Mindful Transitions

Radical Acceptance is the acceptance of things as they actually are... This means that we detach ourselves from any wants or desires regarding our life situation and we participate fully in the process of our lives. Radical Acceptance likens itself to taking into account our past and present situation with an attitude that there is nothing going wrong (or right). We are so much a part of the present moment in a non-judging way that we free ourselves from our conceptions, old thought patterns and "attached" emotion. This allows our experience to be fresh and new, even when we don't like how we feel. Just because we accept something, doesn't mean that we don't do anything about our situation, that is resignation. Radical acceptance is allowing everything to be as it is and trusting that our unattached awareness will guide our decisions. This is not easy, but it truly is allowing the doing to come from our true being or essence. In my counseling and therapy pr...

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a psychological method developed by Marsha M. Linehan to treat patients with borderline personality disorder. (BPD)[1] Research indicates its application to also be effective in treating patients who represent varied symptoms and behaviors associated with spectrum mood disorders, including self-injury.[2] Key elements DBT practitioners emphasize include, behaviorist theory, dialectics, cognitive therapy, and, DBT's central component, mindfulness. There are two essential parts of the treatment, and without either of these parts the therapy is not considered "DBT adherent." An individual component in which the therapist and client discuss issues that come up during the week, recorded on diary cards and follow a treatment target hierarchy. Self-injurious and suicidal behaviors take first priority, followed by therapy interfering behaviors. Then there are quality of life issues and finally working towards improving one's life genera...

Stephen Hayes, et al. defines Acceptance and Commitment Theory (ACT) as a " therapy approach that uses acceptance and mindfulness processes, and commitment and behavior change process, to produce greater psychological flexibility." Stephen Hayes, et al. goes on to explain that A CT consistent interventions include a wide variety of techniques in the general domains of acceptance, defusion, establishment of a transcendent self, being present and mindful, chosen values and building larger and larger patterns of committed action linked to those values. - A Practical Guide to Acceptance and Commitment Theory. My interpretation of this is that ACT counseling and therapy can assist a person in engaging the present moment through mindfulness and acceptance. This allows a persons more choices that if they were just to react and respond to the old patterns of emotions and thoughts. By accessing the present moment and being able to accept and tolerate emotional discomfort, we a...