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Acceptance and Commitment Approaches for Athletes’ Wellbeing and Performance: The Flexible Mind
by Ross G. White Andrew Bethell Lewis Charnock Stephen Leckey Victoria PenprazeElite sport can be an unforgiving and harsh environment. This book explores psychological predictors of wellbeing and performance excellence in elite level athletes, and presents an innovative approach for optimizing mental wellbeing and sporting performance. Jointly developed by performance psychologists, clinical psychologists and sport scientists the Flexible Mind approach draws on contemporary psychological theory and research to help athletes build ‘psychological flexibility’ - the ability to experience challenging thoughts and emotions and still be true to one’s values. A range of case studies relating to different sports are used to demonstrate how three core components - Being Present, Being Open and Doing What Matters - can improve athletes’ performance and wellbeing. This book will be a game-changing resource for sports psychologists, mental health practitioners, coaches and support staff who are committed to helping athletes to excel and stay well.
Acceptance and Commitment Coaching: Distinctive Features (Coaching Distinctive Features)
by Joe Oliver Jon HillJon Hill and Joe Oliver introduce the Acceptance and Commitment Coaching (ACC) model with clarity and accessibility, defining it as an approach that incorporates mindfulness and acceptance, focusing on committed, values-based actions to help coachees make meaningful changes to their lives. Acceptance and Commitment Coaching: Distinctive Features explains the ACC model in such a way that the reader will be able to put it into practice immediately, as well as offering sufficient context to anchor the practical tools in a clear theoretical framework. Split into two parts, the book begins by emphasising ACC’s relevance and its core philosophy before providing an overview of its key theoretical points and the research that supports it. The authors also explain the six key ACC processes: defusion, acceptance, contact with the present moment, self as context, values and committed action, and explain how to use them in practice. Hill and Oliver address essential topics, such as the critical work needed before and as you begin working with a coachee, how to use metaphor as an effective tool as a coach, and they finish by offering helpful tips on how to help coachees maintain their positive changes, how to make ACC accessible to all types of client, how to manage challenging coachees and how to work with both individuals and groups using ACC. Aimed specifically at coaches, the book offers context, examples, practicality and a unique combination of practical and theoretical points in a concise format. Acceptance and Commitment Coaching: Distinctive Features is essential reading for coaches, coaching psychologists and executive coaches in practice and in training. It would be of interest to academics and students of coaching psychology and coaching techniques, as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practitioners looking to move into coaching.
Acceptance and Commitment Skills for Perfectionism and High-Achieving Behaviors: Do Things Your Way, Be Yourself, and Live a Purposeful Life
by Patricia E. Zurita OnaThis book is essential for those who are prone to high-achieving, self-starting, and perfectionistic actions; people who relentlessly, persistently, and determinedly pursue their dreams, goals, and aspirations; people who hold their high standards, principles, and values close to their heart. Chapter by chapter, you will learn acceptance and commitment skills to harness the power of perfectionism and high-achieving behaviors while living the life you want to live. You will learn how to be yourself, keep your fears in perspective, and do meaningful things without dwelling for hours on the different ways to make things right, postponing things because they aren’t ready, struggling for days with rumination, anxiety and stress, or wrestling periodically with harsh criticisms. This book will show you how you can give your best, work hard, and push yourself when you deeply care about things without sacrificing your well-being, hurting your relationships, or compromising your health. You will learn when to engage in high-achieving actions in an effective, life-expansive, and skillful way. You will develop a new workable relationship with all those narratives about not being good enough and treat yourself with kindness, compassion, and caring. Most importantly, you will find that you can be yourself without losing yourself.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Brain Injury: A Practical Guide for Clinicians
by Will CurvisAcceptance and Commitment Therapy and Brain Injury discusses how acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can be integrated into existing approaches to neuropsychological rehabilitation and therapy used with people who have experienced a brain injury. Written by practicing clinical psychologists and clinical neuropsychologists, this text is the first to integrate available research with innovative clinical practice. The book discusses how ACT principles can be adapted to meet the broad and varying physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural needs of people who have experienced brain injury, including supporting families of people who have experienced brain injury and healthcare professionals working in brain injury services. It offers considerations for direct and indirect, systemic and multi-disciplinary working through discussion of ACT concepts alongside examples taken from clinical practice and consideration of real-world brain injury cases, across a range of clinical settings and contexts. The book will be relevant to a range of psychologists and related professionals, including those working in neuropsychology settings and those working in more general physical or mental health contexts.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness for Psychosis
