Acceptance and commitment therapy and the therapeutic relationship: Rupture and repair

The therapeutic relationship is an essential part of effective therapy. Therapists facing a rupture in this alliance are challenged to mend the discord in a forward moving and effective treatment service. In acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) the alliance is characterized by client and therapist working together, using the core processes of ACT, creating a vital and moment-by-moment collaborative experience. As a transdiagnostic, behavioral intervention, acceptance, and mindfulness processes and commitment and behavioral change processes are used to create meaningful and engaged lives. ACT's core methods promote psychological flexibility in response to problems in living, psychopathology, and enhancement of general well-being. However, flexibility in session can be lost to therapeutic ruptures. In ACT, processes such as defusion, perspective-taking, choice, and values play a role in restoring a cooperative, engaged alliance repair. We will explore the therapeutic relationship within the ACT model and present its perspective on rupture and repair in psychotherapy.