Dialing in

Not only is the matrix a great tool for tracking behavior, it’s also wonderful for helping clients choose how they want to respond to any given experience. To highlight this I’ve created this sheet that I call the ACT Matrix Dial.

The metaphor of the dial helps clients connect to the fact that they have the power to choose what to do once they have noticed and come into contact with an experience.

After discussing the content of an experience your client can be guided to try turning the dial. I often start with extracting the value.

What about this experience is meaningful or important to you?

What does this experience point at given what we know is important to you?

Is there value you can see in having this experience?

After that, you can turn the dial to any other quadrant. Typically I go right down to the lower left, and we practice ways of responding to the experience. These skills will vary depending on what the experience is, but in general any cognitive defusion or experiential acceptance technique will work here. Keep in mind that the purpose of cognitive defusion is to transform the stimulus function of the experience.

Up at the top, the quadrants open up many choices that are always available to you. Clients can brainstorm ideas of actions, and even practice/roleplay different choices in the therapy room.

If you would like to use this matrix dial, you can download it here. Included in this folder are two different versions of it, and one with a blank space in the lower left-hand quadrant so that you and your client can fill in your own tried and true exercises. There is also an editable .ODG file which can be opened with the free and open source program Libre Office Draw so you can edit it to your liking.