Hello,
I have not had many responses to a request I posted on the list so I am emailing
some folks directly and hoping that you will not see this as intrusive. If you
do - please ignore this email.

I am writing some adolescent handouts for therapy and using a research process
to evaluate them - the Delphi method for consensus. The process requires three
rounds of evaluation (1) asking some experts for their opinion, (2) writing
materials and asking experts to rate them, and (3) asking adolescents to rate
them. Once this is done I plan to post them on ACBS.

So I wondered if you would consider helping me with the first step (it's basic
and seems obvious but it's part of the Delphi process not to assume content)

Would you be willing to provide me with a few brief thoughts to these questions
please? (email me or my student caseytonkin@... ):

1. Suggestions for up to 6 topics for written handouts that a therapist could
use to help a young person reflect on ACT out of the session (I am aiming for
brief with low reading level?
2. For each topic do you have suggestions about how you like to communicate this
information to young people (e.g. you might name a metaphor, pictures, story,
image, experience, etc...)

I need to get writing on these by March 12th so I hope you would take a few
minutes to help. You don't need to work with young people or consider yourself
an expert on ACT

I have attached the required ethics/IRB approval FYI.

Kind regards, Louise

Dr Louise Hayes
PhD, Clinical Psychologist, MAPS
University of Ballarat & CAMHS Ballarat
Phone: 0417 554 003
Email: louiseha@...
Email: l.hayes@...

CAMHS Ballarat
111 Ascot Street South
Ballarat, 3353
From: Louise Hayes [mailto:louisehayes@...]
Sent: Monday, 23 February 2009 1:31 PM
To: 'acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy_ANZO@yahoogroups.com';
'acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: can you help us evaluate youth handouts on ACT

Hi,
I am working on a project of writing some brief handouts for youth. The aim is
not for the handouts to explain ACT in its entirety but to provide a take-home
message outside therapy. I am planning to have adolescents evaluate the message
to try and make them appropriate for this age (16 to 21), but before I ask
teenagers we would like professionals to also evaluate their ACT consistency
(using Delphi method). If folks out there are willing to take part in the
professional evaluation of the materials before we ask teenagers I would be
really grateful.

I think when writing for adolescents it’s really important to check how they
interpret it. I recently watched a group of adolescents cry with laughter as
they recounted another professionals attempts to teach them a mindfulness skill
in their classroom at school. On explanation it didn’t seem that that the
professional got it wrong – just that the adolescents saw it as irrelevant and
downright funny.

The details are below on Casey’s post we would be grateful if some folks are
willing to help out.

Dr Louise Hayes
PhD, Clinical Psychologist, MAPS
University of Ballarat & CAMHS Ballarat


From: acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Casey
Tonkin
Sent: Tuesday, 17 February 2009 5:25 PM
To: acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy] Evaluation of written handouts on ACT

Dear ACT Practitioner,
Are you willing to evaluate some written handouts on ACT for youth? We are
seeking the help of ACT practitioners - at this stage to answer two questions
(see below). You do not need to be an ACT ‘expert’. We are developing
written handouts for practitioners that can be used with youth (15 to 25 years).
They will be brief written handouts for clients as a ‘take home’ message to
reflect on the work done in session. Many young people are overwhelmed by a book
and it is hoped a brief handout can be used to reflect on the session. To
evaluate if the materials suit our young audience we will research the outcomes
using the Delphi method to gain expert and consumer opinion. This research is
being conducted by Casey Tonkin, a graduate student under the supervision of
Louise Hayes at the University of Ballarat, Australia.
Here are the two questions we would be most grateful if you would answer (via
backchannel):
1. Can you help us by suggesting 6 topics for written handouts that would most
help young people reflect on ACT out of the session?
2. For each of the 6 topics, do you have suggestions about how to best
communicate the information to young people (e.g. you might name a metaphor,
story, image, experience, etc...)

Please send replies via backchannel so we don’t clog the list –
caseytonkin@...

Your answers will be anonymous – we will remove your email address.

Attached is the plain language statement outlining the study in further detail.

Kind Regards,

Casey Tonkin