An Overview of the Yearning for Orientation in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Information Guidance Sheets (part 3 of 7) - Defusion

In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), six core yearnings represent fundamental human desires that drive and guide behavior. These yearnings correspond to the six processes and the six points of the Hexagon Model of psychological flexibility.

These interrelated processes foster psychological flexibility, which is the ability to fully engage with the present moment and adapt behavior in ways that serve valued ends.

One of these core yearnings is the fundamental human desire for orientation.

Humans, like all organisms, crave orientation—to understand our physical and spatial surroundings and our place in the continuum of time: past, present, and future.

To fulfill our innate need for orientation, our minds constantly seek to understand the reasons behind current circumstances. This often leads to dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, causing us to lose touch with the present moment.

An over-orientation on the future can produce higher levels of anxiety, while an over-orientation on the past often results in greater levels of depression. Clients often come to us feeling disoriented, sensing that their life isn't quite aligned as it should be, yet lacking a roadmap or clear direction.

As therapists, we too can become disoriented, finding our minds wandering away from the present moment, caught up in thoughts of the past or future, or looking for ways to help fix the situation in front of us (future orientation).

Getting in Contact with the Present Moment

Concept: This process involves being fully aware of the here and now, with openness, interest, and receptiveness.

Clinical Application:

The clinician works to strengthen a present moment awareness by: