Acceptance and Commitment Coaching: Distinctive Features

by Jon Hill, Joe Oliver

Overview

Jon 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138564985
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/03/2019
Series:	Coaching Distinctive Features
Pages:	148
Product dimensions:	4.81(w) x 7.31(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jon Hill is a corporate trainer and executive coach, and the founder of Blueprint Coaching and Training Ltd, working with companies around the world to improve resilience, well-being and psychological flexibility.

Dr Joe Oliver is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and founder of Contextual Consulting, the leading provider of ACT training in the United Kingdom. He has worked for over 20 years as a practising psychologist and is currently a course director at University College London. He also runs a busy London-based private practice, offering ACT coaching and consultations.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Part 1: The Distinctive Theoretical Features of ACC

1. The World According to ACC
2. Why ACC?
3. Relational Frame Theory (RFT) for Dummies
4. ACT Coaching Research: The Evidence
5. Philosophy 101 for Coaches: Functional Contextualism
6. Defusion
7. Acceptance
8. Contact with Present Moment
9. Self as Context
10. Values
11. Committed Action

Part 2: The Distinctive Practical Features of ACC

12. What We Talk About When We Talk About ACC
13. Assessment
14. The Matrix
15. Formulation
16. The Workability Game
17. Use of Metaphor
18. Facilitating Cognitive Defusion
19. From Struggle to Acceptance
20. Be Here Now: Helping Coachees Contact the Present Moment
21. Introducing Self as Context
22. What Really Matters: Success Through Values
23. Helping Coachees Take Committed Action
24. Persistence and the Power of Habit
25. Mindfulness on the Move
26. Working With High Performers
27. Managing Tricky or Unexpected Moments
28. Six Mistakes We Have Made (And What We Learned)
29. A Simple Six-Session ACC Model
30. ACC for Group Coaching, Training and Development

References

Index

Editorial Reviews

"This scientifically-grounded behavioural change programme will supercharge your coaching practice! Written by two leading experts, Jon Hill and Joe Oliver, this is a wonderfully accessible book that will introduce you to the fundamental principles of this powerful, process-based approach to coaching, taking you step-by-step through its core features and providing a comprehensive roadmap for incorporating it into your practice. Whether you’re coaching individuals or groups in health, sport, business, work or towards personal improvement, this incredibly versatile model will be sure to enrich your coaching sessions; adding another powerful tool – psychological flexibility – to your coachees’ tool boxes. All coaches should grab a copy without delay. Highly recommended." – Dr Michael Sinclair, Director of City Psychology Group and author of Mindfulness for Busy People and The Little ACT Workbook

"How do we coach people to work practically toward their chosen life directions, while skillfully responding to the emotions and thoughts that arise from these choices? Coaches who are looking for evidence-based ways to work will find this book an essential guide.

The authors provide a very clear introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Coaching, outlining a model of practice, and a philosophy toward coaching that is pragmatic and flexible (contextual behavioural science). They also provide an accessible and entertaining introduction to learning principles based on Relational Frame Theory. This description of how language works in practice will help coaches to do their job using powerful and precise change methods.

The book contains various enlightening and useful examples given of how to engage learners in the six core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Coaching. The authors also provide pointers on mistakes they have made in coaching, sharing their experience and wisdom, and helping the reader to gain a deeper understanding of this unique coaching model. The principles described here will lead to transformative changes learner and coach alike." – Eric Morris, PhD, Director, La Trobe University Psychology Clinic, Melbourne, Australia

"Having recommended the authors’ previous book, ACTivate Your Life, to many of my therapy clients, it was no surprise to see that this book is full of the same clear descriptions of ACT and its application, this time to using it as an approach to coaching. This will be a valuable resource to coaches out there looking to introduce a coherent model of human function into their practice." – Dr Richard Bennett, Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society, UK

"This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to use the ACT model for coaching. Easy-to-read, highly practical, loaded with simple but powerful tools and techniques. If you’re already a coach, this will surely supercharge the way you work. And if you want to start coaching but aren’t sure how, this book will show you the way." – Russ Harris, author of ACT Made Simple and The Happiness Trap

"This book is interesting, well-written, thorough and timely. In fact, I am confident that any coach who reads it will immediately be able to incorporate, and see the benefits of, the ACC model with their coaches." – Dr Nic Hooper, Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England, UK; co-author of The Research Journey of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

"If you’re interested in super-charging your coaching skills, then read this fantastic book! Based on Acceptance and Commitment therapy, a revolutionary new therapeutic approach, it provides you with the latest research, tools, working examples and session plans to help you and your coachees excel at work and home." – Dr Guy Meadows, The Sleep School, author of The Sleep Book

"This book is a fantastic contribution to the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) literature. With a key focus on the unique characteristics of the ACT model as applied within a coaching context, it is a must buy for all coaching psychologists! The authors’ abilities to translate some of the complexities of ACT and its theoretical basis – Relational Frame Theory (RFT) – into accessible and easily understood language is rare and impressive." – Dr Duncan Gillard, Senior Educational Psychologist; co-author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Dummies

"This book is easy to read ‘how to do it’ manual for delivering ACT in groups that provides clear and comprehensive guidance for coaches and other practitioners.

It breaks the whole group ACT process down into easily deliverable steps, providing clear instructions for what to do and how this links to the underlying model. The book has something for everyone, whether you are new to ACT or an experienced practitioner looking to hone and develop your skills.

Those new to ACT will find it a ‘go to’ manual for guiding their practice and understanding of how to deliver group processes.

Overall it’s a great guide for coaches and others that will support top quality ACT practice in the workplace and beyond.

Read this book and you will improve your ACT skills!" – Dr Freddy Jackson Brown, Clinical Psychologist; co-author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Dummies

"Clear, concise, and refreshingly candid. A delightful guide full of important information, both a bird’s eye view of ACT yet packed with on-point examples and exercises. A must read for any aspiring ACT practitioner, read this book and learn from two of the best ACT teachers in the world." – Dr Jed Shamel, Clinical Psychologist; Coach and Director of Talent at SPACE10

"The ACT approach has a great deal to offer the world of coaching. In this book, Jon and Joe provide an accessible overview of this approach (including its philosophical and theoretical underpinnings), and they provide a very practical guide on how ACT can be utilised to enhance coaching interventions. Given the strong body evidence supporting the ACT model of human functioning, this should be considered essential reading for all professionals involved in coaching for performance, personal and professional development, and well-being." – Dr. Paul Flaxman, Reader in Organisational Psychology, City, University of London, UK; co-author of The Mindful and Effective Employee

"This is a timely and important book. Jon and Joe have produced a great overview of coaching using acceptance and commitment theory. It’s an excellent resource for both new and experienced coaches." – Rachael Skews, Lecturer in Occupational Psychology, Institute of Management Studies, Goldsmiths University, London, UK

From the Publisher