RMIT University, Counselling Service: 6 A.C.T. Conversations

Language creates conflict

Six ACT Conversations

This audio e-learning program aims to provide RMIT University students with the emotional intelligence skills to support them in:

• completing study assessment tasks in a disciplined and stress-free manner
• starting and sustaining enjoyable relationships with their peers and friends
• conducting a meaningful and valued life while studying at University
• participating in group assessment projects in a fulfilling and confident manner
• living a balanced and enjoyable life!

The program uses concepts from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, but is not meant to take the place of counselling, psychotherapy or a mental health service (see disclaimer below).

The program comprises six sessions of between 15 and 50 minutes duration. Each session includes a conversational mini-lecture and several practical exercises. You can stream the audio through any PC connected to the Internet. There may be breaks in the audio though if you are on a dial-up connection. If you prefer you can download the audio materials to your computer and listen to them there or on a portable MP3 player.

The program is written in a sequence, but you can start with any of the six sessions depending on your interests and needs. Some sessions refer to material covered in other sessions, but we have tried to keep that to minimum. Each session deals with a single concept, but the concepts in Acceptance and Commitment Training are all closely related and work together.

This is an experiential, capability-building program. Completing the program is not about learning information but about developing new awareness, perceptions and behaviours. It is about knowing how not knowing that. There is no endpoint to learning these skills however much you practise them, you can always improve. So to get the most you can out of the program, you must practise the exercises. You will find that you will get an immediate and obvious benefit from doing some exercises just once and won't need to do them again. With others though, especially the mindfulness exercises in session 4, you may wish to make them a regular habit, just as you would with a physical exercise regime. By the way, doing these exercises is really the most important part of what Acceptance and Commitment Training has to offer. If you have to choose between doing the exercises and listening to the rest of the recording in these sessions, do the exercises.