Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Body Image Dissatisfaction: A Practitioner’s Guide to Using Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Values-Based Behavior Change Strategies

218 Pages·2010·1.888 MB·English

by  Adria Pearson, Michelle Heffner, Victoria Follette

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US $49.95 Psychology c
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A Revolutionary Method for Treating
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Body Image Dissatisfaction n
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Despite ongoing criticism of strict beauty ideals, cosmetic surgeons ommitment
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and diet pill manufacturers continue to thrive and tolerance for body

flaws seems to lessen every day. More and more people have begun to C
internalize a need for physical perfection. And the psychological distress o
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that accompanies body image dissatisfaction leaves many individuals in a
long-term struggle. m herapy
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Body Image Dissatisfaction is a manual for m
practitioners seeking to help clients let go of self-judgment and preoccupa- e
tion with body image. Mindfulness and acceptance approaches target the n
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underlying anxiety and perfectionism that keep many trapped in destruc- for Body Image
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tive relationships with their bodies. This book presents a clear plan for
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showing clients how to clarify their values to help broaden their lives and
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refocus on what is most meaningful and vital to them. It presents a clear r
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ACT protocol, complete with sample scripts, therapy exercises, case stud-
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ies, and worksheets, for treating body image dissatisfaction. You’ll learn y Dissatisfaction
from a wide range of clinical examples of body image dissatisfaction, some
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of which explore manifestations in medical populations. The treatment o
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protocol in this book can be effectively applied to both men and women,
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across a wide age range.
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A Practitioner’s Guide to Using Mindfulness,

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Acceptance Values-Based Behavior Change Strategies
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ADRIA N. PEARSON, PH.D., is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the VA
Long Beach Healthcare System and lives in the greater Los Angeles area. i The theory and practice of:
s An
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a • Creative hopelessness
MICHELLE HEFFNER, PH.D., is a licensed psychologist in Nevada and s
coauthor of The Anorexia Workbook. ti Essential • Willingness
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a • Mindfulness and acceptance
VICTORIA M. FOLLETTE, PH.D., is Foundation Professor of Psychology Guide for
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at the University of Nevada, Reno, and a clinical scientist specializing in t • Psychological flexibility
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interpersonal violence and body image problems. o
Clinicians
n • Values and committed action
ISBN: 978-1-57224-775-8
Foreword writer STEVEN C. HAYES,
PH.D., is University of Nevada Foun- P
dation Professor of Psychology at the 54995 E ADRIA N. PEARSON, PH.D.
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University of Nevada, Reno.
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MICHELLE HEFFNER, PH.D.
S
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newharbingerpublications, inc. N VICTORIA M. FOLLETTE, PH.D.
www.newharbinger.com 9 781572 247758
Foreword by STEVEN C. HAYES, PH.D.
“Body image dissatisfaction is particularly well-suited to an acceptance-based approach,
yet there has been little to guide therapists in confronting this sensitive topic with their
clients. I commend the authors for taking on this challenging issue and providing a clear-
eyed yet empathic approach that is equally useful whether a client’s concerns reflect pri-
marily distorted perceptions, or, at least to some extent, more reality-based apprehensions
regarding others’ potentially negative responses to their physical presentation.”
— Linda Craighead, Ph.D., professor of psychology and director of
clinical training at Emory University in Atlanta, GA
“After observing her for over a year in complex psychological settings, I have been
impressed by how Adria Pearson ‘walks the talk’ of acceptance and commitment therapy.
She seems always to be ACT-consistent by embodying genuineness, honesty, and courage
in all her actions. This book is just like that… she knows the concepts well enough to
express them in ways that are equally meaningful for both therapists and clients who
struggle with body image dissatisfaction.”
— Kenneth D. Cole, Ph.D., director of training at the VA Long Beach
Healthcare System
A
cceptance &
C
ommitment
T
herapy
for Body Image
Dissatisfaction
A Practitioner’s Guide to Using Mindfulness,
Acceptance & Values-Based Behavior Change Strategies
ADRIA N. PEARSON, PH.D.
MICHELLE HEFFNER, PH.D.
VICTORIA M. FOLLETTE, PH.D.
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
A
cceptance &
C
ommitment
T
herapy
for Body Image
Dissatisfaction
A Practitioner’s Guide to Using Mindfulness,
Acceptance & Values-Based Behavior Change Strategies
ADRIA N. PEARSON, PH.D.
MICHELLE HEFFNER, PH.D.
VICTORIA M. FOLLETTE, PH.D.
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Publisher’s Note
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with
the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert
assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Copyright © 2010 by Adria N. Pearson, Michelle Heffner, & Victoria M. Follette
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Acquired by Tesilya Hanauer; Cover design by Amy Shoup;
Edited by Jean Blomquist; Text design by Tracy Marie Carlson
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
12 11 10
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First printing
To Dr. Linda Craighead, my undergraduate mentor at the University of Colorado at
Boulder. Thank you for encouraging me to pursue this wonderfully rewarding career,
including the joys of research, writing, and clinical practice.
—ANP
This book is dedicated to all of my clients. My experiences with you inspired me as I
worked on this book.
—MH
For Laura and my friends, who teach me about love every day.
—VMF

