Description
This compelling book provides psychotherapists with evidence-based strategies for harnessing the power of language to free clients from life-constricting patterns and promote psychological flourishing. Grounded in relational frame theory (RFT), the volume shares innovative ways to enhance assessment and intervention using specific kinds of clinical conversations. Techniques are demonstrated for activating and shaping behavior change, building a flexible sense of self, fostering meaning and motivation, creating powerful experiential metaphors, and strengthening the therapeutic relationship. User-friendly features include more than 80 clinical vignettes with commentary by the authors, plus a “Quick Guide to Using RFT in Psychotherapy” filled with sample phrases and questions to ask.
Niklas Torneke (verified owner) –
This is a book that shows that psychotherapy can be built on principles of basic science. Interventions can grow from “bottom-up”. This means, among other things, that the book can be helpful to therapists from many different models and traditions. At the same time the book comes out of a specific tradition, the one of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In that tradition it is, in my opinion, one of the most significant clinical contributions since the original ACT book from 1999.
JL Monestès (verified owner) –
This book is a milestone from which the way we approach psychotherapy can be transformed. Clinicians will look at their main tool – language – with new eyes. Researchers will be stimulated by the foundations of one of the most promising research programs emerging from contextual behavioral science: relational frame theory.
While many psychotherapy manuals limit the description of their theoretical background to a mandatory opening chapter, Villatte, Villatte, and Hayes’ tour de force is to ground each therapeutic move in the concepts of RFT, clearly and vividly described here. Empowered by this truly practical framework, clinicians are offered the possibility of using language to deeply improve their clients’ lives, sometimes in the most unexpected and meaningful ways.
Pierre Cousineau (verified owner) –
For human beings, the default mode of relating to language is to interpret its content. Thus, for most of us, language describes reality. In clinical context, this fusion between words and what is perceived as reality is often associated with subjective suffering as in the self-descriptive narrative “I am unlovable”.
Seeing language as stimulus function instead of stimulus content brings a fundamental paradigmatic shift. This is what Relational Frame Theory (RFT) issued from ACT theorists has brought to science. But at first, it was hard for clinicians to understand how this important contribution could be integrated in day-to-day professional practice. This book by Villatte, Villatte, & Hayes is a brilliant illustration of how to do so.
medit8a (verified owner) –
The best part of this book is the skills the reader can use. Included in the skills are those that help the practitioner develop their own skills. The reader also gets an in depth exposure to Relational Frame Theory. It’s written for the reader to enjoy too.
Russ Harris (verified owner) –
This book is a fantastic clinical resource – not only for ACT therapists, but for any therapist. It takes us step by step through the flexible language processes involved in all types of effective therapy. It will give you a wealth of insight into what really goes on during therapy, and a myriad of tools to expand your repertoire, working from any model. (Added bonus: If you’ve ever wanted to understand RFT – relational frame thoery – and how it is clinically relevant, this is definitely the book for you.)
I can’t recommend this book enough. Truly inspirational.
– Russ Harris, author of ‘The Happiness Trap’ and ‘ACT Made Simple’
Marie (verified owner) –
If you expect to fully understand ‘what works’ during your sessions, and seek to be able to replicate these processes in a sharp and context-adapted manner (whatever your therapeutic orientation may be),
And/or
If you are the kind of person who needs to understand clinical processes both from a theoretical and practical perspective, eager to grasp the bridges between them,
And/or
If you are interested in all behavioral science developments that will enhance your therapeutic skills (particularly those which might seem geeky at first, and which suddenly become applicable to your everyday practice),
And/or
If you have tried to become an RFT geek, and are having the feeling that there is something (huh, several things, should I say) about RFT that you seem to have failed to understand, so far,
And
If you enjoy a well-written page-turner, which speaks to your mind, as well as to your heart and soul,
And
You are doubting that one single book may contain all this at once,
…Well, I guess you should read that book!
Claire-marie Best (verified owner) –
” Great book, very useful to link relational frame theory to clinical approach.
The authors describe and explain concepts in a very clear and didactic way through many clinical examples. Each chapter allows therapists to apply the principles of RFT with their patients.
This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in functional contextualism.”
Angela Cathey (verified owner) –
Cutting edge treatment based on RFT principles. This is the most useful, comprehendable, and comprehensive writing I’ve seen on the application of RFT to clinical work. Language as intervention!
B. F. Lennox Thompson (verified owner) –
This book is by no means an easy read – but read it you must if you’re engaged in talking with people who are stuck, seeking help to make changes, or who are distressed. For a scientifically validated approach to the way humans use language, Relational Frame Theory is providing a robust way to understand how our natural approach to learning about abstract concept can tie us in behavioural knots. While this book is based on RFT and includes one of the most concise accounts of the theory, once you’re past this section, the remaining book is full of practical ways to use language processes to increase the flexibility of responses to life. Any clinician could use this book, but especially those working in counselling, psychology, occupational therapy, coaching, physiotherapy, social work and teaching.
Robert Styles (verified owner) –
BRILLIANT book! Relevant to anyone who uses language in their endeavour to positively impact the human condition. For me it provides a very accessible explanation of RFT, a contemporary theory of language and cognition, and segues beautifully into the series of chapters on how our words function to have our work and the lives of those we touch work better in very practical ways. It will help us keep doing our magic!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
This will change your practice!
Ronald J. Browne (verified owner) –
(This review is by Jacki Browne, PhD, LCSW.) As a psychotherapist who uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, but was not trained as a behaviorist and is just now becoming willing to dip into learning more about RFT, I purchased Mastering the Clinical Conversation. This text is written with painstaking detail and numerous examples to hold your hand, step by step. For someone new to this, I am already able to implement pieces of the learning with my clients. Having the concept of relational framing and the various ways in which language is framed top of mind these days, I recently understood that a client’s inability to begin an exercise program recommended by her doctor was being influenced by her thoughts connected to her much older husband’s dying. Using oppositional framing and conditional framing, we were able to see very clearly how her plan to get healthy was related to thoughts that she would be getting healthier and continue life after he passed away. The opposite of life, her living, was death, her husband’s dying. If she were healthy, it would mean that her husband had died, and she was moving on. I think both the client and I were stunned by this insight. Until we worked in this way, neither of us had any idea why her own strong desire to be healthier was getting no traction in her life.
I am grateful to these 3 authors for writing this book and for Mattieu Villatte also offering a website (language as intervention.com) with many resources.
Amazinn (verified owner) –
One of the best clinical volumes I’ve read in a long time. It’s chewy but very nourishing. This book provides insights whatever your clinical orientation is.
Thakadiyel Jj (verified owner) –
Great product. Good Price. Loved it.
James A. Dauer (verified owner) –
Content and material speaks to the heart of the therapeutic context. On the negative side, it’s heady and at times granular. Very technical.
Hayes other book. A Liberated Mind, which targets the self-help community and not the context of patient/therapist is an easier read.
leah – Ellie Agayeva (verified owner) –
As a BCBA that is interested in other fields of behavior analysis- primarily ACT and DBT, I find this book extremely interesting. Many things are familiar to me, yet there’s more to learn about RFT. I highly recommend that book to anyone familiar with ABA.