Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Session Plan Worksheet

To achieve the best results for the client, it is necessary to create a therapy session plan. Since Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action, we suggest the following session plan.

1. Check-in with the client and define the session goal

Explore the client's current situation and define a goal that will help him better understand and accept his thoughts and feelings and support his committed action that is aligned with his values.

2. Here and now exercise

Go through some kind of mindfulness practice with the client to show him how to be here and now (you could do simple meditation, body scan, or breathing exercise).

3. Identify clients values

Explore what is truly important to your client in different aspects of life (personal, professional…). Make sure that the client is aware of the importance of his values and identify any obstacles that may hinder the client from living according to his basic values.

      4. Cognitive Defusion

• Teach the client about cognitive defusion techniques and how he can use them to distance himself from unhelpful thoughts.

      5. Acceptance Practice

• Support the client to accept his thoughts and emotions and behave according to his values.

       6. Committed Action

• Help the client create specific values-based goals and develop realistic action plan.

      7. Closing the session

        Give the client a homework assignment that will help him integrate the session’s key concepts. Summarize what you have covered during the session and allow the client to ask if there is some ambiguity.

Reference

Lifeline (2023). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Retrieved from: https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/techniques/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy-act, on January 16, 2024.

You can download more Mental Health worksheets here.

Please note: There may be a more up-to-date and editable version of this worksheet available here which may be more suitable to present to clients if you are a therapist or to use in a classroom as a teacher or guidance counsellor.