Evidence Based Research

The Thought Management processes that are outlined in the steps to become less stressed, are based on extensive studies that have been tested by scientists rigourously for decades.

The research and practice in ACT has been proven to have clear applications outside of the therapy settings where ACT originated. The articles and books referenced below demonstrate evidence of the benefits of using these ACT based practices in the work environment, and include research and practical evidence from ACT founder Dr Dr Steven C. Hayes and leading ACT expert Dr Russ Harris.

Thought Management frameworks also brings together insights and research from leading experts in related fields, and I am proud to stand on the shoulders of giants including Daniel Goleman, neuroanatomist Dr Jill Bolte Taylor, and psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

The intention is to shine a light on the opportunities all leaders can learn and apply to bring more presence to their work, including performance improvement, reduced stress, reduction in job burnout and improved engagement.

The following important peer-reviewed clinical trials & research that provide evidence of the positive effects of acceptance and commitment therapy, related to the frameworks that underpin Thought Management, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based studies:

  1. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) aims to decrease suffering and increase well-being via six core processes of change (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2012). In the thirty years since the first study on ACT was published (Zettle & Hayes, 1986), over 325 randomized controlled trials have been conducted (Hayes, 2019). From its seeds in North America, the proliferation of ACT trials has resulted in empirical studies from South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Such impressive growth is matched by positive results, with most studies reporting results that favor ACT. To date, no counterindications or iatrogenic effects have been reported to our knowledge

  2. Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the decrease of self-focused attention and improving self-efficacy (Mehrdoost, Neshatdoost, & Abedi, 2013)

  3. A Review of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Empirical Evidence: Correlational, Experimental Psychopathology, Component and Outcome Studies (Francisco J. Ruiz 2010)

  4. The empirical status of acceptance and commitment therapy: A review of meta-analyses : Across 20 meta-analyses, 133 studies, and 12,477 participants, ACT is efficacious. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212144720301940

  5. Cognitive mediators of treatment for social anxiety disorder: Comparing acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (Niles et al., 2014)

  6. Evaluating the effectiveness of ACT for anxiety disorders in a self-help context: Outcomes from a randomized wait-list controlled trial (Ritzert et al., 2016)

  7. A study protocol for Truce: a pragmatic controlled trial of a seven-week acceptance and commitment therapy program for young people who have a parent with cancer (Patterson et al., 2015)

  8. Treating treatment-resistant patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia using psychotherapy: A randomized controlled switching trial (Gloster et al., 2015)

  9. A randomised controlled trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy for generalised anxiety disorder (Avdagic, Morrissey, & Boschen, 2014)

  10. Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on young people with social anxiety (Yadegari, Hashemiyan, & Abolmaali, 2014)

  11. Randomized controlled trial of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for social phobia: Outcomes and moderators (Craske et al., 2014)

  12. The effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based on reducing anxiety and depression in students with social phobia (Molavi et al., 2014)

  13. Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Group Therapy versus traditional Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Kocovski et al., 2013)

  14. Moderators and non-specific predictors of treatment outcome for anxiety disorders: a comparison of cognitive behavioral therapy to acceptance and commitment therapy (Wolitzky-Taylor et al., 2012)

  15. Randomized clinical trial of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for mixed anxiety disorders (Arch et al., 2012)

  16. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) versus systematic desensitization in treatment of mathematics anxiety (Zettle, 2003) 

  17. Acceptance and commitment therapy for generalized anxiety disorder in older adults: A preliminary report (Wetherell et al., 2011)

  18. Acceptance and Commitment: Implications for Prevention Science (Anthony Biglan, Ph.D., Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, and Jacqueline Pistorello, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist)

  19. A randomized controlled effectiveness trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Therapy for anxiety and depression (Forman et al., 2007)

  20. The 8 Characteristics of Flow - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi https://positivepsychology.com/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-father-of-flow/

  21. What makes a leader? Daniel Goleman https://fosterwhatmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Goleman_What-makes-a-leader.pdf


    Thought Management builds on the outstanding work in the ACT space, incorporating insights and evidence from related fields to provide practical leadership based frameworks focused specifically on the world of work. The following research and clinical studies highlight the results specifically related to the work environment:


  22. Effects of group acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based training on job stress and burnout. J Occup Health Psych 2013, 19:109-120. Hosseinaei A, Ahadi H, Fata L, Heidarei A, Mazaheri MM: Demonstrated decreased job stress, role ambiguity, and work overload factors when compared to a control group.

  23. Stress management for middle managers via an acceptance and commitment-based smartphone application: a randomized controlled trial. Internet Interv 2014, 1:95-101. Ly KH, Asplund K, Andersson G: Corporate managers experienced reduced perceived stress and increased general health compared to wait-list control participants.

  24. The influence of psychological flexibility on work redesign: mediated moderation of a work reorganisation intervention. J Appl Psychol 2008, 93:645-654. Bond FW, Flaxman PE, Bunce D:

  25. Building Safety Commitment. IL: Valued Living Books; 2013. Dr DJ Morgan The practical implementation for using ACTraining in the workplace in order to improve safety programs and safety culture.

  26. Job burnout. Annu Rev Psychol 2001, 52:397-422. Maslach C, Schaufeli WB, Leiter MP:

  27. Emotional labor in service work: psychological flexibility and emotion regulation. Hum Relat 2012, 65:1259-1282. Biron M, van Veldhoven MJPM:

  28. Mediators of change in emotion-focused and problem focused worksite stress management interventions. J Occup Health Psych 2000, 5:156-163. Bond FW, Bunce D:

  29. Identifying psychological mechanisms underpinning a cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for emotional burnout. Work Stress 2013, 27: 181-199. Lloyd J, Bond FW, Flaxman PE: Experimental groups receiving ACTraining at work for three half-day sessions showed a significant increase in psychological flexibility, and a decrease in emotional exhaustion compared to control groups.

  30. Worksite stress management training: moderated effects and clinical significance. J Occup Health Psych 2010, 15:347-358. Flaxman PE, Bond FW:

  31. A randomized control trial examining the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on clinician willingness to use evidence-based pharmacotherapy. J Consult Clin Psych 2008, 76:449-458. Varra AA, Hayes SC, Roget N, Fisher G: .

  32. The value of workshops on psychological flexibility for early childhood special education staff. Top Early Child Spec 2013, 32:196-210. Biglan A, Layton GL, Backen Jones L, Hankins M, Rusby JC: .

  33. A controlled pilot evaluation of acceptance and commitment training for intellectual disability staff. Mindfulness 2013, 4:113-121. Bethay S, Wilson KG, Schnetzer L, Nassar S:

  34. How a leader speaks: using Commitment-Based Leadership to deliver feedback to employees. Dr DJ Morgan J Appl Rad Behav Anal (AARBA Conference Proceedings) 2013:9-16.