Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Training
The Matrix

The Easy User Interface for ACT

“The Only Problem is that It’s Too Simple”
Dear Colleague,

Learning how to do ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Training and Therapy) can be a lot of confusing work... or it can be a lot of simple fun.

Most people get to the first part (confusing work), but have a lot of trouble getting to the second part (simple fun).

Let Me Tell You a Story...

About five years ago when we (Jerold and I) were first learning about ACT one of us started learning guitar and the other piano. We noticed that most of the books about learning guitar and piano made learning to play hard work. Then I heard about learning to about chords using the I, IV and V system, and that made learning to play chords relatively easy. We still had to practice a lot, but the practice was literally Playing and having fun. (Later I will tell you how I, IV, V became ACT by Numbers.)

“We never had so much fun.”

Jerold and I really can’t believe we get paid to do what we do. Our students tell us they can’t wait to to use the Matrix (ACT by Numbers) again and again. 

  • They use it with themselves;
  • They use it with their individual clients;
  • They use it with groups;
  • They use it in the classroom;
  • They use it during consulting;
  • They teach it to their families;
  • They tell us that their clients teach it to their families;
  • The list goes on an on... 

Can’t I just Learn ACT the Old Fashioned Way?

Of course you can learn it that way. That’s the way Jerold and I learned it. However, while we were learning ACT we always had an eye toward making it easier to learn. The old way is to learn the theory behind ACT (it’s called RFT), and then learn the interventions. However, and this is a big HOWEVER, depending on how you go about learning the theory behind ACT, it can be a killer to learning how to do ACT. 

I can almost guarantee



that after you know the Matrix the theory will be much easier to learn. Even if you already know a lot about ACT theory, the Matrix can help take you to the next level. 

[After you learn the Matrix the theory (and even the philosophy) behind ACT are much easier to learn. I like to say that the Matrix is the friendly user interface for ACT; like Windows or Mac for computers. However, unlike Windows or Mac, the Matrix automatically starts to teach you the theory and philosophy behind ACT. Learning those is built into the system.]

We have found that when a lot of people that start learning ACT the old way, they really don’t get the feel for ACT quickly. Just like a lot of people learning to play guitar and piano, they get frustrated and quit. What they are missing it the ACT point of view. Simply put,

The Matrix is the ACT Point of View.

Point of View??? Yes ACT is done from a point of view. Once you get the point of view down, everything else easily falls into place. 

Getting to the ACT point of view is as easy with the Matrix and a little feedback from others.



It takes two...

For six years we read ACT, went to ACT trainings, conducted over 2000 ACT groups, and did hundreds of individual sessions. (Jerold and I have each spent over 10, 000 hours engaged in reading, talking about and doing ACT). During that same time period we trained literally hundreds of people in the basics of ACT. Further, we have taken dozens of trainees to the level of being VERY flexible with ACT. Over time we realized that it takes two (or more) clinicians working together to really get the hang of doing ACT.

It’s about Influencing Flexibility

ACT is about interacting someone who is stuck in a pattern that is not working and influencing the person toward being flexible enough to discover a new pattern that does work (for moving toward values). A huge part of that influence is done through modeling flexibility.

When you are first learning ACT it’s hard to get the FEEL for that flexibility; that flexible stance you need to really start taking off with ACT. That’s where someone who already knows the flexible ACT stance can come in handy; the person can model the flexibility for you.

The Matrix is about modeling Flexibility

In more complex ways of looking at ACT (called the Hexaflex) it’s much more difficult to get a grasp on showing someone flexibility. However, using the Matrix you can quickly start modeling flexibility. Then, the people you work with will take the flexibility home with them. The Matrix process has already been effectively transferred by our students to quickly implement rock solid, theoretically consistent ACT in a variety of settings including:

  • Prisons
  • Home
  • Schools
  • Classrooms
  • Health Fitness Programs
  • Mental Health Treatment Programs
  • Work Places
  • Community Organizations
  • and many more.
  • [By the way: The Matrix is built on the rock-solid-research-based processes of ACT. The Matrix just makes it a lot easier to get at the processes. The more complex “Hexaflex” is always running in the background, behind the Matrix.]

Of course you can learn the
Matrix on your own.

We have just found that working with someone who already knows the flexible stance of the Matrix can quickly engage you in the process so that you can engage others in the process.

You will learn how to use your own
Whiteboard

The simple whiteboard (or chalkboard or easel) is a very, very powerful tool for enhancing psychological flexibility.

James B. says: I was fortunate to have received my initial ACT training from Dr. Polk and his colleagues at the Togus VA Medical Center in Maine. What I learned from Dr. Polk allowed me to design and develop an innovative Partial Hospitalization Program for Uniformed Service Professionals; e.g., cops, firefighters, veterans, emergency medical personnel, etc., who suffer from complex trauma. The use of the ACT Matrix developed by Dr. Polk is a mainstay of our program and his innovative "Sorting" and "Blending" ACT based techniques have been invaluable in helping a population that is often resistant to treatment. I highly recommend Dr. Polk’s services. He is a true pioneer and innovator in this emerging field.

ACT education (from Dr. Polk) is offered in two formats:

Webinars
and
Individual Consulting

Webinars are done with from 2 to 15 people (depending on how many people sign up for the webinar.) The experience is surprisingly engaging. I have learned how to use my computer screen to substitute for my whiteboard.

(There is even a monthly webinar for the general public.)

To see the current list of webinars, click below:


Webinar Schedule

The fee for the webinars is always Values Based. That simply means you get to choose your fee from a low of $20.00 to a high of $120.00. If you are curious about what people actually pay, I can tell you that the average is always a lot more than $20.00 (and yes, many people pay the $120.00). However, you get to choose.

Individual Consulting

The next level of ACT Education is Individual Consulting. For obvious reasons, that is a bit more. I have consulted about hundreds of difficult cases and set up a few ACT-based programs during consultations. I routinely consult with people around the world. (Don’t you just love the internet!)
Phil T. says: I have been consulting regularly online with Dr. Polk. My sessions with Dr. Polk have been invaluable in furthering my understanding and application of psychological flexibility. Dr. Polk has an engaging style as well as a wealth of clinical expertise. I have focused on case consultation and organizational issues with solid results. I enthusiastically recommend this service to my clinical colleagues. Phil Tenaglia Clinical and School Psychologist


You can either email me at kevin@actbynumbers.com, or you can even set up a Free initial consultation at 

http://www.bookfresh.com/profile/391990375

Just in case you just can’t set aside time for a webinar or consultation, you can  almost instantly get a recording of me doing one of the webinars. You can even get a video of Jerold and I “putting it all together” for one of the Values listed at ACTbyNumbers.com. To check out the store just click below:

ACTbyNumbers.com/store.html

Linda hamilton H. says: Thank you so much Kevin, I really got a lot out of the webinar yesterday and have already begun using the matrix in group. I expect it to be awesome for my clients and my self. Linda Hamilton, Asheville, NC
Oops! I almost forgot to tell you about how the I, IV, V chord system morphed into ACT by Numbers. We had been doing a lot of talking about how the Training part of ACT applies to almost everyone, and the Therapy part is a much smaller slice of the pie. We had been using the Matrix in both Training and Therapy for a long time, and at that time we were focusing on the Training. About that time I heard about the I, IV, V system for learning musical chords. That V (5) looked a lot like a V (vee) for Values. So ACT by Numbers was born. It starts with I (the five senses) and leads to moving toward Values. (We start the web pages with V to set the target.)

Take care,

Kevin

Kevin L. Polk, Ph.D.