by Joseph E. Oliver Eric M. Morris Louise C. JohnsThis is the first volume to present a broad picture of theory and application for clinical approaches incorporating ACT and mindfulness in working with psychosis. It provides an overview and introduction to the subject, including a review of the evidence base. Clinical and practical applications are supported with case studies in both individual and group work, with an emphasis on utilizing these strategies in a clinical context. Addressed to practitioners, this book is idea for clinical and counseling psychologists, CBT therapists, and psychiatrists.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy bij kinderen en jongeren
by Monique Samsen Janneke De HeusAcceptatie en Commitment Therapie bij kinderen en jongeren is een dynamisch werkboek, waarbij alle elementen/vaardigheden voor psychologische flexibiliteit aanwezig zijn, maar waar de volgorde minder vast staat. Het werkboek wordt gebruikt als een soort kaartenbak met oefeningen die los gebruikt kunnen worden of als geheel: achter elkaar, door elkaar. Dit werkboek heeft als doel voldoende algemene theoretische ondersteuning te bieden voor onbekenden met de methodiek om het toe te kunnen passen. De uitgave is een aanvulling op bestaande boeken over de theorie en praktijk vanwege de theoretische koppeling van ACT met kinderen en jongeren; de oefeningen en metaforen die worden gebruikt, zijn aangepast op de belevingswereld en ontwikkelingsniveau van kinderen en jongeren. Vanwege de grote verzameling van oefeningen en metaforen, gepresenteerd als 'kaartenbak' in dit werkboek, zijn onbekenden met ACT eerder geneigd de methodiek toe te passen.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Behavior Analysts: A Practice Guide from Theory to Treatment (Behavior Science)
by Steven C. Hayes Mark R. Dixon Jordan BelisleThis book provides a thorough discussion of acceptance and commitment therapy or training (ACT) and a guide for its use by behavior analysts. The book emphasizes how the intentional development of six core behavioral processes – values, committed action, acceptance, defusion, self-as-context, and present moment awareness – help establish the psychological flexibility needed to acquire and maintain adaptive behaviors that compete with maladaptive behavior patterns in verbally able clients. Split into three parts, the book discusses the history and controversy surrounding the rise of acceptance and commitment strategies in behavior analysis and shows how the processes underlying ACT are linked to foundational behavioral scientific principles as amplified by stimulus equivalence and relational learning principles such as those addressed by relational frame theory. In a careful step-by-step way, it describes the best practices for administering the acceptance and commitment procedures at the level of the individual client, organizational systems, and with families. Attention is also given to the ethical and scope-of-practice considerations for behavior analysts, along with recommendations for conducting on-going research on this new frontier for behavior analytic treatment across a myriad of populations and behaviors. Written by leading experts in the field, the book argues that practice must proceed from the basic tenants of behavior analysis, and that now is the opportune moment to bring ACT methods to behavior analysts to maximize the scope and depth of behavioral treatments for all people. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Behavior Analysts will be an essential read for students of behavior analysis and behavior therapy, as well as for individuals on graduate training programs that prepare behavior analysts and professionals that are likely to use ACT in their clinical practice and research.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Christian Clients: A Faith-Based Workbook
by Joshua J. KnabbAcceptance and Commitment Therapy for Christian Clients is an indispensable companion to Faith-Based ACT for Christian Clients. The workbook offers a basic overview of the goals of ACT, including concepts that overlap with Christianity. Chapters devoted to each of the six ACT processes include biblical examples, equivalent concepts from the writings of early desert Christians, worksheets for clients to better understand and apply the material, and strategies for clients to integrate a Christian worldview with the ACT-based processes. Each chapter also includes several exercises devoted to contemplative prayer and other psychospiritual interventions.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Christian Clients: A Faith-Based Workbook
by Joshua J. KnabbAcceptance and Commitment Therapy for Christian Clients: A Faith-Based Workbook, Second Edition, is an indispensable companion for mental health professionals and their clients. The new edition includes updated discussions in each chapter and more than twenty-five new and updated exercises. The workbook offers a basic overview of the goals of ACT, including concepts that overlap with Christianity. Chapters devoted to each of the six ACT processes include biblical examples, equivalent concepts from the writings of contemplative Christians, worksheets for clients to better understand and apply the material, and strategies for clients to integrate a Christian worldview with ACT processes. Each chapter also includes several exercises devoted to contemplative practices and other psychospiritual interventions.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders: A Process-focused Guide to Treating Anorexia and Bulimia
