EXPERIENTIAL AVOIDANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ACCEPTANCE PROCESSES IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOVERY FROM ENDURING MENTAL ILLNESS
AUTHORS: • VINICIUS R. SIQUEIRA, BA (UNIPAR – BR), Specialist (Lato Sensu) in Behavior Analysis and Functional Analytic Therapy (UNIPAR – BR). University of Wollongong, Psychology Masters Research Student.
• LINDSAY G. OADES, B.A.(Hons) Adel, PhD (Woll), MBA with Distinction (Wollongong) - Senior Lecturer (Clinical Psychology). University of Wollongong.
INSTITUTION: School of Psychology & Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, University of Wollongong - AU.
ABSTRACT of Research:
• Objective: The concept of Recovery has been generating significant interest in mental health contexts, as has the new behavioral change approach of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) within psychotherapy contexts. This study examines the role of psychological acceptance (PA) and experiential avoidance (EA), two core concepts of ACT, in the psychological recovery process of people with enduring mental illness.
• Methods: Forty-five published recovery narratives were analyzed seeking to investigate the frequency and role of EA and PA given by those narrating their recovery journey. Two case studies were used to illustrate how EA and PA occur within narratives and how their use may vary across different stages of psychological recovery.
• Results: Observing the frequency and role of PA in self-reported successful recovery in the publish narratives and its appearance in higher stages of recovery in the case studies, it can be seen a possible corroboration of data that lead to the idea that the prevalence of PA in a person’s recovery seemly correlates with positive developments in ones journey of recovery. Conversely EA is seen through its frequency and role in the publish narratives and case studies as possibly associated with failures when dealing with aspects of mental illness.
• Conclusions: This study showed preliminary data on PA and EA in the recovery process, however further quantitative research is required to support and validate the initial findings of this study.
(For more information on the research please be free to contact: Vinicius Siqueira at ssnezao@yahoo.com.br)