Book Review – The ACT Workbook for Teens with OCD
Image: The ACT Workbook for Teens with OCD by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 8 out of 10. A great workbook on acceptance and commitment strategies and exposure and response prevention for teens with OCD.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD / 7.10.2021; No. 40
Disclaimer: Yes, I am a physician, but I’m not your doctor and this article does not create a doctor-patient relationship. This article is for educational purposes and should not be seen as medical advice. You should consult with your physician before you rely on this information. This post also contains affiliate links. Please click this LINK for the full disclaimer.
Star Rating – 8 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Author
Patricia Zurita Ona
About the author
Patricia Zurita Ona, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist with expertise in treating OCD and has written several other books on the use of acceptance and commitment therapy.
General description
The ACT Workbook for Teens with OCD is a self-help workbook for teens on implementing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) strategies to improve OCD. The author describes a variety of ways to use evidence-based ACT and ERP techniques individually and in combination. This workbook is written for readers to work through slowly and methodically. The author recommends completing 1 or 2 chapters per week (the book has 40 short chapters). Topics covered in this book include:
Introducing the Choice Point to make intentional choices to confront OCD
Explaining how OCD can hook you into staying stuck in obsessions and compulsions
Choosing and doing the things you care about most
Values-guided exposures
Unique and most important aspects
The ACT Workbook for Teens with OCD is a great workbook that blends ACT and ERP strategies for OCD. The early chapters feel a bit academic as the author introduces basic concepts on OCD, ACT and ERP, however, readers vary in terms of how much background theory and explanations they want to read in a workbook. The ACT Workbook for Teens with OCD provides ample theory and explanations. The workbook is structured and well-written overall. To describe how OCD interferes in people’s lives, Dr. Zurita Ona uses the symbol of being hooked by the OCD, and the strategies that she provides fall under her theme of getting “unhooked” from OCD. Important features of this book include:
Resisting OCD accommodations
Addressing avoidance
Turning down your “fightonometer” as opposed to directly fighting obsessive thoughts
Practicing strategies by using the values-guided exposure reflection form
Selecting from a large menu of strategies for dealing with OCD, for example:
Picturing and naming your obsessions
Singing your obsessions
Teasing your obsessions
Recording progress in the Unhooking Log
Best quotes
“If you’re dealing with OCD or anxiety-related problems, chances are the danger detector of the brain – the amygdala – is working ultra-hard, sending you many fearful and panicky signals about those obsessions showing up in your mind.”
“But, reality is that there is no winning a battle with an overworking brain sending you tons of danger signals because it will come back quickly with new content, push you to do more compulsions, demand you avoid a situation, and encourage you to ask for accommodations. Believe it or not, your brain is just trying to protect you.”
“Thoughts are thoughts, images are images, feelings are feelings, sensations are sensations, and none of that inside noise you go through is the same as reality. Even the most annoying urge is not the same as reality.”
Who would enjoy this book?
Teens, therapists and parents of teens who are looking for an evidence-based workbook for teens focused primarily on ACT and ERP strategies to combat OCD would likely enjoy The ACT Workbook for Teens with OCD.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Someone interested in a self-help book (rather than a workbook) that goes into substantial depth on ACT strategies is unlikely to enjoy The ACT Workbook for Teens with OCD.
Conclusion
The ACT Workbook for Teens with OCD is a great workbook on acceptance and commitment strategies and exposure and response prevention for teens with OCD.