Book
Harris R. The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT. Boston: Trumpeter; 2008. 240 p.
Why we cite it
A lay introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), translating the clinical framework developed by Steven C. Hayes and colleagues into accessible language and practical exercises. Foreword by Hayes. Presents the six core ACT processes — cognitive defusion, acceptance, present-moment awareness, self-as-context (observing self), values, and committed action — as tools for psychological flexibility. Over 1 million copies sold worldwide. Second edition (2022) expanded by approximately 50%. Referenced in companions 145 and 275 for defusion and the observing self.
About the author
Russ Harris (MBBS, University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, 1989) is a physician turned therapist and the most widely read ACT trainer in the world. Born 1966 in Liverpool, UK; emigrated to Australia in 1991. Practiced as a GP before retraining as a therapist. Trained with ACT creators in the USA in 2004. Has run 800+ two-day ACT workshops and trained 80,000+ health professionals since 2005. Also author of ACT Made Simple, Trauma-Focused ACT, Getting Unstuck in ACT, and The Confidence Gap. Lives in Melbourne, Australia.
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