Dr Russ Harris - Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a unique and creative model for both therapy and coaching; a type of cognitive behavioural therapy based on the innovative use of mindfulness and values.The aim of ACT is to maximise human potential for a rich, full and meaningful life; to cultivate health, vitality and well-being through mindful values-based living. The name reflects a key message: accept what's out of your personal control, and commit to action that improves your life.
Russ Harris's highly-acclaimed ACT workshops have been held all over Australia, and internationally, and he is renowned for his ability to make complex ideas simple, clear and accessible.
Russ's ACT-based self-help book, The Happiness Trap, is an international best-seller, now published in over thirty countries and twenty-two languages. To download the opening chapters for free: click here. (You can purchase the book from this website)
Russ has developed a unique model for training, which he light-heartedly refers to as 'ACT MADE SIMPLE'. (To download the first two chapters of the 'ACT MADE SIMPLE' textbook at no cost Click here.You can also purchase the book from this website.)
Russ proudly proclaims each workshop a 'jargon-free zone' - and bases his training on three core values: simplicity, clarity, and having fun. These workshops are suitable for psychologists, psychiatrists, GPs, social workers, mental health nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, naturopaths, counsellors and coaches.
The 2-day introductory workshop gives you a quick-start foundation in the ACT basics, and then there are a range of advanced level workshops, which change form year to year, to help you take your skills to the next level. For example, a good follow-up workshop is ACT For Depression & Anxiety: 2-day advanced workshop. These workshops are all run by Russ Harris.
On this site, you can also find an ACT therapist, join an ACT interest group, download articles & papers, purchase CDs, Books and ebooks, or subscribe to our free newsletter (just below the main menu).
Aside from The Happiness Trap, Russ has written three other self-help books: The Confidence Gap, The Reality Slap and ACT With Love. He has also co-authored The Happiness Trap Pocketbook and The Weight Escape. In addition, he has written two textbooks for ACT practitioners, the introductory-level ACT Made Simple, and the advanced-level Getting Unstuck In ACT.
The Reality Slap: How To Find Fulfilment When Life Hurts is all about using ACT to deal with grief and major
losses- such as death, divorce, disaster, illness, injury, trauma, unemployment, bankruptcy, sick or dying or loved ones, etc - with a major emphasis on developing self-compassion. To download the first two chapters, click here.
The Confidence Gap: From Fear to Freedom is an ACT-based approach to confidence, success and peak performance in sport, business, arts, or social life. You can download the introduction here.
ACT With Love is an ACT-based approach to common relationship issues,which shows you how to stop struggling, reconcile differences, and deepen love and intimacy. You can download the first chapter here.
