Blog, books, articles, and interviews
NEW
Robyn explores various aspects of ACT therapy, current challenges in mental health practice, and ways to enhance therapeutic effectiveness. Each blog post will follow a structured format, featuring:
Therapist's Corner: In-depth discussions on current therapeutic challenges and insights
Research Spotlight: Latest ACT-related research findings and their practical applications
Personal Reflection: Thought-provoking questions and perspectives for self-development
ACT Micro Practice: Actionable techniques and exercises for immediate implementation
Events and Resources: Upcoming training opportunities and valuable tools
An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Guide for Healing from Within
Developing a Flexible, Process-Based, and Client-Centered Practice Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Manage Emotions and Take Back Your Life with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills for Moving Beyond Shame, Anger, and Trauma to Reclaim Your Values
An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Training Manual for Therapists
Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Bridge Psychological and Spiritual Care
How Acceptance and Mindfulness Can Lead You to the Love You Want
for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & Trauma-Related Problems
COMING SOON
In this conversation, holistic coach Melissa Foynes, PhD, discusses with Dr. Robyn Walser ways we can change our relationship to painful experiences in order to move more freely in our lives.
“Self-care” has become something of a buzzword lately; it’s used so often that its meaning has begun to shift. So what can you do when feeling stressed, annoyed, or let down? Robyn proposes an alternative.
What should you do when faced with an existential crisis? Robyn examines the possibilities.
In her work with couples, Robyn has seen a wide range of fears around being authentic. In this article, Robyn examines the “art” of intimacy.
We live in a disorderly world that, unfortunately, isn’t fair, coherent, or safe. But how do we show up to life after uninvited trauma? Robyn discusses the possibilities.
Robyn’s professional publications
Barnes, S. M., Borges, L. M., Smith, G. P., Walser, R. D., Forster, J. E., & Bahraini, N. H. (2021). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Promote Recovery from Suicidal Crises: A Randomized Controlled Acceptability and Feasibility Trial of ACT for Life. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science.
Barnes, S. M., Borges, L. M., Sorensen, D., Smith, G. P., Bahraini, N. H., & Walser, R. D. (2023). Safety Planning Within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 30(1), 55-63.
Batten, S. J., Orsillo, S. M. & Walser, R. D. (2005). Acceptance based approaches to posttraumatic stress disorder. In S. M. Orsillo & L. Roemer (Eds.), Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to anxiety: Conceptualization and treatment. New York, NY: Springer.
Boden, M. T., Bernstein, A., Walser, R. D., Bui, L., Alvarez, J., & Bonn-Miller, M. O. (2012). Changes in facets of mindfulness and posttraumatic stress disorder treatment outcome. Psychiatry Research, 200(2-3), 609-613. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2012.07.011
Boden, M. T., Kimerling, R., Jacobs-Lentz, J., Bowman, D., Weaver, C., Carney, D., Walser, R., & Trafton, J. A. (2012). Seeking safety treatment for male Veterans with a substance use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology. Addiction, 107(3), 578-586. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03658.x
Boden, M., Zimmerman, L., Azevedo, K. J., Ruzek, J. I., Gala, S., Magid, H. S. A., Cohen, N., Walser, R., Mahtani, N. D., Hoggatt, K. J., & McLean, C. P. (2021). Addressing the mental health impact of COVID-19 through population health. Clinical psychology review, 102006.
Borges, L. M., Barnes, S. M., Farnsworth, J. K., Drescher, K. D., & Walser, R. D. (2020). A contextual behavioral approach for responding to moral dilemmas in the age of COVID-19. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 17, 95-101.
Borges, L. M., Barnes, S. M., Farnsworth, J. K., Drescher, K. D., & Walser, R. D. (2022). Case conceptualizing in acceptance and commitment therapy for moral injury: An active and ongoing approach to understanding and intervening on moral injury. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 910414.
Borges, L. M., Barnes, S. M., Farnsworth, J. K., Evans, W. R., Moon, Z., Drescher, K. D., & Walser, R. D. (2022). Cultivating psychological flexibility to address religious and spiritual suffering in moral injury. Journal of health care chaplaincy, 28(sup1), S32-S41.
Burke, K., Dimovski, A., & Walser, R. (2010). The take a breath parent intervention: Practitioner's manual. Melbourne, Australia: Parenting Research Centre.