by Emily K. Sandoz Troy Dufrene Kelly G. WilsonAt some point in clinical practice, most therapists will encounter a client suffering with an eating disorder, but many are uncertain of how to treat these issues. Because eating disorders are rooted in secrecy and reinforced by our culture's dangerous obsession with thinness, sufferers are likely to experience significant health complications before they receive the help they need. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders presents a thorough conceptual foundation along with a complete protocol therapists can use to target the rigidity and perfectionism at the core of most eating disorders. Using this protocol, therapists can help clients overcome anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and other types of disordered eating. This professional guide offers a review of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as a theoretical orientation and presents case conceptualizations that illuminate the ACT process. Then, it provides session-by-session guidance for training and tracking present-moment focus, cognitive defusion, experiential acceptance, transcendent self-awareness, chosen values, and committed action-the six behavioral components that underlie ACT and allow clients to radically change their relationship to food and to their bodies. Both clinicians who already use ACT in their practices and those who have no prior familiarity with this revolutionary approach will find this resource essential to the effective assessment and treatment of all types of eating disorders.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Insomnia: A Session-By-Session Guide
by Renatha El Rafihi-FerreiraThis book presents a complete guide for psychotherapists to apply a protocol based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to the treatment of insomnia. It describes an evidence-based treatment program for insomnia based on the theoretical model of ACT which allows clinicians to both apply it as monotherapy or in conjunction with behavioral components that are associated with better insomnia treatment outcomes, such as stimulus control and sleep restriction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the current psychotherapy of choice to treat insomnia, but there are patients who have difficulties in adhering to some therapeutic elements and others who are refractory to this modality. Therefore, new therapeutic modalities are needed. ACT applied to insomnia has shown effective results, presenting another way to deal with the cognitive components involved in sleep difficulties. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Insomnia: A Session-By-Session Guide aims to bridge the gap between the available evidence on the use of ACT for insomnia and clinical practice by providing, in one single volume, all the necessary tools for clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and mental health professionals interested in applying this innovative evidence-based approach to the treatment of insomnia. “This innovative and well-written volume offers therapists a practical, evidence-based alternative to traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or medication-dependent treatments for insomnia. It’s important to have such choices, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has unusual strengths in focusing on the whole person and their overall quality of life, instead of the features of sleep disruption alone. Using a carefully crafted, session-by-session approach, it equips professionals with the tools to adapt ACT to individual patient needs, making a meaningful difference in their journey towards restful sleep and greater well-being. Highly recommended”. Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D. Foundation Professor of Psychology Emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno. Originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Second Edition
by Steven C. Hayes Kirk D. StrosahlSince the original publication of this seminal work, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has come into its own as a widely practiced approach to helping people change. This book provides the definitive statement of ACT--from conceptual and empirical foundations to clinical techniques written by its originators. ACT is based on the idea that psychological rigidity is a root cause of a wide range of clinical problems. The authors describe effective, innovative ways to cultivate psychological flexibility by detecting and targeting six key processes: defusion, acceptance, attention to the present moment, self-awareness, values, and committed action. Sample therapeutic exercises and patient-therapist dialogues are integrated throughout. New to This Edition, Reflects tremendous advances in ACT clinical applications, theory building, and research. Psychological flexibility is now the central organizing focus. Expanded coverage of mindfulness, the therapeutic relationship, relational learning, and case formulation. Restructured to be more clinician friendly and accessible; focuses on the moment-by-moment process of therapy.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques (100 Key Points)
by Richard Bennett Joe OliverAcceptance and Commitment Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques offers a comprehensive, yet concise, overview of the central features of the philosophy, theory, and practical application of ACT. It explains and demonstrates the range of acceptance, mindfulness, and behaviour change strategies that can be used in the service of helping people increase their psychological flexibility and wellbeing. Divided into three main parts, the book covers the ‘Head, Hands, and Heart’ of the approach, moving from the basics of behavioural psychology, via the key principles of Relational Frame Theory and the Psychological Flexibility model, to a detailed description of how ACT is practiced, providing the reader with a solid grounding from which to develop their delivery of ACT-consistent interventions. It concludes by addressing key decisions to make in practice and how best to attend to the therapeutic process. The authors of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy bring a wealth of experience of using ACT in their own therapy practice and of training and supervising others in developing knowledge and skills in the approach. This book will appeal to practitioners looking to further their theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills and those seeking a useful reference for all aspects of their ACT practice.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques (100 Key Points)
