The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook: Cope with Emotional Pain, Connect with What Matters, and Transform Your Life - Paperback

by Matthew S. Boone (Author), Jennifer Gregg (Author), Steven C. Hayes (Foreword by)

Learn practical ACT skills to manage anxiety, negative thoughts, and difficult emotions--so you can live with greater purpose, resilience, and peace of mind.

Do you struggle with painful emotions such as anxiety, anger, sadness, or chronic worry? Do negative thoughts, self-criticism, or your inner critic keep you stuck in patterns that don't reflect your values? If stress, depression, grief, trauma, or imposter syndrome are interfering with your life, you're not alone--and real change is possible.

This evidence-based workbook introduces the core tools of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)--a powerful psychological approach developed by Steven Hayes and widely used in psychotherapy, coaching, and mental health treatment for anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, addiction, and chronic stress.

Grounded in the ACT hexaflex model, this guide offers practical exercises, activities, and mindfulness practices to help you relate differently to difficult thoughts and emotions so they no longer control your behavior or decisions.

In this workbook, you'll learn how to:

• Identify your core values and use them to guide meaningful life choices
• Manage anxiety, worry, and overwhelming emotions with ACT and mindfulness exercises
• Respond to negative thoughts, self-criticism, and the inner critic with greater flexibility
• Build resilience and emotional balance using positive psychology and self-compassion practices
• Stay present in the moment--even during stress, conflict, grief, or uncertainty
• Commit to lasting behavioral change that supports your mental health and well-being

You'll also find step-by-step exercises and therapeutic tools drawn from ACT, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and related behavioral approaches used by clinicians to help people manage anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and emotional dysregulation.

Whether you're new to ACT or looking for practical exercises to support your mental health journey, this workbook offers a clear, accessible path to developing psychological flexibility--the key skill at the heart of lasting emotional change.

If you're ready to stop struggling with your thoughts and feelings and start building a life guided by your values, this workbook will help you take the first steps toward meaningful, positive transformation.

Author Biography

Matthew S. Boone, LCSW, is a social worker, psychotherapist, and educator who specializes in translating mental health concepts for the general public. Boone is a nationally recognized, peer-reviewed trainer in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), coauthor of Stop Avoiding Stuff, and editor of Mindfulness and Acceptance in Social Work. He is associate director of student mental health services at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he is an instructor in psychiatry. He regularly gives ACT workshops around the country.

Jennifer Gregg, PhD, is a psychologist, author, professor, and trainer. She is a professor at San Jose State University, and has spent twenty years treating cancer patients and their families. Gregg has been studying, delivering, and evaluating ACT since 1995, and she has published dozens of research papers, book chapters, and articles on ACT. She is coauthor of Stop Avoiding Stuff and The Diabetes Workbook.