Mutterlose, Frank (2015). Introduction. In: Frank Mutterlose (2015). ACT as Brief Therapy – Brief Therapy as ACT. Mind the Gap: Transformations. Tübingen: DGVT Verlag.
This introduction to “ACT as Brief Therapy – Brief Therapy as ACT” blazes a trail that runs beween experiential orientation and the formation of differences. The brief therapeutic version of ACT (FACT) is designed as both starting point and vehicle for this small journey through concepts, practice and case studies of this therapeutic approach. Little by little, the ‘intrigues of meaning’ are left behind in order to shape the process of experiential reference. Guiding orientations are: Life-affirming symptoms; an upside-down diagnostic; a leaky therapy concept and a confusing treatment process. The framework of the therapeutic intervention not only opens doors but also stands in front of them, hangs around, chills out or even camps out; and finally there is the therapeutic relationship, which models itself and obeys the magic rules of gift exchange.
Mutterlose, Frank (2015). ACT as Brief Therapy – Brief Therapy as ACT. Mind the Gap: Transformations. Tübingen: DGVT Verlag (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verhaltenstherapie) (will be published this year).
ACT has much in common with the brief therapies. ACT utilizes not only the solution orientated approach, but also the criteria of acceptance, presence and flexible context management as well as a large number of techniques such as the use of metaphors, sub modalities, the central reference to values and of course criteria and reframing.
The author processes ACT with ACT, i.e. he rubs ACT against the grain. His goal is to show how the radical Behaviorism of ACT and RFT, the behavior analytic basis of ACT, and brief therapies (such as NLP, Hypnotherapy, Strategic therapy) can gain benefit from each other.This approach also considers that ACT and the analytical approach of RFT is situated at the linguistic turn while brief therapies presuppose it.
The goal is not only to work out similarities but to develop the metaphorical relationship between ACT and brief therapy; either one can stand for the other. Brief therapeutic procedures gain through the experiential approach of ACT; ACT`s Hexaflex network and RFT`s relational references become fertile in the perspective of the self-referential effects of the brief therapeutic approach.
Remaining true to the cybernetic formula, that before the match is after the match (and vice versa) the brief therapy potential of ACT is brought out and the effects of the core processes are regarded under the functional-contextual aspect of ongoing transformation in therapy. Case examples are dealt with in a process orientated way rather than in a goal orientated or didactical way. The therapeutic process itself is of more interest as far as objections are dealt with, the therapeutic goal is of secondary interest. The methodological coherence is proven by the clients experience, i.e. NLP´s physiology.
The core process of self-as-context is regarded in a special way. The deictic relation as a kind of self relational figure is connected to a cybernetic of second order without having to become the same. This special interconnection is open for constructive development of the conceptual frame as well as the creation of new and flexible forms of intervention.
The model for these new formats are the metaphor and the value and also the criterion, which represent a methodological and conceptual link between ACT and brief therapy. The different application of these formats clarifies the mutual forms of utilization and conceptual modification.
Keywords: ACT, RFT, NLP, Hypnotherapy, strategic therapy, brief therapies, solution-orientated approach, metaphors, values, criteria, reframing, interventions, concepts