Russ Harris
Also known as Russell Harris, Dr Russ Harris
Physician turned ACT trainer, author of The Happiness Trap.
At a glance
Main ideas
The struggle switch, Clean and dirty discomfort, Free videos
See all 3Books to start with
The Happiness Trap (2007), ACT Made Simple, Trauma-Focused ACT …
See all 5Connections
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), ACT Made Simple: An Easy-To-Read Primer on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and 4 others
See all 6
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Russ Harris is a physician and psychotherapist based in Australia.
- He is one of the best-known trainers in Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
- His book The Happiness Trap brought ACT to a general audience.
- He is known for plain-language tools like the struggle switch, dropping anchor and the Choice Point.
Why it matters
- His books and free worksheets are the easiest way into ACT, for clients and therapists alike.
Key facts
- Profession
- Physician (MBBS) and psychotherapist1
- Background
- Grew up in England, studied medicine at Newcastle University, worked as a GP, moved to Australia in 19912
- Known for
- The Happiness Trap (2007): over a million copies, translated into more than 30 languages2
- Training
- Has trained over 95,000 health professionals in ACT1
- WHO work
- Created an ACT protocol for the World Health Organization in 2015, for use in refugee camps1
Main ideas
-
The struggle switch3
Fighting a feeling adds a second layer of distress, like anxiety about anxiety.
-
Clean and dirty discomfort3
Clean discomfort is life's unavoidable pain; dirty discomfort is what struggling adds.
-
Free videos4
His site teaches the Choice Point, values versus goals and the struggle switch in short videos.
Books to start with
-
Self-help introduction to ACT; first published by Exisle in Australia, then by Shambhala in the US in 2008.
-
His textbook for therapists.
-
Textbook on using ACT with trauma.
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The Reality Slap and ACT with Love1
Self-help books on loss and on relationships.
-
Free overview article of ACT with a worked case.
Connections
Writes
- ACT Made Simple: An Easy-To-Read Primer on Acceptance and Commitment TherapyBook
- Embracing Your Demons: an Overview of Acceptance and Commitment TherapyPaper
- The Happiness Trap: Stop Struggling, Start LivingBook
- The Reality SlapBook
- Trauma-Focused ACT: A Practitioner's Guide to Working with Mind, Body, and Emotion Using Acceptance and Commitment TherapyBook
Links
Sources
- About Dr Russ Harris (ACT Mindfully) (opens actmindfully.com.au)
- The Happiness Trap (Wikipedia) (opens en.wikipedia.org)
- Embracing Your Demons: an Overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Russ Harris, Psychotherapy in Australia, August 2006) (opens actmindfully.com.au)
- Free videos (ACT Mindfully) (opens actmindfully.com.au)
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