Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a Treatment for Problematic Pornography Viewing

Description

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of the few research supported treatments for problematic pornography viewing. In a recent randomized clinical trial, individuals were able to reduce their viewing of pornography on average by over 90% after participating in 12 sessions of ACT.

ACT is a transdiagnostic treatment that has been found efficacious for a wide range of problems across over 300 randomized controlled trials including compulsive disorders such as pornography viewing. ACT provides a comprehensive framework for addressing core pathological processes underlying problematic pornography viewing including psychological inflexibility (rigid adherence to inner experiences including urges, thoughts, emotions;), low trait-mindfulness, emotion dysregulation and moral disapproval.

This four-session 90-minute webinar series (6 hours total) will demonstrate how ACT principles effectively reduce unwanted pornography viewing by cultivating openness to experiencing urges to view pornography and by promoting value-directed behaviors instead of ineffective efforts to control inner experiences and perceived addiction.

About the Presenter

Dr. Cameron Staley is a clinical psychologist who is passionate about counseling, teaching, and training mental health professionals. Cameron completed his psychology internship at Brigham Young University’s Counseling and Psychological Services where he first learned Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as an effective treatment for unwanted pornography viewing. In his TEDx talk, Changing the Narrative Around the Addiction Story, Cameron shares details from his research and counseling experience regarding helpful ways to talk about sexuality and how to effectively reduce unwanted pornography viewing through mindfulness. In an effort to make these principles more accessible, he developed an online self-directed program called LifeAfterPornography based on ACT concepts proven effective in research to reduce unwanted pornography viewing in adults. Cameron also hosts The Life After Series Podcast where he interviews experts, shares insights, and provides education on ways to improve mental and sexual health. Cameron has presented his research on pornography at the International Academy of Sex Research (IASR) and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) along with peer-reviewed publications in the journals of Socioaffective Neuroscience and Psychology, Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Biological Psychology, Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, and Archives of Sexual Behavior.