Quick Guide: ACT and Exposure Therapy for PTSD by Psychotherapy Academy

In our clinical case "ACT for PTSD", Dr. Sonja Batten talks about a client presenting with heightened anxiety symptoms who met the criteria for PTSD and panic disorder. She applies the ACT framework to conceptualize the case and develop a treatment structure based on the hexaflex model. This model includes behavioral tracking, acceptance metaphors, values clarification, and differing levels of exposure.

*Learn more about our course "ACT for PTSD" and earn 1.25 CE credits by clicking HERE

 

The following 3 tools were created by our editors and are part of our course "ACT for PTSD"; you will find the files for download at the end of the page for free:

 

<> ACT for PTSD: Grounding Skills for Seeking Safety

Learn practical exercises for the three categories of grounding skills – physical, mental, and soothing – and understand the role of purposeful distraction.

Here are the most important highlights of the text:

1. Grounding skills are basic coping techniques for trauma survivors and are divided into physical, mental, and soothing grounding.
2. Avoidance is problematic when the individual does it in autopilot mode rather than being mindful.
3. The immediate goal of grounding skills is that the client can get through an upsetting moment without worsening the situation.

* Here you can watch the video and access the full content: ACT for PTSD: Grounding Skills for Seeking Safety

 

<> ACT Work on Trauma Memories: Exposure Hierarchy

Explore the differences between traditional and ACT-based exposure, and learn how to apply the exposure hierarchy to a client with PTSD.

Here are the most important highlights of the text:

1. Use an exposure hierarchy to prioritize a client’s traumatic events by level of distress from lowest to highest.
2. Deborah chose to use written exposure due to her journalism background, rather than oral or via recordings.
3. Traditional exposure is based on habituation and attenuation of distress, whereas ACT-based exposure focuses on awareness and mindfulness.

* Here you can watch the video and access the full content: ACT Work on Trauma Memories - Exposure Therapy

<> ACT for PTSD: Nightmare Rehearsal Treatment

Dr. Sonja Batten applies nightmare rehearsal treatment to Deborah, a client with PTSD. This exposure helps create a healthy distance from the traumatic event.

Here are the most important highlights of the text:

1. Nightmare rehearsal treatment is a type of exposure that helps reduce the severity and frequency of nightmares.
2. It involves writing and rewriting a nightmare’s content in detail and changing one thing that can make the client aware that it’s not real.
3. This technique can be adapted to fit the client’s needs; for example, when nightmares are about actual traumatic events and the outcome cannot be changed without invalidating the client.

* Here you can watch the video and access the full content: ACT for PTSD - Nightmare Rehearsal Treatment

 

Learn more about our course "ACT for PTSD" and earn 1.25 CE credits by clicking HERE