by Richard Bennett Joseph E. OliverThis book offers a comprehensive overview of the central theoretical tenets of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), guidance on key practical applications of the approach, and reflection on the strategic issues inherent to the delivery of this psychological intervention.This thoroughly revised edition explains and demonstrates the range of acceptance, mindfulness, and behaviour change strategies that can be used in the service of helping people increase their psychological flexibility and wellbeing. Divided into three main parts, the book provides the reader with a solid grounding from which to develop their delivery of ACT-consistent interventions. This new edition also includes an update of the research literature and a review of new developments, techniques, and approaches within ACT theory and practice, fortified with a greater appreciation of diversity issues, such as the application of ACT across different groups and cultures.This book will be of interest to students and practitioners of ACT from a range of disciplines spanning clinical, organisational, coaching, counselling, and psychotherapy settings.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Distinctive Features (CBT Distinctive Features)
by Frank W. Bond Paul E. Flaxman J.T. BlackledgeWhat are the distinctive theoretical and practical features of acceptance and commitment therapy? Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a modern behaviour therapy that uses acceptance and mindfulness interventions alongside commitment and behaviour change strategies to enhance psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility refers to the ability to contact the present moment and change or persist in behaviour that serves one’s personally chosen values. Divided into two sections, The Distinctive Theoretical Features of ACT and The Distinctive Practical Features of ACT, this book summarises the key features of ACT in 30 concise points and explains how this approach differs from traditional cognitive behaviour therapy. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy provides an excellent guide to ACT. Its straightforward format will appeal to those who are new to the field and provide a handy reference tool for more experienced clinicians.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions (50 FAQs in Counselling and Psychotherapy)
by Richard Bennett Dawn JohnsonAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based contemporary psychological approach to behaviour change that promotes the idea of people living more in line with their values whilst providing them with practical strategies for managing adversity. In this book, Dawn Johnson and Richard Bennett have collated fifty of the questions that have most frequently been put to them whilst delivering ACT training and supervision to a wide range of therapists and other helping professionals. This book is the first of its kind to provide concise answers to a range of philosophical, theoretical, conceptual, and practical questions raised by practitioners who are learning ACT. It will be of interest to psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, counsellors, psychiatrists, and a broad range of other mental health practitioners and trainees. It serves as a useful resource for those new to the practice of ACT, and for more experienced practitioners who might want to consider these questions themselves.
Acceptance and Mindfulness at Work: Applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Relational Frame Theory to Organizational Behavior Management
by Dermot Barnes-Holmes Steven C. Hayes John Austin Frank W. BondAn innovative and effective approach to organizational behavioral management Despite more than 40 years of empirical and conceptual research, the contribution of behavior analysis to the world of business remains relatively small and organizational behavior management gets little attention in both the academic and professional communities. Acceptance and Mindfulness at Work presents behavioral analysis of human language that&’s ready to use, with applied extensions proven to have a significant impact in organizational settings. The leading experts in the field examine how these ongoing developments can help broaden the exploration of the psychological issues relevant to organizational behavioral management (OBM) in the workplace.Acceptance and Mindfulness at Work presents conceptual and empirical articles, and reviews of working examples of Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) applied to organizational behavior management. The book examines goal setting, feedback, task descriptions, and workers&’ ability to learn as examples of how to affect positive change in organizations through increased productivity and improved quality of life in the workplace. The possibilities presented by RTF can lead to advancements in employee safety and training, stress and health management, employee evaluation, managing absenteeism, tardiness, and turnover, and self-management.Acceptance and Mindfulness at Work examines: cognition in OBM industrial/organization (I/O) psychology how interventions using ACT have increased psychological flexibility rule-following feedback task performance feedback programmed schedules of reinforcement goal setting, goal statements, and goal-directed behavior how psychological flexibility and job control can predict learning, job performance, and mental health and much moreAcceptance and Mindfulness at Work is a vital professional resource for organization development practitioners and human resource managers.
