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This week we talk to Russ Harris
Russ Harris is a medical practitioner, psychotherapist, and leading expert in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). His books include ACT with Love, ACT Made Simple, The Confidence Gap, and The Happiness Trap, which has now been translated into twenty-two languages. He lives in Melbourne, Australia, and travels internationally to train mental health professionals in the ACT approach.
In This Interview, Russ Harris and I Discuss…
- The Wolf Parable
- Getting the wolves to cooperate and not battle
- Embracing even our most difficult feelings
- The Reality Slap and the Reality Gap
- An overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- The Serenity Challenge
- How we always have a chance to improve our situation
- Taking the action that is needed regardless of what we feel
- What “psychological flexibility” is
- Cognitive defusion techniques
- Recognizing that are thoughts are not facts
- Asking the question “Is this thought useful”?
- Noticing and Naming our thoughts and feelings
- “The Greatest Hits” approach
- The “I’m not good enough” story”
- “I’m having the thought that” de-fusion method
- The artificial distinction between thoughts and emotions
- The Struggle Switch
sandra says
Hello! I’ve practiced mediation, turning off the switch for the majority of my 72 years. The last 5 years, I have had 2 cycling accidents.. other cyclists not paying attention and riding into me. I’ve had 2 traumatic brain injuries. I had just gotten over the 1st injury when the 2nd one occurred one year ago. This one I have more problems. Short term memory, including reading, post traumatic stress is worse and the emotional part of my brain is damaged. I can’t grieve or show, feel emotions. The fear, the upset, the anger is there but I can’t feel it. It is impossible to describe. The few times I did show emotion, I was told by therapists and doctors that I was mentally ill and should not show feelings that I couldn’t control at the time. My neurologist says that is part of my brain injury. I believe my brain has shut me off from showing emotion and feeling it to protect me. I won’t give up on being myself again. It’s hard since I lost “friends” because I have trouble having a good conversation, remembering words. I do laugh and have fun at times. I’m going to do your therapy. I know of no one where I live that does it. Midwest, U.S. Although I would travel. Thank you for being online.
Basti says
Hi Sandra, i feel sorry that life hit you so hard. Its great that you try again to be yourself. I have a similar story. I think you are onto spot on when you write “brain tries to protect itself” I feel i have similar difficulties. You are brave. I encourage you to keep on finding yourself and please do not obsess to much about how professionals label you. Best wishes from Germany, Bastian.
richard burrill says
Best kindnesses to both of you, Sandra and Bastian.
Sandra, you wrote: “The few times I did show emotion, I was told by therapists and doctors that I was mentally ill and should not show feelings that I couldn’t control at the time.”
I imagine you felt hurt or sad and maybe angry? I feel a bit angry at those therapists, and sad for you. email me if you post more here. I care about you both. You can call me and/or Kevin Cornelius, and express emotions you cannot control. I would be honored to hear you.
You can now get great therapy on line, zoom. I like Russ, and also feelinggood.com podcasts describe 2 hour therapy for moods, including blocked emotions..
Rich
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