Burke, K., Muscara, F., McCarthy, M., Dimovski, A., Hearps, S., Anderson, V., & Walser, R. (2014). Adapting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for parents of children with life-threatening illness: Pilot study. Families, Systems, & Health, 32(1), 122-127. doi: 10.1037/fsh0000012
Cook, J. M., & Walser, R. D. (2003). Seeking Safety: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for PTSD and substance abuse by L. M. Najavits. The Journal of Traumatic Practice, 3, 69-72.
Cook, J. M., Walser, R. D., Kane, V., Ruzek, J. I., & Woody, G. (2006). Dissemination and feasibility of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for substance use disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder in the Veterans Administration. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 38(1), 89-92. doi:10.1080/02791072.2006.10399831
Cordova, M. J., Walser, R., Neff, J., & Ruzek, J. I. (2005). Predictors of emotional adjustment following traumatic injury: Personal, social, and material resources. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 20(1), 7-13. doi:10.1017/s1049023x00002089
Farnsworth, J. K., Drescher, K., Nieuwsma, J., Walser, R., & Currier, J. M. (2014). The role of moral emotions in military trauma: Implications for the study and treatment of moral injury. Review of General Psychology, 18(4), 249-262. doi:10.1037/gpr0000018
Farnsworth, J. K., Drescher, K. D., Evans, E. & Walser, R. D. (2017). A functional approach to understanding and treating military-related moral injury. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212144717300601
doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2017.07.003
Farnsworth, J. K., Borges, L.M. & Walser, R. D. (2019). Moving Moral Injury Into the Future With Functional Contextualism: A Response to Nash's “Unpacking Two Models for Understanding Moral Injury”. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jts.22429
Hayes, S. C., Pistorello, J., & Walser, R. D. (1995). Relating technical behavioral views to practicing clinicians. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 26, 107-112.
Hayes, S. C., Walser, R. D., & Follette, V. M. (1995). Psychology and the temptation of prescription privileges. Canadian Psychologist, 36(4), 313-320. doi:10.1037/0708-5591.36.4.313
Hayes, S. C., Walser, R. D., & Bach, P. (2002). Prescription privileges for psychologists: Conflicts and constituencies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 58(6), 697-708. doi:10.1002/jclp.10054
Karlin, B. E., Walser, R. D., Yesavage, J., Zhang, A., Trockel, M., & Taylor, C. B. (2013). Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for depression: Comparison among older and younger veterans. Aging & Mental Health, 17(5), 555-563. doi:10.1080/13607863.2013.789002
Lang, A. J., Schnurr, P. P., Jain, S., Raman, R., Walser, R., Bolton, E., Benedek, D. (2012). Evaluating trans diagnostic treatment for distress and impairment in Veterans: A multi-site randomized controlled trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 33(1), 116-123. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2011.08.007
Lungu, A., Boone, M. S., Chen, S. Y., Chen, C. E., & Walser, R. D. (2020). Effectiveness of a Cognitive Behavioral Coaching Program Delivered Via Video in Real World Settings. Telemedicine and e-Health.
McMillan, L. J., McCarthy, M. C., Muscara, F., Anderson, V. A., Walser, R. D., O'Neill, J., ... & Williams, K. (2020). Feasibility and acceptability of an online acceptance and commitment therapy group for parents caring for a child with cerebral palsy. Journal of Family Studies, 1-17.
McMillan, L. J., McCarthy, M. C., Muscara, F., Anderson, V. A., Walser, R. D., O’Neill, J., ... & Williams, K. (2022). Feasibility and acceptability of an online acceptance and commitment therapy group for parents caring for a child with cerebral palsy. Journal of Family Studies, 28(4), 1338-1354.
Najavits, L. M., Schmitz, M., Johnson, K. M., Smith, C., North, T., Hamilton, N., Walser, R., Wilkins, K. (2012). Seeking Safety therapy for men: Clinical and research experiences. In (Ed.), Men and addictions (pp. 37-58). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
Nieuwsma, J., Walser, R., Farnsworth, J. K., Drescher, K., Meador, K. G., & Nash, W. (2015). Possibilities within acceptance and commitment therapy for approaching moral injury. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 11, 193-206. doi:10.2174/1573400511666150629105234
Prins, A., Westrup, D., & Walser, R. (2016). Acceptance and commitment therapy: A mindfulness and behavior change approach for conditions resulting from military sexual trauma. In Treating military sexual trauma. New York, NY: Springer.
