The prevailing view among both therapists and clients is that a more vital life can be attained by overcoming negative thoughts and feelings. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a unique behavior change approach based on Relational Frame Theory (RFT) that addresses this question by altering the very ground on which normal change strategies rest, emphasizing instead the role of acceptance, defusion, and values. ACT appears to apply not just to the clinic, but to a wide range of issues faced by human beings. This list serves as a forum for clinicians, scientists, and students who are members of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) to discuss current conceptual, scientific, and practice developments in ACT and RFT, which are part of a larger effort to create a progressive, coherent, scientific psychology more adequate to the challenges of the human condition. It is restricted so before you join this list join ACBS as a paid professional or student member at www.contextualscience.org. Dues are "values-based" so the amount is up to you. You will also need a Yahoo account but don't worry about that formality -- they do not spam or sell their lists. This list serve is not meant to deal with requests for advice about personal problems. Non-professionals are invited to join the "ACT for the Public" list serve instead, also on Yahoo, which has open enrollment. The address for that one is: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACT_for_the_Public/