Psychological flexibility is the capacity to adapt to difficult experiences while remaining true to one’s values. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses heavily on this skill due to its many benefits. These include better resilience, emotional tolerance, and overall well-being.
The Psychological Flexibility: ACT Skill worksheet clarifies this important concept and translates the six underlying ACT principles into easier-to-understand terms:
- Acceptance
- Detachment From Thoughts
- Present-Focused Perspective
- Observing Self
- Values Clarification
- Values Enactment
The worksheet explains these terms and provides concrete action steps to promote psychological flexibility.
Use this resource with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, or general unhappiness. Regular practice of the action steps can improve quality of life and create a deeper sense of meaning and purpose. Consider assigning one or more of the steps as homework and then review clients’ progress in the next session.
For related tools, see our Thought Defusion, Mindfulness Exercises, and Values Assessment tools.
References
1. Arslan, G., & Allen, K.-A. (2022). Exploring the association between coronavirus stress, meaning in life, psychological flexibility, and subjective well-being. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 27(4), 803–814.
2. Berryhill, M. B., Hayes, A., & Lloyd, K. (2018). Chaotic-enmeshment and anxiety: The mediating role of psychological flexibility and self-compassion. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 40(4), 326–337.
3. Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., & Barnes-Holmes, D. (2006). Psychological flexibility, ACT, and organizational behavior. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 26(1/2), 25–54.
4. Fonseca, S., Trindade, I. A., Mendes, A. L., & Ferreira, C. (2020). The buffer role of psychological flexibility against the impact of major life events on depression symptoms. Clinical Psychologist, 24(1), 82–90.
5. Harris, R. (2019). ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (2nd ed.). New Harbinger Publications
6. Hayes, S. (n.d.). The six core processes of ACT. Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. https://contextualscience.org/the_six_core_processes_of_act
7. Lucas, J. J., & Moore, K. A. (2020). Psychological flexibility: Positive implications for mental health and life satisfaction. Health Promotion International, 35(2), 312–320.
8. McCracken, L. M., Badinlou, F., Buhrman, M., & Brocki, K. C. (2021). The role of psychological flexibility in the context of COVID-19: Associations with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 19, 28–35.
9. Pyszkowska, A., & Rönnlund, M. (2021). Psychological flexibility and self-compassion as predictors of well-being: Mediating role of a balanced time perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-12.
10. Waldeck, D., Pancani, L., Holliman, A., Karekla, M., & Tyndall, I. (2021). Adaptability and psychological flexibility: Overlapping constructs? Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 19, 72–78.
11. Wersebe, H., Lieb, R., Meyer, A. H., Hofer, P., & Gloster, A. T. (2018). The link between stress, well-being, and psychological flexibility during an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy self-help intervention. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 18(1), 60–68.