A Case-Series Study Examining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Experiential Avoidance-Related Mixed Anxiety and Depression in a Telehealth Platform

Abstract

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a process-based, transdiagnostic approach to treatment that seeks to increase values-based, adaptive functioning (i.e., engaged living [EL]) in part through attenuating the impact of experiential avoidance (EA). The present case-series study examined EL and EA as mechanisms of change within a 10-week course of individual ACT delivered via a telehealth platform. Participants were two adult women with mental health concerns associated with clinically elevated EA. Throughout the study, we collected (a) daily self-monitored clinically relevant behaviors, (b) daily and weekly measures of EL and EA, and (c) pre-, mid-, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up measures of psychopathology, quality of life, and ACT-related outcome variables. Results showed support for the efficacy of ACT, with both participants demonstrating slight improvements in clinically relevant behaviors, along with expected improvements in EL and EA. These favorable results were most pronounced for Participant 1. Results are discussed in the context of COVID-19-related adaptations (including telehealth), and within the framework of process-based ACT and its transdiagnostic applicability to a range of mental health concerns.

Investigating the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Self-Compassion and Experiential Avoidance in Women Who Have Experienced Marital Infidelity

“…Another finding of the research indicates the positive effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy on reducing experiential avoidance in women who have experienced marital infidelity which aligns which prior research (Atadokht, 2019;Shafiei, 2017;Spencer, 2023). This finding suggests that the therapy might challenge individuals' thoughts and reduce cognitive errors, thereby changing their beliefs and attitudes.…”

“…This finding suggests that the therapy might challenge individuals' thoughts and reduce cognitive errors, thereby changing their beliefs and attitudes. Furthermore, it could increase participation in pleasurable activities and impact the range and quality of relationships and thereby affect social support, possibly increasing their adaptation to their problems (Spencer, 2023). Proper use of emotions, awareness of emotions, and timely acceptance and expression, especially of positive emotions in life situations, could reduce their negative feelings, consequently increasing their adaptability and moderating experiential avoidance.…”

“…It is assumed that experiential avoidance plays an important role in the etiology, persistence, and modification of various forms of psychological damage, especially anxiety and mood disorders among couples and other individuals in society, and according to such results, experiential avoidance comprises a broad transdiagnostic risk factor that leads to individual vulnerability in the face of life's difficulties and hardships (Spencer, 2023). Various researches have shown that experiential avoidance is associated with more negative emotions and coping problems (Kim, 2023).…”

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder in Adolescence: Preliminary Appraisal Based on a Case Study Approach

“…Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been proposed as an increasingly appealing evidence-based approach for the treatment of diverse mental and physical health problems (A-Tjak et al, 2015), improvement of engaged living, and attenuation of the impact of experiential avoidance (Spencer et al, 2022). The acceptability and efficacy of ACT interventions for adolescents with various mental disorders, though not specifically with adolescent SAD, has also been proposed recently, with decreased levels of PI and increased life satisfaction (Moreno & Blasco, 2019).…”