Using Interoceptive Exposure in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Strengthen Psychological Flexibility

In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), exposure involves creating contexts in which clients struggle to help them expand behavioral repertoires and is an effective method for strengthening psychological flexibility (Thompson, Twohig, & Luoma, 2021; Thompson, Pilecki, & Chan, 2023). Interoceptive exposure is a subset of exposure therapy focused on bodily sensations. In interoceptive exposure, clients practice discreet exercises such as hyperventilation and spinning to expand behavioral repertoires while remaining in contact with uncomfortable sensations. ACT-informed interoceptive exposure can be useful in clients with whom bodily sensations trigger a behavior narrowing response, such as panic disorder, OCD, and illness anxiety disorder (Meuret et al., 2012; Twohig et al., 2018).  

In this hands-on workshop, participants will engage in interoceptive exposure exercises to contact core ACT processes. Through case presentations and role-play, the presenters will demonstrate how to adjust interoceptive exposure exercises to balance evoking contextual cues that narrow psychological flexibility (e.g., bodily sensations, thoughts) with client willingness, and then to strengthen ACT processes by gradually increasing the difficulty while matching client willingness.