Relational Frame Theory (RFT)

Here are some free videos that can help you learn about RFT.  These videos were not created for or by ACBS.  We merely gathered the videos from various sources for your convenience. (There are additional RFT-relevant videos available to ACBS members).

We hope that you find these free videos useful.  Simply click on the links below to browse.

There is an extensive list of excellent articles that describe RFT in simple terms, and links the principles directly to ACT processes. We highly recommend reading some of these to further your understanding RFT and it's relation to ACT.

Please visit the page by clicking here.

This is where you can read about the basic principles in Relational Frame Theory and learn about its advantages over other theories of language and cognition.

What is RFT?

Advantages of RFT

For suggestions on further reading, please visit Resources for Learning RFT. To learn more about RFT research and application, please visit the RFT Research section.

There are numerous resources for further reading. These are simply a few suggestions and you may find many others helpful. We highly recommend using this list as a starting point from which to begin your journey.

There are numerous resources for further reading. These are simply a few suggestions and you may find many others helpful. We highly recommend using this list as a starting point from which to begin your journey.

• Dixon, M.R., Hayes, S.C., & Belisle, J. (2023). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Behavior Analysts. New York: Routledge.
• Ming, S., Gould, E., & Fiebig, J. (2023). Understanding and Applying Relational Frame Theory: Mastering the Foundations of Complex Language in Our Work and Lives as Behavior Analysts. Context Press.
• Fryling, M., Rehfeldt, R. A., Tarbox, J., & Hayes, L. J. (Eds.). (2020). Applied Behavior Analysis of Language and Cognition: Core Concepts and Principles for Practitioners. New Harbinger Publications.
• Villatte, M., Villatte, J. L., & Hayes, S. C. (2019). Mastering the clinical conversation: Language as intervention. New York: The Guilford Press.
• Törneke, N., Luciano, C., Barnes‐Holmes, Y., & Bond, F. W. (2015). RFT for clinical practice: Three core strategies in understanding and treating human suffering. Chapter in The Wiley handbook of contextual behavioral science, 254-272.
• Dahl, J., Stewart, I., Martell, C., Kaplan, J. (2014) ACT and RFT in Relationships: Helping Clients Deepen Intimacy and Maintain Healthy Commitments Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Relational Frame Theory.
• Dymond, S., & Roche, B. (Eds.) (2013). Advances in relational frame theory: Research and application. New Harbinger Publications.
• McHugh, L., & Stewart, I. (2012). The self and perspective taking: Contributions and applications from modern behavioral science. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications.
• Törneke, N. (2010). Learning RFT: An Introduction to Relational Frame Theory and Its Clinical Application. Reno, NV: Context Press.
       - German Translation: Törneke, N. (2012). Bezugsrahmentheorie : Eine Einführung. Paderborn: Junfermann Verlag. (translated by Guido Plata)
       - Korean translation: Törneke, N. (2019). Learning RFT: An Introduction to Relational Frame Theory and Its Clinical Application. Hakjisa (translated by Lee, S.).
       - Spanish Transation: Törneke, N. (2016). Aprendiendo TMR : una introducción a la Teoría del Marco Relacional y sus aplicaciones clínicas. Úbeda, Jaén: Didacbook.
• Rehfeldt, R. A., Barnes-Holmes, Y. (2009). Derived relational responding: Applications for learners with autism and other developmental disabilities. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
       - Derived Relational Responding offers a series of revolutionary intervention programs for applied work in human language and cognition targeted at students with autism and other developmental disabilities. It presents a program drawn from derived stimulus relations that you can use to help students of all ages acquire foundational and advanced verbal, social, and cognitive skills. The first part of Derived Relational Responding provides step-by-step instructions for helping students learn relationally, acquire rudimentary verbal operants, and develop other basic language skills. In the second section of this book, you'll find ways to enhance students' receptive and expressive repertoires by developing their ability to read, spell, construct sentences, and use grammar. Finally, you'll find out how to teach students to apply the skills they've learned to higher order cognitive and social functions, including perspective-taking, empathy, mathematical reasoning, intelligence, and creativity. This applied behavior analytic training approach will help students make many substantial and lasting gains in language and cognition not possible with traditional interventions.
• Dahl, J. C., Plumb, J. C., Stewart, I., & Lundgren, T. (2009). The Art and Science of Valuing in Psychotherapy: Helping Clients Discover, Explore, and Commit to Valued Action Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Oakland, CA; New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
