Utsu no tame no Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook (The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression: Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy to Move Through Depression & Create a Life Worth Living)

This is a Japanese translation of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression: Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy to Move Through Depression & Create a Life Worth Living by experienced clinicians and husband-and-wife duo, Kirk D. Strosahl and Patricia J. Robinson.

Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique with roots in the Eastern philosophy of Zen, removed from its religious context and applied clinically. It is defined as “a state of mind in which one focuses on the present moment and remains there, examining one’s own thoughts and emotions,” and its application aims to relieve physical and mental symptoms, including chronic pain, depression, and anxiety. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a technique stemming from the tradition of cognitive-behavioral therapy. It encourages “acceptance—rather than avoidance—of the way things are, and commitment to taking actions in accordance with one’s personal values.” These two techniques are often used in conjunction, and they have come to be widely applied in clinical practice in the US. Numerous academic studies regarding these techniques have contributed to a growing body of evidence in support of their usefulness. Specifically, meta-analyses of academic literature suggest that mindfulness and ACT are effective in treating chronic pain (Veehof MM, 2016), and that ACT is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety (A-Tjak JG, 2015; Cavanagh K, 2014; González-Fernández S, 2018). Randomized controlled trials further suggest that these techniques may be useful in supporting weight loss among obese individuals (Palmeira L, 2017) and improving the quality of life among individuals with physical disorders (Jacobsen HB, 2017).
 
The book itself includes numerous client stories and example exercises for applying mindfulness and ACT, sourced from the authors’ 25 years of clinical experience. This content makes it an invaluable practical resource both for individuals engaging in self-help and for mental health professionals seeking to heighten their ability to provide care. In particular, the ACT process underscores how critical it is for individuals struggling with difficulties to identify what they value and hold dear in life, and these pages contain concrete examples of those journeys of discovery. We hear clients’ stories in their own words, including one’s desire to undergo a formal education and then share those studies with others, as well as another’s to become a source of strength for loved ones in need. Furthermore, the book introduces specific methods to clarify personal values, such as one activity in which patients list dietary, exercise, or sleep behaviors that embody or contradict their own values regarding health. Whether working through the text rapidly or bit by bit, readers of this book will encounter plentiful opportunities to better their tools for navigating life.
 
Come and discover the skills of mindfulness and ACT—and the path they open to a happier and more fulfilling life.
 

(Written by TANEICHI Setsuko, Project Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Education / 2018)