Living Your Life with Cancer through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

This valuable self-help book for people affected by cancer, their loved ones and friends focuses on self-care when life hurts. It explores the impact of cancer and explains why the usual ways of coping may leave people stuck. The first book of its kind to focus on the scientifically based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach, it helps people to find ways to cope with painful thoughts and feelings, and to rebuild a meaningful life despite the cancer. With an emphasis on value-based living the book illustrates skills such as mindfulness and the development of acceptance to help people affected by cancer to participate in a fuller life and gain a greater sense of well-being. It combines evidence-based practice with the experiences of people who are living with cancer in the form of numerous quotations throughout, as well as paper and pencil 'thought' exercises. Living Your Life with Cancer through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people affected by cancer to feel more able to sit with the uncertainty of their future, show themselves kindness and compassion and to learn to be true to themselves, no matter what the cancer throws at them. It is also important reading for psychological therapists working in oncology.

Dr. Anne Johnson is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist Who has worked for over 20 years in cancer and palliative care with adults and children in the NHS. She is the Head of the Physical Health Specialty and the Lead of the Cancer Psychology Service in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Dr. Claire Delduca is a Principal Clinical Psychologist who has worked within specialist cancer and palliative care services for adults in the NHS for seven years and has now been based in Critical Care for over 3 years Emeritus Professor Reg Morris has lived experience as a user of cancer services and 40 years experience of practice and research as a clinical psychologist in physical health settings and has been director of clinical psychology training programmes for over 20 years. About the artist: Mark Harvey, an artist and illustrator originating from Southampton, provided the illustrations displayed in this book.

Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Part 1: Understanding the Impact of Cancer Part 2: Living a Meaningful Life After a Diagnosis of Cancer - An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Approach to Living with Cancer Part 3: Looking After Yourself Part 4: Making a Difference Index