (pp. 21–49). Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

  • Hayes, S. C., Levin, M. E., Plumb-Vilardaga, J., Villatte, J. L., & Pistorello, J. (2013). Acceptance and commitment therapy and contextual behavioral science: Examining the progress of a distinctive model of behavioral and cognitive therapy. Behavior Therapy, 44(2), 180–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2009.08.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change. The Guilford Press.

  • LeJeune, J., & Luoma, J. B. (2019). Values in therapy: A clinician’s guide to helping clients explore values, increase psychological flexibility, and live a more meaningful life. Context Press.

  • Lerman, D. C., Iwata, B. A., & Wallace, M. D. (1999). Side effects of extinction: Prevalence of bursting and aggression during the treatment of self-injurious behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1999.32-1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Levin, M. E., Hayes, S. C., & Vilardaga, R. (2013). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Applying an iterative translational research strategy in behavior analysis. In G. J. Madden, W. V. Dube, T. D. Hackenberg, G. P. Hanley, & K. A. Lattal (Eds.), APA handbook of behavior analysis: Vol. 2. Translating principles into practice (pp. 455–479). https://doi.org/10.1037/13938-018

  • Little, A., Tarbox, J., & Alzaabi, K. (2020). Using acceptance and commitment training to enhance the effectiveness of behavioral skills training. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 16, 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.02.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundgren, T., & Larsson, A. (2018). Values choice and clarification. In S. C. Hayes & S. G. Hofmann (Eds.), Process-based CBT: The science and core clinical competencies of cognitive behavioral therapy (pp. 375–388). New Harbinger Publications.

  • Lundgren, T., Luoma, J., Dahl, J., Strosahl, K., & Melin, L. (2012). The Bull’s-Eye Values Survey: A psychometric evaluation. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19, 518–526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2012.01.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luoma, J. B., Hayes, S. C., & Walser, R. D. (2007). Learning ACT: An acceptance & commitment therapy skills training manual for therapists. New Harbinger Publications.

  • Merwin, R. M., Zucker, N. L., & Wilson, K. W. (2019). ACT for anorexia nervosa: A guide for clinicians. The Guilford Press.

  • Plumb, J. C., Stewart, I., Dahl, J., & Lundgren, T. (2009). In search of meaning: Values in modern clinical behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 32(1), 85–103. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03392177.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Polk, K. (2014). What the matrix is all about. In K. L. Polk & B. Schoendorff (Eds.), The ACT matrix: A new approach to building psychological flexibility across settings & populations (pp. 8–14). New Harbinger Publications.

  • Polk, K., Schoendorff, B., Webster, M., & Olaz, F. O. (2016). The essential guide to the ACT matrix: A step-by-step approach to using the ACT matrix model in clinical practice. Context Press.

  • Reilly, E. D., Ritzert, T. R., Scoglio, A. A. J., Mote, J., Fukuda, S. D., Ahern, M. E., & Kelly, M. M. (2019). A systematic review of values measures in acceptance and commitment therapy research. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 12, 290–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2018.10.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandoz, E. K., Boullion, G. Q., & Rachal, D. O. (2020). Second and third wave behavior therapy. In R. A. Rehfeldt, J. Tarbox, M. Fryling, & L. Hayes (Eds.), Applied behavior analysis of language and cognition (pp. 250–263). New Harbinger Publications.

  • Schoendorff, B., Webster, M., & Polk, K. (2014). Under the hood: Basic processes underlying the matrix. In K. L. Polk & B. Schoendorff (Eds.), The ACT matrix: A new approach to building psychological flexibility across settings & populations (pp. 15–38). New Harbinger Publications.

  • Schwabach, J., Bartley, J., & Polk, K. (2018). Sorting it out: A framework for increasing mental flexibility and valued action in athletes using the ACT matrix. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 10(4), 208–213. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2018.1549638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sidman, M. (1971). Reading and auditory-visual equivalences. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 14(1), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1044/jshr.1401.05.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sidman, M. (2018). What is interesting about equivalence relations and behavior? Perspectives on Behavior Science, 41(1), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-018-0147-8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, M. J. (2014). Writing your autobiography. In J. A. Stoddard & N. Afari (Eds.), The big book of ACT metaphors: A practitioner’s guide to experiential exercises and metaphors in acceptance and commitment therapy (pp. 136–137). New Harbinger Publications.

  • Stoddard, J. (2014). The classroom professor. In J. A. Stoddard & N. Afari (Eds.), The big book of ACT metaphors: A practitioner’s guide to experiential exercises and metaphors in acceptance and commitment therapy (pp. 144–145). New Harbinger Publications.

  • Strosahl, K., Robinson, P., & Gustavsson, T. (2012). Brief interventions for radical change: Principles and practice of focused acceptance and commitment therapy. New Harbinger Publications.

  • Tarbox, J., Campbell, V., & Pio, S. (2020a). Rule governed behavior and verbal regulation. In R. A. Rehfeldt, J. Tarbox, M. Fryling, & L. Hayes (Eds.), Applied behavior analysis of language and cognition (pp. 214–233). New Harbinger Publications.

  • Tarbox, J., Szabo, T. G., & Aclan, M. (2020b). Acceptance and commitment training within the scope of practice of applied behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-020-00466-3.

  • Torneke, N. (2010). Learning RFT: An introduction to relational frame theory and its clinical application. Context Press.

  • Torneke, N., Luciano, C., & Salas, S. V. (2008). Rule governed behavior and psychological problems. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 8(2), 141–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veage, S., Ciarrochi, J., Deane, F. P., Andresen, R., Oades, L. G., & Crowe, T. P. (2014). Value congruence, importance and success and in the workplace: Links with well-being and burnout amongst mental health practitioners. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3(4), 258–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2014.06.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vilatte, M., Vilatte, J. L., & Monestes, J. (2014). Bypassing the traps of language with experiential practice. In J. A. Stoddard & N. Afari (Eds.), The big book of ACT metaphors: A practitioner’s guide to experiential exercises and metaphors in acceptance and commitment therapy (pp. 13–28). New Harbinger Publications.

  • Whittingham, K., & Coyne, L. W. (2019). Acceptance and commitment therapy the clinician’s guide for supporting parents. Elsevier Academic Press.

  • Wilson, K. G., & DuFrene, T. (2009). Mindfulness for two: An acceptance and commitment therapy approach to mindfulness in psychotherapy. New Harbinger Publications.

  • Wilson, K. G., & Murrell, A. R. (2004). Values work in acceptance and commitment therapy: Setting a course for behavioral treatment. In S. C. Hayes, V. M. Follette, & M. Linehan (Eds.), Mindfulness and acceptance: Expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition

  • Wilson, K. G., & Sandoz, E. K. (2008). Mindfulness, values, and the therapeutic relationship in acceptance and commitment therapy. In S. Hick & T. Bein (Eds.), Mindfulness and the therapeutic relationship (pp. 89–106). Guilford Press.

  • Wilson, K. G., Sandoz, E. K., Kitchens, J., & Roberts, M. (2010). The Valued Living Questionnaire: Defining and measuring valued action within a behavioral framework. The Psychological Record, 60, 249–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03395706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 79799, USA

    Olga V. Berkout

Authors
  1. Olga V. Berkout
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olga V. Berkout.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

I have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Berkout, O.V. Working With Values: An Overview of Approaches and Considerations in Implementation. Behav Analysis Practice 15, 104–114 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00589-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00589-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation