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Get Out Of Your Mind And Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Paperback – 2 Dec. 2005
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This book offers a five-step plan for coping with painful emotions such as anxiety and depression. It teaches you how to learn life-enhancing behavior strategies that work to further the goals you value most. You'll learn to engage with and overcome painful thoughts and feelings with step-by-step acceptance and mindfulness-based techniques. You'll find out how to let go of control, and develop compassion and flexibility.
The realization that painful feelings cannot be controlled will open you to the possibility of fully emotional living. Once present, engaged, and aware, you can begin to build new lives for yourself filled with significance and meaning. This book is not about overcoming pain or fighting emotions; it's about embracing life and feeling everything it has to offer. In this way, it offers a way out of suffering by choosing to life a life based on what matters most.
- ISBN-101572244259
- ISBN-13978-1572244252
- PublisherNew Harbinger
- Publication date2 Dec. 2005
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions20.96 x 1.91 x 27.31 cm
- Print length224 pages

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"This manual, firmly based on cutting-edge psychological science and theory, details an innovative and rapidly growing approach that can provide you with the power to transform your very experience of life. Highly recommended for all of us." --David H. Barlow, professor of psychology, research professor of psychiatry, and director of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University.
"This is the quintessential workbook on acceptance and commitment therapy. Written with wit, clinical wisdom, and compassionate skepticism, it succeeds in showing us that, paradoxically, there is great therapeutic value in going out of our minds. Once released from the struggle with thought, we are free to discover that a life of meaning and value is closer at hand than thought allowed. This book will serve patients, therapists, researchers, and educators looking for an elegant exposition of the nuts and bolts of this exciting approach." --Zindel V. Segal, Ph.D., the Morgan Firestone Chair in Psychotherapy and professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Toronto and author of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression.
"This book is a user-friendly tool for clinicians who may be looking for adjunct handouts for clients with a wide variety of issues. Exercises found within can help deepen, structure, or guide experiences contacted in session. As a stand-alone self-help book, it brings to light the guiding principles that make ACT such an empowering approach. I highly recommend this book to clinicians and laypeople alike." --Sandra Georgescu, Psy.D., assistant professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : New Harbinger (2 Dec. 2005)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 224 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1572244259
- ISBN-13 : 978-1572244252
- Dimensions : 20.96 x 1.91 x 27.31 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 85,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 188 in Mood Disorders (Books)
- 387 in Psychotherapy & Clinical Psychology
- 389 in Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
- Customer reviews:
About the author

My goal is a psychology of human functioning that transforms how we live our lives. That passion comes from personal pain. As a young professional I spiraled down into panic disorder and at the very lowest point in 1981 (www.bit.ly/StevesFirstTED) I found a way forward by turning toward pain and suffering, which then allow me to turn toward meaning and purpose. I tell this story in my book, A Liberated Mind. I immediately saw movement not just in myself, but also in my clients. Over two or three years I roughed out ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ... by the way ACT is called "act" not Aay, Cee, Tee), and did a few outcome studies. Then I put randomized controlled trials on hold, while I and my team developed a basic science approach to human language (Relational Frame Theory or RFT), clarified the philosophy of science issues needed to do science in this slippery area (functional contextualism), developed a new behavioral approach to scientific development, Contextual Behavioral Science, and work on the techniques, measures, and theoretical concepts that would support all of this, especially the applied model called "psychological flexibility." Most of this was done at the University of Nevada, Reno, where I moved as a psychology professor in 1986.
Finally, in 1999 the first academic book on ACT appeared. At the time there were only 2 published randomized control trials of ACT. This book followed by the first RFT book in 2001, and then work really began to take off. We began doing outcome studies in earnest at the turn of the century. There are now several thousand studies on this work, including nearly 900 randomized controlled trials (see bit.ly/ACTRCTs) and nearly 300 meta-analyses or systematic reviews (see bit.ly/ACTmetas). ACT and RFT is being developed by a worldwide association of over 9,300 professionals with over 30 chapters outside of North America in 20 different languages -- the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS: www.contextualpsychology.org). At ACBS you will find list serves for professionals and a list of ACT therapists (bit.ly/FindanACTtherapist).
