Abstract
Objectives. Little is known about how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) facilitates change and this study aimed to establish clients’ perspectives of the mechanisms of change in ACT for anxiety and depression. Method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight clients. They had attended an eight-session ACT therapy group at a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). All had diagnoses of enduring anxiety and/or depression. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results. Analysis identified three master themes: ‘Processes of Change in ACT’, ‘Aids and Hindrances to Change in ACT’ and ‘Non-Specifics of Therapy’. Hypotheses about the possible interactions between the themes were considered (e.g. some of the moderating factors identified in ‘Aids and Hindrances’ may need to be present in order to maximise the likelihood of the ‘Processes of Change in ACT’ occurring). Conclusions. This study highlights the complexity of the process of change and suggests specific (to the ACT model), moderating, and non-specific factors are responsible for facilitating change in ACT for anxiety and depression. The research was critiqued and implications for future practice and research were discussed.