If you are looking for an ACT therapist – Scroll down to the bottom of the page – there is a list of therapists there.
The ACT Matrix
The ACT Matrix is a great tool for building mindfulness, self-awareness and valued living.
Kevin Polk has a lot of resources on how to use it at his website.
Here is a handout of my version of the ACT Matrix – The ACT Matrix (Rachel Collis Version)
And here is a video explaining how I use the ACT Matrix in my coaching:
Conference Presentations
Collis, R & Alexander, P. (2010) Using ACT in Team Facilitation Rachel Collis & Petrina Alexanderpresented at ANZACT Conference, Adelaide
Archer, R. & Collis, R (2011) p How Using Acceptance and Commitment Training in Organisations could change…almost everything presented at ACBS World Conference in Parma , Italy
Collis, R (2011) How Using Acceptance and Commitment Training in Organisations could change…almost everything presented at ANZACT Conference, Brisbane
Collis, R (2012) Using Contextual Behavioural Science in Executive Coaching presented at ANZ ACBS Conference, Melbourne
Ciarrochi J., & Collis, R (2013) Acceptance and Commitment Training and Career Success presented at ACBS World Conference. Sydney
Atkins, P, Moran, DJ., Batten S, & Collis, R (2013) Leadership, Organisation and Public Policy Symposium presented at ACBS World Conference. Sydney
Atkins, P. Archer, R., Styles, R., & Collis, R (2014, October) Acceptance and Commitment Training in Organisations presented at ANZ ACBS Conference, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Collis, R (2014, October) Finding Meaning and Purpose in an Uncertain World ANZ ACBS 2014 presented at ANZ ACBS Conference, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Collis, R (2014, November 13-15 ) Coaching The Alpha Executives presented at 4th International Congress on Coaching Psychology, 2014. Melbourne
Collis, R (2014, November 13-15) Coaching for Meaning and Purpose presented at 4th International Congress on Coaching Psychology, 2014. Melbourne
Here are some other recommended resources:
Solution Focused Coaching
Solution focused coaching helps people get moving quickly. These two short books are excellent.
Anthony Grant, 2003
Bill O’Hanlon, 1999
Conflict Resolution And Negotiation
There are a lot of books on conflict resolution but these are still my favourites. Thompson is the textbook for the negotiation unit I teach on the executive MBA course at QUT
Roger Fisher, 2011
William Ury, 1993
Douglas Stone, 2010
The Mind and the Heart of the Negotiator
Mediation – Principles, Process, Practice: by Laurence Boulle is a clear and wise description of how to mediate a dispute.
Does gender impact negotiation styles and outcomes in salary negotiations? by Juanita Wheeler
This article was written by one of my Executive MBA students at QUT. It is one of the best explorations I have read on this subject. Juanita is Director, of Full & Frank, a consultancy providing services to the not-for-profit sector
Positive Psychology and Happiness
There are many excellent books on happiness, my favourites are:
Flow is that state where we are ”in the zone’, so completely absorbed in something that we forget ourselves and forget time. The more flow we have in our lives the happier we are – so knowing how to create flow is important.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, 1998
When you are 80 do you want to look back on your life and think ”That was great! Well done me!’? If so, read ‘Ageing Well’ – it is my favourite combination, wisdom backed up by some solid research.
George E. Vaillant, 2008
Todd Kashdan skilfully combines positive psychology with ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Training) in this lovely book.
Todd B. Kashdan, 2010
Todd Kashdan is pushing positive psychology to take a more rigorous scientific approach, these two books are great examples of that.
Kennon M. Sheldon, 2011
Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive Psychology
Joseph Ciarrochi and Todd B. Kashdan, 2013
Web-Based Positive Psychology Resources
There are lots of great free positive psychology tests at the authentic happiness website. You can find out how optimistic you are and take the wonderful VIA character strengths test
The Value of Positive Emotions by Barbara Fredrickson in American Scientist Vol. 91 2003
Just Turn Up by Georgina Smith – this is a succinct and practical introduction to meditation and includes a lovely CD
Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT)
Some good ACT-based Self Help Books
Russ Harris, 2010
Matthew Mckay, John P. Forsyth and George H. Eifer, 2010
Something Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong
Kelly G. Wilson, 2010
The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Depression
Patricia Robinson and Kirk Strosahl, 2008
The Mindful and Effective Employee
Frank W. Bond, Paul E. Flaxman, Fredrik Livheim and Steven C. Hayes, 2013
www.actmindfully.com.au Free resources and Australia-wide ACT-training for professionals, with Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap
www.thehappinesstrap.com Free resources and public workshops linked to The Happiness Trap, the best-selling ACT-based self-help book (I highly recommend Russ’s work)
and there are more ACT resources at www.contextualpsychology.org
Here is a powerpoint showing how the act matrix links to the hexaflex ACT Matrix and the Hexaflex R Collis. This is covered in the Using ACT in Work-Related Coaching Workshop I run. You can find dates for upcoming workshops here.
You can get a free copy of the 78 page e-book that accompanies my course on Applying ACT to Workplace Coaching when you sign up to my newsletter
Career Planning
Rob Archer’s Career Change blog is excellent. I use his process in my career coaching and it is excellent.
How to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric
So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
I have made a mind map of So Good They Can’t Ignore You as I think the ideas in it are so important. You can download it here.
Management and Leadership
A great textbook covering a wide range of management topics.
David A. Whetten and Kim S. Cameron, 2010
Zenger and Folkman are doing some great work around strength-based leadership development. Their work has significantly impacted my leadership coaching. I love this book.
John Zenger, Joseph Folkman, Robert H. Sherwin Jr. and Barbara Steel, 2012
You can get a copy of my free e-book ‘How to be a Great Manager’ here.
Other Psychology Links
There is a good free personality test at: http://personalitytest.net/ipip/ipipneo1.htm
It is based on the ‘Big Five’ personality traits – Extroversion, Openness to experience, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness and Agreeableness. These traits seem to be consistent throughout our adult lives.
ACT Therapists
If you are looking for an ACT therapist these people are lovely – (disclaimer here – they are my friends, I have never seen them for therapy but I do know that they are not only good hearted people but also well trained).
Julie Grove – Psychologist in Sydney
Louise Shepherd at The Sydney ACT Centre
Tania Rotili – Psychologist in Brisbane
NeLi Martin – Psychologist, yoga and meditation teacher, ACT therapist / trainer working in inner north Brisbane.
Jessica Klausen – Psychologist in Western Brisbane
Shelley McQuade – Psychologist in Logan, QLD
Nikita Kotlarov – Psychologist in Brisbane, QLD
Sasha Hardwick – Psychologist and neuropsychologist in Brisbane
Johanna Dean – Psychologist in Tewantin, QLD
Madonna Hirning – Psychologist, Mt Coolum, QLD
Samantha Clarke – Psychologist, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Louise Hayes – Psychologist in Melbourne, specialising in working with adolescents. Louise has written a self help book for teens.
Joanne Steinwach – Social Worker in Denver, Colorado
Aisling Curtin & Chris McConnell – Psychologists in Ireland
Dr Rob Purssey has recently started the Brisbane ACT Centre. Rob is an excellent psychiatrist and a world leading expert in behavioural pharmacology. Rob has pulled together a team of compassionate and skilled ACT therapists including 10 psychologists, 2 psychiatrists, also occupational therapists, social workers and a behavior analyst. The Brisbane ACT Centre provides individual and group ACT therapy, supervision and training.