I've written 47 books but mostly for academics. My first popular book was Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life (with Spencer Smith; New Harbinger Publications, 2005) but I have a cool recent one I worked on for 11 years called A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters (2019; Penguin/Avery). It is a think book / self-help book / personal story / science story. It shows why psychological flexibility matters. If you want to be on my newsletter list go www.stevenchayes.com and click on "yes, please send it to me." I will start by sending you a 7 part mini-course on ACT. If you want a short and beautiful illustrated Ebook on "ACT in a Nutshell" drawn by my daughter Esther (her depiction of the Dictator Within will stay with you, I guarantee!), go to stevenchayes.com/a-liberated-mind and I'll send it to you. If you are a therapist, my newest book is called Learning Process-Based Therapy, written with Stefan G. Hofmann and David Lorscheid. It shows how to use processes of change to understand your clients and to fit treatment to them in an individually tailored way.
I continue to teach at UNR, but not for much longer (I will be retired from the academy in June 2023). I am now President of a 45 year old charitable organization, the Institute for Better Health, which is using modern technology to foster individually tailored psychological help. I spend my days writing, researching, helping my students, answering emails, hugging my wife, and appreciating my children (ages 16, 30, 33, and 52). I spend a lot of time trying to support the ACT, RFT, and process-based work of others.
You can learn more about my work at my website: www.stevenchayes.com
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Customers find the book helpful and well-written. It provides practical advice and a good start to learning mindfulness. However, opinions differ on the language - some find it pervasive and easy to read, while others find it hard to read and wordy.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book helpful and insightful. It provides practical advice and a good introduction to mindfulness and acceptance-focused therapy (ACT). They describe it as an excellent tool that can be used as a workbook for self-help. The book uses well-known principles like mindfulness, acceptance, and values in a well-thought-out way.
""Get Out of Your Mind and into Your Life", one of several SELF-HELP books I have read this year, and the title of the book could not describe its..." Read more
"ACT uses some well known principles (mindfulness, acceptance, values) and puts it into an articulate, well thought out therapy...." Read more
"...It's definitely one of the best self help books I've encountered and the exercises are cleverly designed to help you get the most out of it...." Read more
"Book arrived on time. A very rewarding read. Can honestly say it has changed my life. I can now throw away my hoards of 'positive thinking' books...." Read more
Customers have different views on the language. Some find it well-written and easy to read, while others find it hard to read and wordy. Overall, opinions are mixed about the book's language.
"This book is well written and offers plenty of practical advice...." Read more
"This is a much more difficult book to read and goes into the history and beginning of act therapy, however it is an excellent read if a little hard..." Read more
"...Language is pervasive and it's amazing that simple tools like this can make such a difference. I share it with clients." Read more
"...potentially use with clients, but I did find the book to be quite hard to read...." Read more
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 December 2010"Get Out of Your Mind and into Your Life", one of several SELF-HELP books I have read this year, and the title of the book could not describe its contents any better.!
This book goes a step further than Good authors like "Louise Hays" self-help books and "Susan Jeffers" self-help Series, because you will be automatically become engrossed, even by the 1st 3-5 pages in this book, on the grounds you have an open mind, and you are not a negative person...
Only those who are motivated to move on, or desperate to get out off their current circumstances will be ready, and this book is both light reading and very down-to-earth Practical medication for the soul.
I'm not going to repeat what others who rate this book very highly have already said.
All I wish to say this book has been a tremendous help to me, and works better than anything a "Shrink or a GP" can give you in the form of a Pill... Please, AVOID Pills (only if you can), but not an necessity, I as a result of recovering from Severe Depression and PTSD, I can speak with some authority and conviction on the subject..
The Shrink or GP can only do so much "the rest is down to you", also buy some "relaxing music and meditation CDs" here on Amazon, for after every 60 min reading session, which I personally recommend. (don't over do it)... (don't take on to much at anyone time)... Im sure your Adult enough to know whats best for you anyway. - thanks for reading.
If you think my review was at all helpful, I would be grateful if you would kindly CLICK Yes,! - cheers, David.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 May 2022ACT uses some well known principles (mindfulness, acceptance, values) and puts it into an articulate, well thought out therapy.
