{"id":1219,"date":"2019-01-21T14:51:19","date_gmt":"2019-01-21T19:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ddmh.lab.yorku.ca\/?page_id=1219"},"modified":"2024-09-10T14:36:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T18:36:41","slug":"a-trial-of-acceptance-commitment-therapy-for-caregivers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/health\/lab\/ddmh\/a-trial-of-acceptance-commitment-therapy-for-caregivers\/","title":{"rendered":"A Trial of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Caregivers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A research project evaluating Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) for parents of autistic people<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What is the project about?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This was a research project evaluating the benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for parents of autistic children, adolescents, and adults. ACT seeks to help individuals struggle less with difficult emotions and internal experiences, and to clarify their personal values. With an introduction to the concept of \u2018mindfulness,\u2019 ACT does not attempt to directly change or stop unwanted thoughts or feelings, but rather to develop a new mindful relationship with those experiences, which frees one up to take action toward what they care most about. Each workshop was facilitated by a parent of an autistic person and a professional clinician, both trained in ACT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Who participated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mothers and fathers of autistic children, adolescents, and adults. Fluency in English was required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What did participation involve?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Participating involved attending a three-session workshop. Workshops were held in three locations in Ontario in 2019. Participants were randomly allocated to attend either a workshop right away, or a workshop four months later. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires before the first workshop, and again on three more occasions. Participation in the workshop was free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Parents who had completed the workshop reported greater improvements in depression and family distress than those who were waiting for the workshop, and these improvements were still present 4 months later. Workshop participants also reported short-term improvements in their positive feelings and personal goals, compared to those waiting. Results showed that ACT may help improve some aspects of mental health for parents of autistic children.<\/p>\n\n\n