Acceptance and Mindfulness in Cognitive Behavior Therapy
by James D. Herbert Evan M. FormanPraise for Acceptance and Mindfulness in Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Understanding and Applying the New Therapies"One of the most fruitful aspects of the encounter between classical Buddhist knowledge and modern science has been the emergence of new therapeutic and educational approaches that integrate contemplative practice, such as mindfulness, and contemporary psychology methods, such as those of cognitive therapy. The systematic approach of this book, wherein the insights of both classical Buddhist and contemporary psychology are integrated, represents a most beneficial and powerful method of ensuring a healthy mind and heart."--His Holiness the Dalai Lama"What has been missing in the midst of partisan battles between orthodox CBT therapists and enthusiastic proponents of newer acceptance/mindfulness approaches is a reasoned, scientifically grounded discourse that would help researchers and clinicians alike sort through the various claims and counterclaims. This book, skillfully conceived and edited by James Herbert and Evan Forman, provides just such a sober and open-minded appraisal of a trend that has sometimes suffered both from too much hype from one side and too sweeping a rejection by the other. This volume encourages careful consideration of both positions and can advance evidence-based psychosocial therapy both conceptually and procedurally to the benefit of all."--From the Foreword by Gerald C. Davison, PhD, University of Southern CaliforniaAcceptance and Mindfulness in Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Understanding and Applying the New Therapies brings together a renowned group of leading figures in CBT who address key issues and topics, including:Mindfulness-based cognitive therapyMetacognitive therapyMindfulness-based stress reductionDialectical behavior therapyUnderstanding acceptance and commitment therapy in context
Access and Inclusion for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: 'Let Me In'
by Christine Breakey Matthew HesmondhalghBased on pioneering work at their school in Sheffield, the authors of this book explore the universal issues of access and inclusion in employment and education for children and young people with autism or Asperger's Syndrome. They describe the challenges they faced in establishing and running an Integrated Resource for these children within a mainstream secondary school. The twenty-four pupils at The Resource participate in the regular school curriculum, but also learn a wide range of additional life skills. These include road safety, work-place skills and using public transport as well as expressing feelings, making choices and learning from experience. One innovative area of work at The Resource is the work placement scheme which has given pupils the opportunity to work with local companies including a supermarket and an insurance firm. In addition to this, The Resource has established a partnership with a further education college to enable their pupils to gain further support after they leave school. These projects demonstrate the encouraging possibilities in employment and the wider world for young people on the autistic spectrum. The experiences of these special pupils and their peers and teachers provide lessons as well as messages of hope and understanding for parents and professionals within the field of autism. The authors make useful, practical suggestions for access and inclusion, showing how those with autism or Asperger's Syndrome can participate fully in the world of work and the community.
Access to Mental Health Care in South Asia: Current Status, Potential Challenges, and Ways Out
by S. M. Yasir Arafat Sujita Kumar KarThis book is about access to mental health care in South Asia. South Asia consists of eight countries with low and middle-income backgrounds. The region contains a combined population of about 2 billion, making up about a quarter of the global population. The people of this region share common cultures, beliefs, and behavioral patterns regarding physical and mental health. Among them, about 15% (about 300 million) have been suffering from common mental disorders. However, there is a persisting high treatment gap for mental illness in the region. Hence, despite having a mental illness, only a small percentage of the population is able to have access to essential mental healthcare. Though governments are trying to bridge the gap by improving mental health policies and programs, it is still a major challenge delivering mental healthcare to all people in need. Due to the income category and dual disease burden of the countries, there are some additional enduring challenges like poor funding and research, inadequate and inequitable manpower, huge out-of-pocket expenses, poor mental health literacy, income disparity, and high stigma. This book aims to highlight the issues related to accessing mental health services in a densely populated low and middle-income setting. This book is the first of its kind in comparing and contrasting the delivery status of mental health services in South Asian countries.
Accessibility in Text and Discourse Processing: A Special Issue of Discourse Processes
by Morton Ann Gernsbacher Ted J.M. SandersThis special issue shows how accessibility phenomena need to be studied from a linguistic and psycholinguistic angle, and in the latter case from interpretation, as well as production. The contributions augment the growing knowledge of accessibility in text and discourse processing. They also illuminate how accessibility is marked in a text or a discourse, how readers and listeners respond to those markings, and how mental representations evolve and change as a direct result of accessibility. The editors hope is that the text affects the readers' representations in ways that linguists and psycholinguists theorize as beneficial.
