Acceptance-Based Emotion Regulation Therapy - by Kim L Gratz & Matthew T Tull (Paperback)

About the Book

Originally developed for treating self-injury among women with borderline personality disorder, research now shows that acceptance-based emotion regulation therapy is powerfully effective in treating all components of emotion dysregulation and related psychiatric symptoms in a wide range of clients. Grounded in evidence-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), this professional guide offers clinicians an array of techniques and tools they can use to improve client treatment outcomes and prevent relapse.

Book Synopsis

Efficiently target all dimensions of your clients' emotion dysregulation for improved treatment outcomes.

There is extensive evidence highlighting the role of emotion dysregulation in numerous forms of psychopathology and maladaptive behaviors including depression, anxiety, PTSD, personality disorders, self-injury, disordered eating behaviors, and substance use, among others. Originally developed for treating self-injury among women with borderline personality disorder, research shows that acceptance-based emotion regulationtherapy is powerfully effective in treating emotion dysregulation and related psychiatric symptoms and self-destructive behaviors in a wide range of clients.

Acceptance-Based Emotion Regulation Therapy offers an empirically supported protocol that addresses all key dimensions of emotion regulation using evidence-based strategies drawn from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and emotion-focused therapy (EFT), as well as basic behavioral principles--resulting in a treatment that is more targeted and far briefer than comprehensive DBT. After providing an overview of the conceptual and empirical underpinnings of this therapy, as well as the therapeutic stance underlying this treatment, this step-by-step guide will walk you through each of the fourteen sessions of this therapy, reviewing key concepts and specific strategies for teaching clients key emotion regulation skills.

Each chapter includes handouts and outside-of-session practice exercises and monitoring forms to help clients practice the skills and integrate them into their lives. Chapters also include discussion of common sticking points or challenges that can arise when teaching clients these skills, as well as tips for addressing these in an effective, treatment consistent manner. You'll also learn strategies for helping clients maintain treatment gains and prevent relapse. With this comprehensive protocol, you'll be fully equipped to treat psychiatric symptoms stemming from emotion dysregulation, self-destructive behaviors serving an emotion-regulating function, and emotion dysregulation more broadly.

If you've been searching for an emotion regulation therapy that efficiently and effectively targets all the core dimensions of emotion dysregulation driving your clients' symptoms and clinical difficulties, this comprehensive guide has everything you need to help your clients improve their emotion regulation, maintain treatment gains, prevent relapse, and build meaningful lives.

Review Quotes

"Acceptance-Based Emotion Regulation Therapy is a vital addition to the bookshelves of every therapist and therapist-in-training. Gratz and Tull provide clear, conceptually grounded, practical guidance for flexibly addressing emotion regulation difficulties in therapy. Their vast clinical wisdom and expertise is evident throughout as they guide readers in applying this evidence-based approach with nuance, compassion, and sensitivity. I will be using this book regularly in my clinical courses and supervision."
--Lizabeth Roemer, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and coauthor of Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy--Lizabeth Roemer, PhD

"Clinicians using process-based therapies for people with a wide range of clinical presentations will love this book. Grounded in scientific support and useful for clinicians at all levels, this is an anchoring resource and transdiagnostic light that brilliantly illuminates the many different reasons and ways to use mindfulness when treating people with emotion dysregulation."
--M. Zachary Rosenthal, PhD, associate professor and director of the Center for Misophonia and Emotion Regulation at Duke University--M. Zachary Rosenthal, PhD

"Emotional dysregulation underlies a range of mental health challenges, from mood and anxiety disorders to self-destructive behaviors. In this groundbreaking book, leading experts Kim Gratz and Matthew Tull introduce acceptance-based emotion regulation therapy--an evidence-based, acceptance-focused approach designed to help clients tackle this important transdiagnostic process. This guide equips clinicians with practical tools to effectively treat emotion regulation difficulties across diverse populations, making it essential for any therapist's bookshelf."
--Shannon Sauer-Zavala, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, founder of Personality Compass Mental Health, and coauthor of Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders and Neuroticism--Shannon Sauer-Zavala, PhD

"Gratz and Tull's expertise shines in this book. It will be an asset to anyone struggling with large and difficult emotions as well as self-destructive behaviors. The guidance provided is based on the best existing science."
--Michael P. Twohig, professor at Utah State University, and coauthor of The Anxious Perfectionist--Michael P. Twohig

"Kim Gratz and Matthew Tull have synthesized over twenty-five years of research, experience, and wisdom into a beautifully written, practical, and indispensable guide to their highly effective and scalable treatment. Grounded in robust evidence, acceptance-based emotion regulation therapy compassionately, systematically, and transdiagnostically addresses emotion regulation challenges. Readers will immerse themselves in key principles for addressing emotion regulation, reducing suffering, and enhancing self-awareness and acceptance across diverse clientele. This comprehensive resource is essential reading for both novice and seasoned clinicians."
--Alexander L. Chapman, PhD, RPsych, professor in Simon Fraser University's department of psychology, president of the DBT Centre of Vancouver, and author of The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide--Alexander L. Chapman, PhD, RPsych

"This book is an excellent resource for any therapist looking for more tools they can use with their clients to improve emotion regulation. It provides a comprehensive set of practical strategies, organized by key emotion regulation processes and grounded in established research. Written by leading experts in emotion regulation, this book provides a clear, well-structured guide to acceptance-based emotion regulation therapy."
--Michael E. Levin, PhD, professor at Utah State University, and author of Innovations in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and The Oxford Handbook of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy--Michael E. Levin, PhD

"This groundbreaking guide addresses the core challenge of emotion regulation difficulties, offering a flexible, efficient, and highly effective approach to treatment. Acceptance-Based Emotion Regulation Therapy is presented in a clear and accessible format, complete with practical tools, scripts, and strategies that clinicians can readily implement. With its precise, digestible guidance, this resource empowers clinicians to deliver a compelling, impactful treatment for a wide range of emotional difficulties."
--Katherine Dixon-Gordon, PhD, associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst--Katherine Dixon-Gordon, PhD

"This work is a practical, empirically supported, step-by-step masterpiece on addressing self-destructive behaviors. It can be easy to cast stones and judgment at those who struggle with behaviors with which we do not, so the authors' empathic, nonjudgmental approach is as refreshing as it is hopeful. I consistently incorporate their recommendations into my therapy sessions with individuals who self-injure. A must-have treatment manual for anyone who treats self-harming behaviors."
--Nicholas J. Westers, PsyD, ABPP, clinical psychologist at Children's Health, associate professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and host and producer of The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast--Nicholas J. Westers, PsyD, ABPP

About the Author

Kim L. Gratz, PhD, is a senior clinical quality manager and clinical lead of the dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) program at Lyra Health. She also holds an appointment in the department of psychology at the University of Toledo, where she previously served as professor and chair. She has received multiple awards for her research on emotion regulation, personality disorders, and self-injury; and has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and eight books on borderline personality disorder (BPD), self-injury, and DBT.

Matthew T. Tull, PhD, is a clinical quality supervisor at Lyra Health, and also holds an appointment in the department of psychology at the University of Toledo. Tull's research and clinical work emphasize the role of emotion regulation in anxiety disorders; trauma and stressor-related disorders; and high-risk behaviors such as substance use, self-injury, and suicide. His work has been recognized through awards from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Foreword writer Steven C. Hayes, PhD, is Nevada Foundation Professor in the department of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has been president of numerous professional organizations, and is author of nearly fifty books and more than 700 articles and book chapters. Hayes is originator and codeveloper of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a powerful therapy method that is useful in a wide variety of areas.