Developing Psychological Flexibility is a psychoeducational resource designed to enhance clients' understanding of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) principles, focusing on six core processes to promote greater adaptability and psychological wellbeing.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) aims to increase psychological flexibility — helping people engage fully with the present moment and pursue actions that are guided by their personal values. This handout introduces ACT’s model through two simplified "hexaflexes", presenting both "core problems" and "core processes." The dual diagrams offer a structured way to help clients identify where they might feel stuck and guide them towards learning skills that support resilience and emotional openness.
Developing Psychological Flexibility supports clinical practice by:
Difficulty engaging with present-moment experiences due to worry and avoidance.
Disconnection from valued life directions and persistent rumination.
Cognitive fusion and avoidance cycles.
Struggles with acceptance and flexibility in the face of change.
Use as a psychoeducation tool to introduce ACT concepts.
Discuss 'core problems' and identify areas where clients feel stuck.
Introduce skills from the 'core processes' to promote flexibility.
Use experiential exercises to develop new skills.
Regularly revisit the hexaflexes to track progress and address challenges.
Encourage reflection on the integration of skills into daily life.
ACT is founded on the principle that suffering arises when individuals become entangled with unhelpful thoughts, emotions, or self-concepts, leading to patterns of avoidance and psychological rigidity. Psychological flexibility — the ability to remain present and act in service of personal values despite internal discomfort — is considered essential for mental health (Hayes et al., 2006).
The six core processes of ACT work together to cultivate flexibility: acceptance, cognitive defusion, contact with the present moment, self-as-context, clarity of values, and committed action. These processes help counteract psychological inflexibility, including experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, and behavioural rigidity.
This resource visually maps these principles, providing clients and therapists with an accessible reference point. It can support engagement with ACT-based interventions, enhance self-awareness, and guide the development of more values-consistent ways of living.
