Cultural Adaptations of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Abstract

ACT is best understood functionally and contextually as the purposeful behavior of a clinician in a therapeutic context that is both principle-informed and experientially guided. From a functional and contextual account, every ACT case is subject to cultural adaptation because no two individuals have identical learning histories and situational contexts. If ACT is practiced functionally and contextually, no additional guidelines for cultural adaptation are needed. What is extremely difficult, however, is to practice and embody ACT functionally and contextually. The article offers some insights into how a clinician stays connected with the therapeutic context with a given client functionally and contextually.

Wellbeing Wednesdays: a pilot trial of acceptance and commitment therapy embedded in a freshman seminar

“…For example, its focus on valued-living allows for specific cultural values to guide treatment such as spirituality or interdependence, making it potentially more acceptable than CBT in its focus on rationality and change for those of diverse backgrounds (Woidneck et al, 2012). Cultural norms and values inform the behavioural processes that will be targeted in treatment, and the focus is on adapting those target processes instead of on current distress (Masuda et al, 2021).…”

“…In their recent chapter, Masuda et al (2021) reflect on the cultural adaptation of ACT, and how it relates to behavioural health concepts of cultural adaptation, competence and humility. They echo the same ideas that when ACT is truly practised functionally and contextually, this means it is being adapted to an individual within their own cultural context, and thus it is ideal for application across culture and identities.…”

“…They echo the same ideas that when ACT is truly practised functionally and contextually, this means it is being adapted to an individual within their own cultural context, and thus it is ideal for application across culture and identities. In practice, this is difficult to do, although given ACT's fundamental focus on processes rather than content, this moves progress in the right direction (Masuda et al, 2021). Notably, they state the importance of further examination of the health and wellbeing of people with minoritized identities such as those related to ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and that this work can then inform knowledge gaps and service delivery (Masuda et al, 2021).…”

“…In practice, this is difficult to do, although given ACT's fundamental focus on processes rather than content, this moves progress in the right direction (Masuda et al, 2021). Notably, they state the importance of further examination of the health and wellbeing of people with minoritized identities such as those related to ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and that this work can then inform knowledge gaps and service delivery (Masuda et al, 2021). This makes it important to continue adapting ACT within future work with ACT that reports on demographics of samples and occurs in various contexts.…”