Contents
A Letter from the Series Editors vii
Foreword ix
Acknowledgments xi
PART 1
Introducing ACT for Body Image Dissatisfaction
CHAPTER 1
Body Image Dissatisfaction: An Introduction 3
CHAPTER 2
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Introduction 17
CHAPTER 3
Using ACT to Treat Body Image Dissatisfaction 37
PART 2
Applying ACT to Body Image Dissatisfaction
CHAPTER 4
Introducing ACT to Your Client 55
CHAPTER 5
Creative Hopelessness: Openness to Trying
Something Different 73
CHAPTER 6
Control as the Problem, Acceptance as the Solution 89
CHAPTER 7
Mindful Acceptance of Thoughts, Emotions,
and Physical Sensations 105
CHAPTER 8
Clarifying Values and Defining Goals 129
CHAPTER 9
Barriers to Values and Commitment to Valued Living 147
CHAPTER 10
Adapting ACT to Group Therapy 167
AFTERWORD
Endings and New Beginnings 179
References 181
Index 195
vi Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Body Image Dissatisfaction
Dear Reader:
Welcome to New Harbinger Publications. New Harbinger is dedicated to publishing
books based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and its application to specific
areas of mental health. New Harbinger has a long-standing reputation in the mental
health community as a publisher of quality, well-researched books. We offer an effectual
forum for you to get this pertinent information to a wider audience.
As part of our commitment to publishing sound, scientific, clinically-based research,
Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., Georg Eifert, Ph.D., and John Forsyth, Ph.D., oversee all pro-
spective ACT books for the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Series. New Harbinger
is at the forefront of publishing books that make ACT skills available to a trade and
professional audience.
As ACT Series Editors, we review all ACT books published by New Harbinger,
comment on proposals and offer guidance as needed, and use a gentle hand in
making suggestions regarding content, depth, and scope of each book. We strive to
ensure that any unsubstantiated claim or claims that are clearly ACT inconsistent
are flagged for the authors so they can revise these sections to ensure that the work
meets our criteria (see below) and is true to its roots (e.g., not passing off other
models and methods as ACT).
Books in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Series:

Have an adequate database. Those meant for the public will have at least
one reasonably well-done and successful randomized trial showing that
the methods are helpful.

Be theoretically coherent—they will fit with the ACT model and under-
lying behavioral principles as they have evolved at the time of writing.

Refrain from making excessive claims, and orient the reader toward
unresolved empirical issues

Not overlap needlessly with existing volumes

Avoid jargon and the needless creation of new terms, or unnecessary
entanglement with proprietary methods

Keep the focus always on what is good for the reader

Support the further development of the field

Provide information in a way that is of practical use to readers
Sincerely,
— Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D.
Georg H. Eifert, Ph.D
John Forsyth, Ph.D.