Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative approach to the psychopathology by presenting a model of mental health from the perspective of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – a unified model of human functioning and adaptability called psychological flexibility, based on processes of acceptance, mindfulness, commitment and behavioral change (Hayes, Strosahl, Wilson, 2012). The article introduces philosophical (Functional Contextualism) and theoretical (Relational Frame Theory) basis of ACT and its implications to the model of psychological flexibility. Subsequently, the unified model of mental health is presented. The core psychological constructs – psychological flexibility and its six key processes: defusion, acceptance, flexible contact with present moment, self as context, values and committed action are defined and discussed. It is hoped that this paper will inform researchers, practitioners and patients about alternative approach to mental health and will encourage further studies on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Key words: mental health, ACT, psychological flexibility, human suffering

The problem of mental health is an important and continuously analyzed issue due to the alarming statistics on the spread of disorders and psychological problems in modern society (cf. Cheng, Li, Silenzio, Caine, 2014). Effective prevention and treatment in this field requires not only effective techniques but above all, an integrated model of human functioning. However, despite the fact that according to the Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization (1946) health is a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” traditional approaches to psychopathology treats mental health as a state of absence of symptoms (syndromal approach) or focuses on selected core processes disorder (biological approach) (Wilson, Hayes, Gregg, Zettle, 2001). Therefore, the aim of this article is to present an alternative, functional approach to psychopathology by presenting a model of mental health from the perspective of acceptance and commitment therapy.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)1 is a behavioural psychotherapy developed in the early 1980s by American psychologists Steven C. Hayes, Kirk D. Strosahl and Kelly G. Wilson, classified as a part of the “third wave” (Hayes, 2004) of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and a part of the Contextual Behavioural Science (CBS) approach (cf. Hayes, Levin, Plumb-Vilardaga, Villatte, Pistorello, 2013).