ACT Techniques
Suggested Resources
What's Your Inner Compass Pointing To
Tier 1
9th Grade Class
50 mins
This resource introduces students to the core principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), helping them understand how their values can guide their actions even when facing tough emotions. It's crucial for fostering emotional intelligence and resilience in a whole-class setting.
Thought Clouds
Tier 2
7th Grade Group
40 mins
This resource focuses on Cognitive Defusion techniques from ACT, teaching students how to observe their thoughts without getting entangled by them. This is vital for small groups to practice detaching from unhelpful thinking patterns, promoting mental space and clarity.
Is Your Mind a Time Machine
Tier 3
11th Grade Student
30 mins
This resource guides individual students through present moment awareness exercises, helping them anchor themselves in the 'here and now' rather than dwelling on the past or future. This is essential for students struggling with anxiety or distraction, providing practical mindfulness tools.
What Do You Really Stand For
Tier 1
10th Grade Class
60 mins
This resource helps a whole class identify and clarify their personal values, connecting them to meaningful actions and life goals. Understanding one's values is fundamental for motivation, decision-making, and living an authentic life.
Acceptance Practice
Tier 2
8th Grade Group
45 mins
This resource introduces acceptance as an ACT technique, teaching small groups to make room for difficult thoughts and feelings without judgment. This is crucial for building emotional resilience and reducing the struggle against internal experiences.
Who's Driving Your Bus
Tier 3
12th Grade Student
35 mins
This resource uses the 'Self-as-Context' technique, helping an individual student understand that they are separate from their thoughts and feelings, like the sky observing clouds. This empowers students to gain perspective and a stable sense of self amidst internal turmoil.
Are Your Actions Aligned With Your Values
Tier 1
11th Grade Class
55 mins
This resource engages the whole class in exploring 'Committed Action,' guiding them to set goals and take steps that align with their identified values. This is vital for transforming abstract values into concrete, meaningful behaviors.
The Struggle Switch
Tier 2
6th Grade Group
40 mins
This resource uses the 'struggle switch' metaphor to illustrate how fighting against difficult emotions often amplifies them, helping small groups understand the concept of acceptance. This provides a powerful visual for shifting from struggle to acceptance.
What's Your Personal Hexaflex
Tier 3
10th Grade Student
45 mins
This resource provides an individual student with a comprehensive overview of the ACT Hexaflex model, helping them understand how all six core processes work together. This is excellent for deep individual reflection and personalized application of ACT principles.
Mindful Moments
Tier 1
7th Grade Class
30 mins
This resource integrates short, practical mindfulness exercises into a whole-class setting, teaching students how to pay attention to the present moment without judgment. These 'mindful moments' are crucial for reducing stress and improving focus in daily life.
Defusion Games
Tier 2
5th Grade Group
35 mins
This resource offers engaging games designed to teach cognitive defusion techniques to small groups, making the process of separating from unhelpful thoughts fun and accessible. Playful learning helps solidify these essential coping skills.
How to Handle Unwanted Guests
Tier 3
8th Grade Student
25 mins
This resource uses a metaphor to help an individual student practice acceptance and defusion when dealing with difficult emotions or thoughts, treating them like 'unwanted guests' rather than enemies. This provides a relatable framework for managing internal experiences.