Amrod, J., & Hayes, S. C. (2014). ACT for the incarcerated. Forensic CBT: A handbook for clinical practice (pp. 43 – 65). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported approach concerned with the context and function of psychological events. ACT may be characterized as a ?contextual cognitive behavioral therapy? designed to produce psychological flexibility and engagement in value-based actions. The present chapter outlines the conceptual basis, therapeutic stance and specific interventions of ACT in terms of appropriate and effective therapeutic work with an incarcerated population. Individual and group interventions are designed to foster experiential acceptance, cognitive defusion, clarity of value choices, committed action, perspective taking and present moment focus. These six processes are elucidated in terms of their relevance for criminal justice settings.