Steven C. Hayes
Also known as Steve Hayes
American psychologist who developed acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
At a glance
Roles
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Relational frame theory (Originally developed it) and Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (Past president)
See all 3Main ideas
Language as a root of suffering, Psychological flexibility, Process-based therapy
See all 3Books to start with
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life (2005), A Liberated Mind (2019), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (1999; 2nd ed. 2012) …
See all 5Roles
Past president, Institute for Better Health, ACT trainer
See all 3Connections
A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters, 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
- Steven C.
- Hayes is an American clinical psychologist at the University of Nevada, Reno.
- He developed Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and Relational frame theory.
- His work rests on functional contextualism, his extension of Skinner's behaviourism.
- He is also known for process-based therapy.
Why it matters
- The originator of ACT; his books are the primary sources for how and why it works.
Key facts
- Born
- 12 Aug 19481
- Known for
- Acceptance and commitment therapy, relational frame theory and process-based therapy1
- Role
- Foundation Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno (taught there 1986–2023)2
- Education
- PhD in clinical psychology, West Virginia University; internship under David Barlow at Brown1
- Output
- 48 books and over 725 scientific articles2
- Coined
- The term "clinical behavior analysis"1
- Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (2007)1
Roles
Main ideas
-
Language as a root of suffering4
Through experiential avoidance and fusion, ordinary language and thinking cause much human suffering.
-
Psychological flexibility4
His one-model view of health: open, present and acting on values.
-
Process-based therapy3
His recent books, such as Beyond the DSM, propose a process-based alternative to diagnosis.
Books to start with
-
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life (2005)2
With Spencer Smith; got a five-page Time story in February 2006 and was once the top-selling self-help book in the US.
-
The scientific and personal story of psychological flexibility, for general readers.
-
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (1999; 2nd ed. 2012)4
The clinical text, with Kirk Strosahl and Kelly Wilson.
-
Relational Frame Theory (2001)1
Co-edited; the theory of language behind ACT.
-
Learning Process-Based Therapy (2021)1
With Stefan Hofmann and Joseph Lorscheid; a skills manual.
Roles
-
Past president1
Of APA Division 25, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.
-
Institute for Better Health2
President of this charitable organisation.
-
ACT trainer3
Master trainer for ACT BootCamp, with Robyn Walser, Miranda Morris and Diana Hill; hosts the podcast Days Are Getting Better.
Connections
Writes
- A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What MattersBook
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful ChangeBook
- Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment TherapyBook
- Learning Process-Based Therapy: A Skills Training Manual for Targeting the Core Processes of Psychological Change in Clinical PracticeBook
- Relational Frame Theory: A Post-Skinnerian Account of Human Language and CognitionBookCo-editor
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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