I used to get tangled up in unpleasant thoughts, now I see them for what they are and act in a way I value.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2016This book is well written and offers plenty of practical advice. It's definitely one of the best self help books I've encountered and the exercises are cleverly designed to help you get the most out of it. It does get a little complex/advanced in some areas however so may not be to everyone's liking.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 February 2015This complicated book is an excellent insight into ACT- I could not put this book down until I grasped the whole set of ideas about acceptance being about willingness to put up with mental turmoil while one used valued direction to draw the automatic mind processes into a new moderate state of coherence. I now think of ACT as being as useful as CBT and REBT for having fairly immediate effect on mental distress.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 April 2014This is a much more difficult book to read and goes into the history and beginning of act therapy, however it is an excellent read if a little hard going at times but stick with it and it will make The Happiness trap by Russ Harris seem even better. Russ Harris has kindly written his book to simplify this book. Revalutionary I say and I hope it helps people as it did me.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2024Ok, i've only just started reading this book so I cant comment on its worth of content but my first gripe is the size of it. I read on the go, at work or while sitting in a cafe drinking a coffee. This book is 11in x 8.5in this may be due to later content that requires this amount of space to fill out forms or something but just keep this in mind for those purchasing.
Will update later once further in the book
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2015Book arrived on time. A very rewarding read. Can honestly say it has changed my life. I can now throw away my hoards of 'positive thinking' books. This is the only one that works and the only one I will use.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2020As with a lot of other people over the last year my daughter has mental issues to deal with this will help her enormously.
Top reviews from other countries
- diReviewed in Canada on 8 June 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Those With Mental Health Issues
As someone who was recently diagnosed with OCD, this book was recommended to me by my psychologist before I began ERP therapy in order to treat said illness. This book is amazing in highlighting the importance of mindfulness, accepting and not pushing away emotions, both positive and negative, acknowledging how thoughts lead to behaviour, and focusing more on the present moment rather than on your thoughts, or internal world.
I definitely believe that this book is not targeted towards the average reader who is currently not experiencing serious mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder and simply seeks to improve negative thinking or a dissatisfaction with their life. It definitely helps to alleviate or explain certain underlying reasons behind anxiety, depression, and OCD beyond the typical "don't worry, be happy" or "think happy thoughts." However, reading this book alone is definitely not a complete solution to whatever issue one may be experiencing. It works great alongside professional help. Recommended!
- Marie C.Reviewed in the Netherlands on 10 April 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars A rare self help book that really helps
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is very well written and even funny some time, so accessilble for most. Further the ACT approach is truely brilliant. On the acceptance part it helps one discover at its own pace the mental schemes that are holding one back, then to find ways to deal with those. On the commitment part, it helps defining a workable plan to move ones life in the desired direction.
This is a book that everyone should read, probably the best self help book I have ever read.
Very well done, a bit thanks to the authors.
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NancyReviewed in France on 6 March 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Un livre d'auto-thérapie à lire absolument
Pour l'auteur qui est un scientifique en psychologie la solution à nos souffrances c'est l'acceptation et il a fini par me convaincre à travers ce livre.
+ Le livre explique tous de point de vu scientifique.
+ Offre des exercices d'autoguérison et des programmes de "vie"(comment identifier ses valeurs entre autres).
+ Accompagner ce livre avec des méditations de "l'enfant intérieur" résout le problème depuis sa racine et permet de vivre plus en paix✌ (ma propre expérience)
Ps: c'est pas un livre qu'on termine dans une semaine.
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Venturini GianfrancoReviewed in Italy on 22 November 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Può essere di grande aiuto
Testo scritto con un linguaggio chiaro e facilmente accessibile, e articolato in maniera lineare e definita. Introduce a un'interessante teoria psicologica e offre al lettore molti spunti per affrontare in modo nuovo i propri conflitti interiori. Lettura consigliata.
- NReviewed in Germany on 5 February 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars a real gamechanger in psychology
This is the last self help book you will ever need to read.
Steven Hayes is a real genius, he managed to revolutionize our understanding of therapy by changing the focus from contenct to concept of consciousness and emotion. Thus, this book is not another of the countless self help books telling you to think positive, eat healthy, and do stuff that makes you feel good, rather it targets our relationship to our thoughts and emotions in general, freeing us from a stranglehold of happiness.
I can only recommend to read it!