Making ACT Happen
How to Use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Clinical Practice
Gijs Jansen
Foreword by Steven C. Hayes
Hardcovere-bookprint + e-book
Hardcover
pre-orderApril 9, 2026
ISBN 9781462562442
Price: $65.00 251 Pages
Size: 6" x 9"
e-book
pre-orderApril 9, 2026
PDF and Accessible ePub ?
Price: $45.00 251 Pages
ePub is Global Certified Accessible
print + e-book $110.00 $78.00
pre-orderHardcover + e-Book (PDF and Accessible ePub) ?
Price: 251 Pages
ePub is Global Certified Accessible
Digital professor copy available on VitalSource once published ?Packed with case examples, clinical tips, new and classic metaphors, reflection prompts, and learning exercises, this concise primer helps readers hone their skills and confidence for practicing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Gjis Jansen is a leading ACT trainer and supervisor who explains complex concepts in a candid, conversational style. He offers a unique window into how ACT sessions unfold, equipping therapists to deepen their engagement with clients and select interventions that address clients’ individual needs and struggles. This is the English edition of Het ACT basisboek, published in the Netherlands in 2023 and translated, updated, and revised by the author.
“Filled with stories, metaphors, and examples that capture the texture of practice from one of the world’s leading ACT practitioners and trainers. I’ve known Gijs Jansen for decades. I’ve watched him work, train, and treat. He is one of the best....By showing the range of creative interventions possible, the book encourages practitioners to develop their own voice while staying grounded in principle.”
—from the Foreword by Steven C. Hayes, PhD, Foundation Professor of Psychology Emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno; originator and co-developer, acceptance and commitment therapy
“A fresh and new presentation of ACT. This book is a wonderful training resource for new therapists, and it offers novel insights for those of us who have been using ACT for a long time. All mental health professionals will gain something from reading this book.”
—Michael Twohig, PhD, Department of Psychology, Utah State University
“Making ACT Happen pairs real clinical know-how with a warm, clear voice. Jansen models a way of doing ACT, demonstrating creative hopelessness; playful defusion; head, body, and heart framing; values work that clarifies what matters; and session-ready steps for committed action. I recommend this book to new trainees and to experienced therapists who want more precise, effective sessions to help clients build better lives. In supervision and workshops, I will use Jansen's metaphors, exercises, and open questions that invite self-practice. This book lifts the floor for beginners and raises the ceiling for experts.”
—Joseph Ciarrochi, PhD, Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University
Table of Contents
Foreword, Steven C. HayesPreface
1. How to Think Like an ACT Therapist
2. The Therapy
3. Relational Frame Theory
4. Behavioral Analysis
5. Process within ACT
6. Process-Oriented Interventions
7. Dealing with Resistance
8. New Exercises and Metaphors
9: Examples of Conversations
10. The Intake
11. The Future of ACT
In Conclusion: An Optimistic View of Our Humanity
Frequently Asked Questions
Bibliography
Index