Rayner, M., Dimovski, A., Muscara, F., Yamada, J., Burke, K., McCarthy, M., Hearps, S. J. C., Anderson, V. A., Coe, A., Hayes, L., Walser, R., & Nicholson, J. M. (2016). Participating from the comfort of your living room: Feasibility of a group videoconferencing intervention to reduce distress in parents of children with a serious illness or injury. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 38(3), 209-224.
Ruzek, J. I., Curran, E., Friedman, M. J., Gusman, F. D., Southwick, S., Swales, P., Walser, R.D., Whealin, J. (2003). Treatment of the returning Iraq War Veteran. In Iraq war clinician guide. White River Junction, VT: National Center for PTSD.
Ruzek, J. I., Young, B. H., & Walser, R. D. (2003). Group treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and other trauma-related problems. Primary Psychiatry, 10(8), 53-57.
Ruzek, J. I., Curran, E., Friedman, M. J., Gusman, F. D., Southwick, S. M., Swales, P., Walser, R. D., Whealin, J. (2004). Treatment of the returning Iraq war Veteran. In Iraqi war clinician’s guide, 2nd Edition (pp. 33-45). White River Junction, VT: National Center for PTSD.
Ruzek, J. I., Walser, R. D., Naugle, A. E., Mennin, D., Ronell, D., Yehuda, R., Follette, V. M. (2008). Cognitive-Behavioral psychology: Implications for disaster and terrorism response. Prehospital and disaster medicine, 23(5), 397-410. doi:10.1017/s1049023x00006130
Ruzek, J. I., Landes, S. J., McGee-Vincent, P., Rosen, C. S., Crowley, J., Calhoun, P. S., McGraw, K., Walser, R. D. Smith, J. L., Barry, D. S., Schmidt, J., Simon, E., Runnals, J., Liu, N., Shaw, R. K., Zimmerman, L. Nottis, D. Tiet, Q. Juhasz, K., & Kirchner, J. E. (2020). Creating a practice-based implementation network: Facilitating practice change across health care systems. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 47(4), 449-463.
Ruzek, J. I., Landes, S. J., McGee-Vincent, P., Rosen, C. S., Crowley, J., Calhoun, P. S., Walser, R. D. & Schmidt, J. (2020). Creating a Practice-Based Implementation Network: Facilitating Practice Change Across Health Care Systems. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 1-15.
Sander, A. M., Clark, A. N., Arciniegas, D. B., Tran, K., Leon-Novelo, L., Ngan, E., ... & Walser, R. (2020). A randomized controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy for psychological distress among persons with traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychological rehabilitation, 1-25.
Scarlet, J., Lang, A. J., & Walser, R. (2016). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for posttraumatic stress disorder. In G. Wynn & D. Benedek (Eds.), Complementary and alternative medicine for PTSD New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Tran, C. T., Drescher, K. D., Kuhn, E., & Walser, R. (2012). The relationship between religiosity, PTSD, and depressive symptoms in Veterans in PTSD residential treatment. Religion, Spirituality, and Trauma. Spec. Issue of Journal of Psychology and Theology, 40(4), 313-322.
Walser, R. D., & Hayes, S. C. (1995). Psychology and prescription practices: Should we eat of the apple? The Naturalist, 2, 1-4.
Walser, R. D. (1996). On radical skepticism: The issue of prescription privileges for psychologists. In Psychology and prescription privileges. Reno, NV: Context Press.
Walser, R. D., & Kern, J. M. (1996). Relationships among childhood sexual abuse, sex guilt, and sexual abuse in adult clinical samples. Journal of Sex Research, 33(4), 321-326. doi:10.1080/00224499609551849
Walser, R. D., & Hayes, S. C. (1998). Acceptance with trauma survivors: Applied issues and problems. In V. M. Follette, F. R. Abueg, & J. Ruzek (Eds.), Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Trauma. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Walser, R. D., & Ruzek, J. I. (2001). PTSD, substance abuse, and the avoidance of internal distress. Trauma Lines, Spring Issue, 1, 5.
