The Wisdom to Know the Difference: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Overcoming Substance Abuse

Author(s): KELLY WILSON

Addiction | ACT Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." This healing prayer has been adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs and, with the advent of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), has found its way into modern behavioural science.


The Wisdom to Know the Difference offers readers a unique path to treating alcoholism and drug addiction through ACT, which has been proven to be clinically effective for the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse. This workbook unifies the most widely practiced method of substance abuse treatment, the twelve-step program, with an empirically supported psychotherapeutic model, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Each component of this ACT treatment plan has an explanation rooted in basic behavioural science, and readers will learn how these components fit into the twelve steps in Alcoholics Anonymous and similar programs.


Written by Kelly Wilson, cofounder of the ACT treatment model, and Troy DuFrene, this workbook is accessible for all reading levels and can be used by those suffering from all forms of substance abuse.


Product Information

How to use acceptance, mindfulness, and values-oriented strategies, either alone or in combination with a twelve-step program, to overcome substance abuse and permanently change their lives for the better.

Kelly G. Wilson, PhD, is associate professor of psychology at the University of Mississippi. He is coauthor of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness for Two, and Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong. He is a trainer and speaker in the areas of acceptance and commitment therapy and behavior analysis.


Troy DuFrene is a writer who specializes in psychology and has coauthored several books, including Coping with OCD; Mindfulness for Two; Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders; and The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Bulimia.

General Fields

  • : 9781572249288
  • : New Harbinger Publications
  • : New Harbinger Publications
  • : February 2012
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : KELLY WILSON
  • : Paperback
  • : 1206
  • : 616.860651
  • : VS