In this short but impactful episode, Todd unpacks one of ACT’s most relatable metaphors: the ball in the pool.
What if your client’s suffering isn’t about what they’re feeling—but about their effort to push those feelings away?
Using the metaphor of trying to hold a beach ball underwater, Todd illustrates the emotional cost of experiential avoidance—and how it keeps clients stuck in a cycle of struggle. When we teach clients to stop pushing and start opening, we free up the energy to engage with life again.
🎧 You’ll learn:
How experiential avoidance functions as a trap
Why control strategies drain clients over time
What willingness can look like in practice
“Life isn’t about never having a beach ball. It’s about whether you can keep swimming even when one is next to you.”
Perfect for ACT clinicians, interns, and supervisors who want a fast refresher on a metaphor that lands every time.
