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Some individuals with appearance-affecting conditions experience psychosocial challenges such as social anxiety and avoidance. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may offer a suitable approach for these challenges. This qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of patients with such appearance-related concerns, who had been through a one-to-one ACT-based intervention. It was expected that this would offer insights into the processes underpinning any positive impacts of therapy, potentially including ACT-specific elements. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six female patients of a specialist clinical psychology service, where an appearance-focused ACT-based intervention was delivered. Participants described their experiences of therapy, any impact it had on their lives, and to what they attributed any changes. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, a qualitative method suited to exploring individuals' lived experiences, was used. Four superordinate themes included: Progress in body confidence, developing ways to take control over (re)action, developing acceptance of appearance, and compassion. These processes emanated from the participants' relationship with the treating psychologist, as well as specific skills used in sessions, and were enacted through participants' engagement in life-fulfilling activities. One-to-one ACT-based therapy appeared to help expedite the process of accepting a changed appearance, which participants highlighted as an important step in adjusting to their appearance. Participants' account of their improved body confidence can be understood in terms of an existing model of body image coping, offering a theoretical framework worthy of exploration in relation to ACT processes for this population. Participants' accounts also convey the centrality of therapists expressing compassion and helping patients to cultivate self-compassion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brief procedures that reduce smoking behaviour may be useful in reaching the many people that do not seek help for smoking addiction. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine if one component of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), cognitive defusion, could be useful in reducing smoking behaviour in a sample of students. Methods: The study employed a between-subjects three-arm design. For one week, participants were asked to reduce their cigarette consumption. To aid them in their reduction, participants were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: the first received a defusion procedure, the second received an experiential avoidance procedure and a control condition received no procedure. For a second week, the instruction to reduce cigarette consumption was lifted. During both weeks participants were required to monitor their smoking behaviour via a tally diary system. Results: The defusion condition smoked significantly less than the control condition during week one and significantly less than the control and experiential avoidance conditions during week two. Conclusion: Results are discussed in terms of the potential utility of defusion in this domain, and the limitations of this preliminary research that would need to be addressed in future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guidance for schools regarding the promotion and enhancement of psychological wellbeing represents an invitation to intervene to promote effective, evidence-informed, whole-school approaches for school staff, students and parents. With its transdiagnostic approach and evidence from empirical literature, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is asserted as a coherent psychological model that has potential to support schools in developing effective and sustainable practices to promote psychological wellbeing. Three ways of applying ACT within educational contexts are discussed, demonstrating potential utility of the model: supporting school staff wellbeing; targeted interventions for children and young people; and a potential universal application, through the development of an ACT-based emotional health and wellbeing curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People may have a visibly different appearance due to various causes, such as congenital conditions, injury, disease, or medical treatment. Some individuals with a visible difference experience social anxiety and isolation, body image dissatisfaction, shame and self-stigma, psychological trauma, and challenges managing their condition. In this article, we synthesize the relevant literature and present the theoretical rationale for the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a third-wave behavioral therapy combining mindfulness skills and value-driven action, to those experiencing distress relating to an unusual or altered appearance. We also outline how ACT may be tailored to the specific considerations of this population and recommend next steps in researching its acceptability and clinical effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]