Experience RFT & ACT from the inside out

For anyone working to effect change, words matter. Understanding complex language allows us to skillfully navigate our work to help clients build better lives, shift organizational cultures, and respond effectively in our communities. Understanding and Applying Relational Frame Theory provides a comprehensive overview of RFT to help you use language effectively in your work and life. Throughout the book, we ground our discussions of RFT in understanding how to promote psychological flexibility and prosociality through cooperative contexts for change at all levels of analysis. That is, we approach the principles of RFT in the service of how we can apply our understanding to our practice and our lives—including understanding RFT/complex language as the foundation for ACT.

In this professional guide, we provide a thorough outline of the principles of RFT, considering the main building blocks of language and cognition as relating—the ability to flexibly respond to links between one thing and another, generating new connections in the process (that is, derived relational responding and transformations of function)—and we offer practical applications and tools to enhance your practice. 

You’ll learn to apply a behavior analytic understanding of complex language to a variety of settings—including education, mental health, and business. You’ll discover how complex verbal repertoires affect individual behavior, as well as how relational framing functions in the context of groups. Finally, you’ll learn how RFT can be applied to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion—as well as global sustainability. We hope you’ll join us on this journey towards a more prosocial world.

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Praise for Understanding and Applying RFT

  • “This is the book I have been waiting for—one that bridges the basic science of RFT from functional analysis to social justice, all in plain language. The authors deconstruct complex ideas into felt functions that graduate students or advanced practitioners alike will benefit from.”

    Matthew D. Skinta, PhD, ABPP, assistant professor of psychology at Roosevelt University, and author of Contextual Behavior Therapy for Sexual and Gender Minority Clients

  • "Ming, Gould, and Fiebig present clear conceptualizations and examples to illustrate the advantages of a functional and contextual approach to influencing the world around us. Above all, they teach us ways to accompany one another in the quest for collective well-being.”

    Shahla Alai-Rosales, PhD, associate professor at the University of North Texas, and coauthor of Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism and Building and Sustaining Meaningful Relationships

  • “An important book and a must-read for those wanting to learn to ‘see’ language. If you have ever wanted to learn why it is that speaking a value can transform a life, sometimes in an instant, this is the book.”

    Louise Hayes, PhD, author of What Makes You Stronger and Your Life Your Way; developer of DNA-V; clinical psychologist; and adjunct senior research fellow
at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia

  • “A thoroughly written text that invites readers toward a more complete understanding of RFT and its application. The authors have powerfully set the occasion for readers not only to read, but also experience RFT.”

    Nasiah Cirincione-Ulezi, EdD, BCBA, academic faculty director at the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Capella University

  • “This is a comprehensive and updated introduction to RFT. It also shows how many commonsense phenomena—like cooperation, compassion, self-compassion, and curiosity—can be conceptualized from an RFT perspective. Excellent!”

    Niklas Törneke, MD, author of Learning RFT and Metaphor in Practice

  • “Not only does this book explore the foundations of RFT that are relevant for those involved in ABA practice, but it explains how scaled-up, cultural-level interventions can affect the future, with a focus on contextual analyses of language and cognition.”

    Ruth Anne Rehfeldt, PhD, coeditor of Derived Relational Responding and Applied Behavior Analyses of Language and Cognition, and fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science

  • “A must-read. Quality content in a very didactic format, with exercises that lead readers to a better understanding of the contents, while following their values. If you are interested in learning RFT, this is definitely a book I recommend.”

    Táhcita Mizael, PhD, postdoctoral researcher at the University of São Paulo in Brazil, and coeditor of Debates on Feminism and Behavior Analysis

  • “ Analyzing complex functions, mostly in verbal humans, is a difficult endeavor. This book connects the dots in a creative, comprehensive, and didactic way. A present to learn and enjoy.”

    Carmen Luciano, PhD, professor of psychology and chair of the master’s program at University Almeria, and director of specialized training at the Madrid Institute of Contextual Psychology (MICPSY)