Accessing the Clinical Genius of Winnicott: A Careful Rendering of Winnicott’s Twelve Most Influential Clinical papers
by Teri QuatmanDonald Winnicott, psychoanalyst and pediatrician, is viewed by many in the psychodynamic field as the “other genius” in the history of psychodynamic theory and practice, along with Freud. This book selects and explores twelve of his most infl uential clinical papers. Winnicott’s works have been highly valued in the decades since they were first published, and are still relevant today. Winnicott’s writings on the goals and techniques of psychodynamic psychotherapy have been foundational, in that he recast Freudian- and Kleinian-infl uenced thinking in the direction of the more relational schools of psychotherapy that define current 21st-century psychodynamic practice. Winnicott’s writings help us to understand the maturational processes of children, certainly. But more than that, they help us to understand how best to intervene when the enterprise of childhood leads to compromises of psychological health in later years. Yet, despite Winnicott’s influence and continuing relevance, his writings, while at some level simple, are elusive to modern readers. For one thing, he writes in the psychoanalytic genre of the 1930s-1960s, whose underlying theoretical assumptions and vocabulary are obscure in the present day and, for another, his writing often reflects primary process thinking, which is suggestive, but not declarative. In this work, Teri Quatman provides explanations and insight, in an interlocution with Winnicott’s most significant papers, exploring both his language and concepts, and enabling the clinician to emerge with a deep and reflective understanding of his thoughts, perspectives, and techniques. Engaging and accessible, Accessing the Clinical Genius of Winnicott will be of great use to anyone encountering Winnicott for the first time, particularly in psychodynamic psychotherapeutic training, and in the teaching of relational psychotherapies.
Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve: Self-Help Exercises for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Autism
by Benjamin Shield Stephen W. Porges Stanley RosenberyThis practical guide to understanding the cranial nerves as the key to our psychological and physical well-being builds on Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory—one of the most important recent developments in human neurobiology. Drawing on more than thirty years of experience as a craniosacral therapist and Rolfer, Stanley Rosenberg explores the crucial role that the vagus nerve plays in determining our psychological and emotional states and explains that a myriad of common psychological and physical symptoms—from anxiety and depression to migraines and back pain—indicates a lack of proper functioning in the vagus nerve. Through a series of easy self-help exercises, the book illustrates the simple ways we can regulate the vagus nerve in order to initiate deep relaxation, improve sleep, and recover from injury and trauma. Additionally, by exploring the link between a well-regulated vagus nerve and social functioning, Rosenberg’s findings and methods offer new hope that by improving social behavior it is possible to alleviate some of the symptoms at the core of many cases of autism spectrum disorders. Useful for psychotherapists, doctors, bodyworkers, and caregivers, as well as anyone who experiences the symptoms of chronic stress and depression, this book shows how we can optimize autonomic functioning in ourselves and others, and bring the body into the state of safety that activates its innate capacity to heal.
Accidental Brothers: The Story of Twins Exchanged at Birth and the Power of Nature and Nurture
by Nancy L. Segal Yesika S. Montoya"A unique window into human behavior and development." —Steven PinkerThe riveting story of two sets of identical twins separated at birth and improbably reunited as adults, a dream case for exploring nature and nurture.Accidental Brothers tells the unique story of two sets of identical Colombian twin brothers who discovered at age 25 that they were mistakenly raised as fraternal twins—when they were not even biological brothers. Due to an oversight that presumably occurred in the hospital nursery, one twin in each pair was switched with a twin in the other pair. The result was two sets of unrelated “fraternal” twins—Jorge and Carlos, who were raised in the lively city of Bogotá; and William and Wilber, who were raised in the remote rural village of La Paz, 150 miles away. Their parents and siblings were aware of the enormous physical and behavioral differences between the members of each set, but never doubted that the two belonged in their biological families. Everyone’s life unraveled when one of the twins—William—was mistaken by a young woman for his real identical twin, Jorge. Her “discovery” led to the truth—that the alleged twins were not twins at all, but rather unrelated individuals who ended up with the wrong families. Blending great science and human interest, Accidental Brothers by Nancy L. Segal and Yesika S. Montoya will inform and entertain anyone interested in how twin studies illuminate the origins of human behavior, as well as mother-infant identification and the chance events that can have profound consequences on our lives.
Accidental Ethnography: An Inquiry into Family Secrecy (Writing Lives Ser. #7)
by Christopher N. PoulosEach family has its secrets, ones that shape family communication and relationships in a way generally unknown to the outsider and often the family itself. Autoethnographers, students of these relationships, confront many silences in their attempts to understand these social worlds. Now issued as a Routledge Education Classic Edition, Accidental Ethnography delves into this shadowy world of pain and loss in the hopes of finding productive, ethical avenues for transforming the secret lives of families into powerful narratives of hope. It merges autoethnographic method with the therapeutic power of storytelling to heal family wounds. A new preface text by the author reflects on the changes in the field of qualitative research and on his own research journey since the publication of the original edition.