Walser, R.D. (2002). Disaster response: Professional and personal journeys at the Pentagon. The Behavior Therapist, 25, 27-30.
Walser, R. D., Ruzek, J. I., Naugle, A. E., Padesky, C., Ronell, D. M., & Ruggiero, K. (2004). Disaster and terrorism: Cognitive and behavior interventions. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 19, 54-63. doi:10.1017/s1049023x00001485
Walser, R. D., Cassidy, E., Collins, A., & Sheikh, J. I. (2005). The aging Vietnam era Veteran: A pilot study investigating the impact of PTSD. Psychologists in Long-Term Care Newsletter, 19, Fall Issue.
Walser, R. D. & Pistorello, J. (2005). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in group format. In S. C. Hayes, K. Strosahl, & K. Wilson (Eds.), A practical guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (pp.347-372). New York, NY: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-23369-7_14
Walser, R. D. & Hayes, S. C. (2006). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with trauma survivors. In V. M. Follette and J. I. Ruzek (Eds.), Cognitive behavioral therapies for trauma, second edition. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Walser, R. D. & Westrup, D. (2006). Supervising trainees in acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. International Journal of Behavioral and Consultation Therapy, 2(1), 12-16. doi:10.1037/h0100763
Walser, R. D. (2007). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A brief introduction and practical treatment techniques. Paradigm, 12, 6-8.
Walser, R. D. & Chartier, M. (2010). Laying out in anxiety: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for values-based living. In G. Burns (Ed.), Happiness, healing, enhancement. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Walser, R., Tran, C. T., & Cook, J. (2012). Posttraumatic stress symptoms in older female ex-prisoners of war. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, and Practice. 4(5), 466-468. doi:10.1037/a0027490
Walser, R. D. (2013). Love and the human condition. In T. B. Kashdan & J. Ciarrochi (Eds.) Mindfulness, acceptance, and positive psychology: The seven foundations of well-being (pp. 68-77). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Walser, R. D., Karlin, B. E., Trockel, M., Mazina, B., & Barr Taylor, C. (2013). Training in and implementation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for depression in the Veterans Health Administration: Therapist and patient outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 51, 555-563. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2013.05.009
Walser, R., Garvert, D. W., Karlin, B. E., Trockel, M., Ryu, D. M., & Taylor, C. B. (2015). Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in treating depression and suicidal ideation in veterans. Behavior Research and Therapy, 74, 25-31. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.08.012
Walser, R., Oser, M., Tran, C. T., & Cook, J. (2015). Frequency and impact of trauma in older women: A military and non-military sample. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 21(1), 62-73. doi:10.1080/15325024.2015.1048153
Walser, R., Sears, K., Chartier, M., & Karlin, B. (2015). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for depressed Veterans: Therapist manual. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Walser, R. D., & O'Connell, M. (2021). Acceptance and commitment therapy and the therapeutic relationship: Rupture and repair. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(2), 429-440.
Walser, R. D., & Wharton, E. (2021). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Using mindfulness and values in the treatment of moral injury. In J. M. Currier, K. D. Drescher, & J. Nieuwsma (Eds.), Addressing moral injury in clinical practice (pp. 163-181). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000204-010
Walser, R. D. & Wharton, E. (2021). Effective training and delivery of ACT: The dissemination and implementation issues. In Twohig, M.P., Levin, M.E., & Petersen, J.M. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Oxford University Press.
Walser, R. D., & O’Connell, M. (2022). The therapeutic alliance in acceptance and commitment therapy. Revista de psicoterapia, 33(122), 5-20.
Walser, R. D., & O'Connell, M. (2023). Alliance rupture and repair in acceptance and commitment therapy. In C. F. Eubanks, L. W. Samstag, & J. C. Muran (Eds.), Rupture and repair in psychotherapy: A critical process for change (pp. 165-186). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000306-008
Weinstein, J. H., Kroska, E. B., & Walser, R. D. (2021). The empowerment plan: Enhancing the safety plan with a CBS approach to repertoire expansion. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 20, 101-107.
Wharton, E., Edwards, K. S., Juhasz, K., & Walser, R. D. (2019). Acceptance-based interventions in the treatment of PTSD: Group and individual pilot data using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 14, 55-64.
