Russ Harris
It’s rare that I read a textbook that’s so good, I don’t merely want to recommend it, I want to actually rave about it—in a very loud voice! Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is such a book: a truly superb advanced-level textbook for the ACT practitioner who already has a handle on the basics, but now wants to evolve a more fluid, flexible, and effective style of ACT. I confess to having frequent pangs of envy as I read this book (which I devoured cover to cover in the space of one week) and many thoughts such as, I wish I’d written this. It’s easy to read, extremely engaging (in parts, laugh-out-loud funny), and incredibly practical. Even highly experienced ACT practitioners will get a lot from this book. I certainly learned new things from reading it, and I’ll bet good money that you will too! … So if you’re ready to move from the beginner level ‘ACT-ish therapy’ to genuine, high-powered ACT, then rush out and get this book now!
Steven C. Hayes, PhD
Doing ACT raises common, predictable challenges. In almost every case they are best overcome by stepping into the ACT model and its foundations with your head, your hands, and your heart. This gentle but wise book shows how to do that—and on all three of those levels. It is indeed Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy—not because it applies only to those who are advanced, but because it teaches you how to advance. You don’t have to be an ACT expert to buy it, read it, and benefit from it—but if you buy it and read it, I guarantee that you will be much more expert in the ACT work you do.
Robyn D. Walser, PhD
As I read Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, I kept turning to my personal knowledge of Darrah Westrup and her incredible ability to communicate, in writing, her gifted therapeutic experience and understanding of ACT. I know Darrah as both a colleague and a friend, and this book shines a bright light on her amazing talent and facility with the intervention. Readers will be engaged from the opening pages regarding theory and processes, through the thoughtful and seasoned application of ACT, all the way to its invitation to continue the ACT journey at the book’s close. She brings to this volume not only a digestible, considered, and at times humorous read, that every therapist, not just those using ACT, will find invaluable, but also a personal sense of herself that is kind, grounded, and compassionate. Thank you, Darrah, for this beautiful contribution to the ACT community and therapist community at large.
Matthieu Villatte, PhD
Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an invaluable resource for every therapist who doesn’t just want to do good ACT but great ACT. Easy to read and very practical, this book succeeds at linking concrete skills to deep philosophical and behavioral principles underlying the ACT model. The numerous clinical vignettes are commented with great precision and clarity, and show how to activate key processes through natural interactions, beyond traditional exercises.
Nishant Pate
This is my first review on Amazon and for good reason. I was compelled to write a review for Advanced ACT by Darrah Westrup. As a student of ACT for quite some time, I have read many of the texts, and yet this particular book shines brightly in its own uniqueness. The breadth and depth of experience and wisdom shared through Darrah’s words is literally oozing off of each of the pages. I read this book cover to cover within a few days because it had me hooked. You will enjoy its simplicity and elegance in taking complex situations and breaking them down into easy and digestible components. Advanced ACT is practical, clear, concise, and along with the texts of the founders of ACT and the work of Russ Harris, Advanced ACT is a MUST READ for any clinician who would like to master the overt and especially subtle challenges the ACT model may offer to both clinicians and clients. If you are worried about reading another ACT book with similarities to much of what you already know and read, this book is definitely not one of them. Advanced ACT will have you smiling with its precision and acts as a breath of fresh air when reading. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would
Donna Read
I am halfway through Darrah Westrup’s new book and can’t put it down. As an ACT practitioner, it is just full of ahas for me and exactly what I need at this stage of my learning and practicing. ACT is an amazingly effective counseling technology but it requires precision, timeliness, intuition, compassion and delicacy in its application.I am thankful for this solid text, which, from my perspective, fills a gap in our literature. I also love the style in which it is written, so light and fun that it provides ease of access to and retention of Westrup’s counseling room wisdom. This text should be on every ACT counselor and coach’s self of accessible, well-used and beloved texts. Thank you, Darrah.
Amazon reviewer
Six months in and on my third reading of this book and I am finding new clues about using ACT, thanks to Dr Westrup for sharing her practices and insights. Reading this book is like having a new supervisor because she shows us how to work effectively in the consulting room by comparing useful and not so useful practices. The techniques are useful for practitioners of any theoretical persuasion. Dr Westrup’s style is one of a friendly colleague, conversational and yet positively challenging.