Free Acceptance and Commitment Therapy resource by Dr Russ Harris
Learn how to build empathy and safety before introducing defusion techniques in therapy. This extract from ACT Made Simple (2nd Edition) explores Dr Russ Harris’s principle: “First dance in the dark, then lead to the light.” It explains why rushing into mindfulness or defusion without first validating a client’s pain can backfire, and offers practical steps to blend compassion, validation, and ACT processes for more effective therapeutic engagement.
Use this free resource to:
Deepen therapeutic alliance with fused clients
Learn how to validate, normalize, and empathize before defusion
Integrate ACT techniques safely and compassionately
Learn more with our ACT courses, led by Russ Harris: practical, evidence-based training to help you apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with confidence.
