Acceptance and commitment therapy and the therapeutic relationship: Rupture and repair.

Abstract

The therapeutic relationship is an essential part of effective therapy. Therapists facing a rupture in this alliance are challenged to mend the discord in a forward moving and effective treatment service. In acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) the alliance is characterized by client and therapist working together, using the core processes of ACT, creating a vital and moment-by-moment collaborative experience. As a transdiagnostic, behavioral intervention, acceptance, and mindfulness processes and commitment and behavioral change processes are used to create meaningful and engaged lives. ACT s core methods promote psychological flexibility in response to problems in living, psychopathology, and enhancement of general well-being. However, flexibility in session can be lost to therapeutic ruptures. In ACT, processes such as defusion, perspective-taking, choice, and values play a role in restoring a cooperative, engaged alliance repair. We will explore the therapeutic relationship within the ACT model and present its perspective on rupture and repair in psychotherapy.