About the Book
Learn practical ACT skills to manage anxiety, negative thoughts, and difficult emotions—so you can live with greater purpose, resilience, and peace of mind.
Do you struggle with painful emotions such as anxiety, anger, sadness, or chronic worry? Do negative thoughts, self-criticism, or your inner critic keep you stuck in patterns that don’t reflect your values? If stress, depression, grief, trauma, or imposter syndrome are interfering with your life, you’re not alone—and real change is possible.
This evidence-based workbook introduces the core tools of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)—a powerful psychological approach developed by Steven Hayes and widely used in psychotherapy, coaching, and mental health treatment for anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, addiction, and chronic stress.
Grounded in the ACT hexaflex model, this guide offers practical exercises, activities, and mindfulness practices to help you relate differently to difficult thoughts and emotions so they no longer control your behavior or decisions.
In this workbook, you’ll learn how to:
- Identify your core values and use them to guide meaningful life choices
- Manage anxiety, worry, and overwhelming emotions with ACT and mindfulness exercises
- Respond to negative thoughts, self-criticism, and the inner critic with greater flexibility
- Build resilience and emotional balance using positive psychology and self-compassion practices
- Stay present in the moment—even during stress, conflict, grief, or uncertainty
- Commit to lasting behavioral change that supports your mental health and well-being
You’ll also find step-by-step exercises and therapeutic tools drawn from ACT, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and related behavioral approaches used by clinicians to help people manage anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and emotional dysregulation.
Whether you’re new to ACT or looking for practical exercises to support your mental health journey, this workbook offers a clear, accessible path to developing psychological flexibility—the key skill at the heart of lasting emotional change.
If you’re ready to stop struggling with your thoughts and feelings and start building a life guided by your values, this workbook will help you take the first steps toward meaningful, positive transformation.
About the Author :
Matthew S. Boone, LCSW, is a social worker, psychotherapist, and educator who specializes in translating mental health concepts for the general public. Boone is a nationally recognized, peer-reviewed trainer in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), coauthor of Stop Avoiding Stuff, and editor of Mindfulness and Acceptance in Social Work. He is associate director of student mental health services at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he is an instructor in psychiatry. He regularly gives ACT workshops around the country.
Jennifer Gregg, PhD, is a psychologist, author, professor, and trainer. She is a professor at San Jose State University, and has spent twenty years treating cancer patients and their families. Gregg has been studying, delivering, and evaluating ACT since 1995, and she has published dozens of research papers, book chapters, and articles on ACT. She is coauthor of Stop Avoiding Stuff and The Diabetes Workbook.
Review :
“Less than a chapter in, I already knew I’d be recommending this book to all my therapy clients. I have read a LOT of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) workbooks in my over twenty years as an ACT practitioner, and this is one of the very best. A must-have for anyone looking to practice cultivating psychological flexibility skills for a well-lived life.”
—Jill Stoddard, PhD, coauthor of The Big Book of ACT Metaphors
“The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook is a superb guide to building a better life. With a compassionate, wise, and easy-to-understand writing style, the authors introduce you to a wide range of powerful tools and strategies that can help just about anyone to reduce suffering and make life richer and fuller. Highly recommended!”
—Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap and ACT Made Simple
“This is an excellent resource for the many professionals who work in primary care and general practice clinics. So many people come to their doctors with emotional pain, and this book can help them and their behavioral health teammates recognize and address that pain. So, if you have emotional pain, read this book and tell your doctor! Thanks, Matt and Jen, for a concise and powerful book that can alleviate suffering at many levels.”
—Patricia Robinson, PhD, president of Mountainview Consulting Group, and author of Behavioral Consultation and Primary Care
“If you were going to buy just one book to help you flourish both on the inside and the outside, The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook would be it! Beautifully written in a humble, straightforward way, this book is chock-full of practical ideas and personal growth exercises that will carry you through life’s ups and downs. Take this gift home with you and unwrap it into your life!”
—Kirk D. Strosahl, PhD, coauthor of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression
“‘It’s kinda lovely here.’ Join the authors as they help you embrace your humanity, face struggles, and live according to what matters to you. This book gives you the best evidence-based strategies to travel along the valued life journey. It’s practical and written by folks who are the real deal. They’ve helped thousands of people and found their way through their own struggles to a life lived well.”
—Louise Hayes, author of What Makes You Stronger and Your Life Your Way; developer of DNA-V; and clinical psychologist and adjunct senior research fellow at La Trobe University, Melbourne
“Boone and Gregg have created a really accessible, transdiagnostic self-help workbook grounded in ACT. It offers practical guidance to address a range of emotional struggles, helping you cultivate mindfulness, embrace your values, and navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience. With a gentle and compassionate approach, this book serves as a beacon for those seeking a more meaningful and authentic life.”
—Kelly G. Wilson, professor emeritus at the University of Mississippi, and author of Mindfulness for Two and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
“An extremely friendly and approachable introduction to the core concepts of ACT. The authors have done a spectacular job of taking complex material and making it accessible, useful, and fun. I learned a lot and will take these exercises and ideas into my daily life. I especially enjoyed the chapter on gratitude, awe, and savoring. What a wonderful addition to the ACT literature! Read this book. You’ll get a lot out of it.”
—Spencer Smith, coauthor of Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life
“In this excellent, very human, easily accessible, and deeply engaging book written by clinicians for all of us who struggle with feeling and thinking things we’d rather not, you will find the best of ACT distilled into clear, immediately usable, effective tools. Boone and Gregg have written a beautiful book that will be a fixture on your night table, or pulled off your shelf again and again. If I could put a book on speed dial, this would be it!”
—Lisa W. Coyne, PhD, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and CEO of the New England Center for OCD and Anxiety
“The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook is an insightful book offering a comprehensive approach to personal growth and emotional well-being. From mastering defusion and present-moment awareness to embracing willingness and aligning actions with values, each chapter is a stepping stone toward meaningful living. Matthew Boone and Jennifer Gregg have created an integrated process exploring perspective taking and positive psychology principles, empowering readers to cultivate resilience that supports living with greater flexibility and purpose. An essential read for anyone seeking transformation through ACT.”
—Robyn D. Walser, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist, author of The Heart of ACT, and coauthor of Learning ACT, The Mindful Couple, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma-Based Problems, and The ACT Workbook for Anger
