Psychological flexibility is the capacity to adapt to difficult experiences while remaining true to one’s values. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses heavily on this skill due to its many benefits. These include better resilience, emotional tolerance, and overall well-being.
The Psychological Flexibility: ACT Skill worksheet clarifies this important concept and translates the six underlying ACT principles into easier-to-understand terms:
- Acceptance
- Detachment From Thoughts
- Present-Focused Perspective
- Observing Self
- Values Clarification
- Values Enactment
The worksheet explains these terms and provides concrete action steps to promote psychological flexibility.
Use this resource with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, or general unhappiness. Regular practice of the action steps can improve quality of life and create a deeper sense of meaning and purpose. Consider assigning one or more of the steps as homework and then review clients’ progress in the next session.
For related tools, see our Thought Defusion, Mindfulness Exercises, and Values Assessment tools.