       - The Art and Science of Valuing in Psychotherapy is an applied volume in purpose, but includes an RFT account of each of the ACT processes, and in particular an in depth RFT perspective on personal values and the clinical interventions employed to enhance them and promote committed action.
• Ramnero, J., & Törneke, N. (2008). ABCs of human behavior: Behavioral principles for the practicing clinician. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger & Reno, NV: Context Press.
       - The ABCs of Human Behavior offers the practicing clinician a solid and practical introduction to the basics of modern behavioral psychology. The book focuses both on the classical principles of learning as well as more recent developments that explain language and cognition in behavioral and contextual terms. These principles are not just discussed in the abstract—rather the book shows how the principles of learning apply in a clinical context. Practical and easy to read, the book walks you through both common sense and clinical examples that will help you use behavioral principles to observe, explain, and influence behavior in a therapeutic setting.
• Miltenberger, R.G., (2008). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures (4th Ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
• Woods, D. W., & Kanter, J. W. (Eds.). (2007). Understanding behavior disorders: A contemporary behavioral perspective. Reno, NV: Context Press.
       - Understanding behavior disorders presents a contemporary behavioral model of behavior disorders that incorporates the findings of current RFT and ACT research. Rich in possibilities for clinical work, this view of disordered behavior is an important milestone in clinical psychotherapy - an opportunity for behavioral clinicians to reintegrate their clinical practice with an experimental analysis of behavior.
• Cooper, J.O., Heron, T.E. & Heward, W.L. (2007). Applied Behavior Analysis (2nd Edition). Prentice Hall.
       - Applied Behavior Analysis (2nd Edition) is great resource to get you ready for the BCBA exam and to understand basic principals.
• Baum, W. M. (2004). Understanding Behaviorism: Behavior, Culture, and Evolution (2nd edition). Wiley-Blackwell.
• Pierce, W.D. & Cheney, C.D. (2003). Behavior Analysis and Learning, 3rd edition.Lawrence Erlbaum.
       - The "focus on research" and "on the applied side" sections in various chapters add an excellent generalization of concepts into interesting areas. There is a section on Bandura and the Bobo doll, review of Sidman's comments on coercion, review of the intrinsic/extrinsic reinforcement debates, a creativity section, respondent conditioning and heroin overdose, medical conditioning, and much more.
• Barnes-Holmes, Y., Hayes, S. C., Barnes-Holmes, D., & Roche, B. (2001). Relational frame theory: A post-Skinnerian account of human language and cognition. In H. W. Reese & R. Kail (Eds.), Advances in Child Development and Behavior, Volume 28 (pp. 101-138). New York: Academic.
• Baldwin, J.D. & Baldwin, J.I. (2000). Behavior Principles in Everyday Life (4th Edition). Prentice Hall.
       - Behavior Principles in Everyday Life (4th Edition) is a really accessible account of behavioral principles. Great accompaniment to ABCs of Human Behavior.
• Dougher, M. J. (Ed.). (2000). Clinical Behavior Analysis. Reno, NV: Context Press.
• Chiesa, M. (1994). Radical Behaviorism: The philosophy and science. Cambridge Center.
• Leigland, S. (1992). Radical behaviorism: Willard Day on psychology and philosophy. Reno, NV: Context Press.
       Puts Skinner's work in context; links history/philosophy and the battles of minds as a background to RFT/ACT.
• Catania, C. (1992). Learning. Prentice Hall.
• Hayes, S. C. (Ed.). (1989/2004). Rule Governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control. New York: Plenum / reprinted in 2004 by Context Press.
       - One of the first full-length presentations of the ACT / RFT model is in three chapters in this book on the topic.
• Skinner, B.F. (1965). Science and Human Behavior. Free Press.

We recommend several ways to enhance your understanding of RFT. A great place to start is with the Learning RFT: An introduction to relational frame theory and its clinical applications but there are many more.

The core of the contextual behavioral science (CBS) model of science is work that is inherently translational in nature; basic research informing interventions and vice versa.

Therefore RFT researchers are comprised of basic scientists who possess an interest in RFT’s application to human behavior, or are also clinicians or applied behavior analysts who are interested in understanding clinically-relevant phenomena. As such, RFT principles and processes have been useful for influencing and optimizing performance and functioning across a broad range of human phenomena.

This list includes research articles that contain original data relevant to RFT up until 2010. As the number of RFT articles has increased greatly since then, updating this list has become challenging.