Relational Frame Therapy (RFT)

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Recommended: Major contributor of behaviorist theory

ACT is a psychological intervention that applies mindfulness and acceptance processes, and commitment and behavior change processes to the creation of psychological flexibility (Elkins, 2017a; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2016). It is based on modern behavioral psychology, which includes Relational Frame Therapy (RFT). ACT teaches individuals to handle pain more effectively by using mindfulness and teaches valued living (Elkins, 2017a; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2016).
ACT has three theories. These include (Elkins, 2017a; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2016):
1. Functional Contextualism (FC)
FC is a philosophy, which grounds ACT, RFT and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) (Elkins, 2017a; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2016). RFT is a behavioral theory …show more content…

Through scientific study, behaviorists discovered a range of powerful methods including exposure, reinforcement, shaping, extinction and classical and operant conditioning that have influenced human behavior in both public and private settings. There were three waves of behaviorism. The “first wave” focused on overt behavioral change utilizing operant and classical conditioning. The “second wave” emphasized on challenging or disputing irrational, dysfunctional, negative or erroneous thoughts and focused on private behaviors like thoughts and feelings through CBT. The “third wave” of behavioral therapies are known as ACT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) and several others. All of these emphasize on acceptance and mindfulness in public and private behavior (Elkins, 2017a; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, …show more content…

An “event” is a private experience an individual has including a thought, a feeling, a memory or anything that can be experienced through your five senses. These events related based on social convention. RFT explains the origins of our verbal abilities. At times, we take literal meanings of language when they are truly based on arbitrary relations, which causes pain. To solve this pain, we over problem solve and are engrossed in thinking and lose contact. This then leads to psychological inflexibility (Elkins, 2017a; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson,

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