Beyond Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Process-Based Therapy

Abstract

This article describes process-based therapy (PBT) as a natural evolution toward more effective and efficient mental health care. Using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as an example of an early prototype of PBT, the article explicates the broader features of PBT and the shift in mindset researchers and clinicians will need to take to fully embrace PBT with respect to assessment, conceptualization, and intervention. In addition, the article enumerates challenges to implementing the PBT model and proposes recommendations for circumventing these challenges in the areas of theory development, research methodology, and clinical practice. Finally, we make the argument that shifting to PBT is the logical next step for our field.