Within the framework of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), the concept of creative hopelessness often raises eyebrows and triggers misunderstandings. The term itself may seem contradictory, but it serves a powerful purpose in helping clients find new ways to approach their problems. In this post, we will explore the significance of “creative” in creative hopelessness and how it can lead to transformative change.
Creative hopelessness is a term used in ACT that refers to the process of recognising and accepting the limitations of traditional strategies to control or avoid emotional pain. It involves embracing the understanding that trying to eliminate or suppress difficult thoughts and emotions often leads to more suffering. It encourages individuals to explore new ways of relating to their internal experiences and cultivating psychological flexibility.
Navigating the control agenda
At the beginning of therapy, the control agenda tends to dominate clients’ thoughts and actions. For instance, someone grappling with high levels of anxiety may be solely focused on eliminating their distress as quickly as possible. Whilst this instinct is understandable, it’s important to recognise that excessive control often contributes to the problem itself. As practitioners, we face the challenge of validating clients’ need to reduce their distress while simultaneously guiding them away from reinforcing unhelpful behaviours. This is where creative hopelessness comes into play.
Utilising metaphors
Metaphors are powerful tools for conveying knowledge and experiences across different domains of life. In previous chapters, we discussed metaphors such as the Chinese Finger Traps and the Tug of War, which highlight the futility of struggle. Another metaphor that can be useful is the Person in the Hole:
Imagine walking through life when suddenly, through no fault of your own, you stumble into a deep, dark hole. Understandably, panic sets in, and you reach for a shovel in search of a way out. Instinctively, you start digging, thinking it’s the right course of action. However, digging only exacerbates the problem because it creates more holes. Counterintuitively, the first step towards a solution is to stop digging and drop the shovel, even when it feels satisfying to take immediate action.
Contrasting short-term and long-term effectiveness
Control strategies often appeal to us because they seem to work, at least in the short-term. They provide a sense of taking action and avoiding passivity. It’s crucial to acknowledge and validate these functions. However, we must also contrast short-term effectiveness with the limitations that emerge in the long run. By doing so, clients can develop a sense of hopelessness regarding their current strategies. Care must be taken not to imply that the practitioner possesses a secret, all-powerful tool. Instead, we need to help clients recognise that their previous approaches are merely different forms of digging, leading to the realisation that genuine creativity and innovation are necessary for progress.
By embracing the idea of creative hopelessness, clients can break free from the constraints of their control agenda and discover new possibilities. Metaphors and the contrast between short-term and long-term effectiveness play crucial roles in facilitating this transformative process. As practitioners, it is our privilege to guide clients towards embracing creative hopelessness, empowering them to embark on a path of growth and change.
A handy way to go through creative hopelessness is to use our free to download workability worksheet. It provides a step by step guide to the 5 workability questions.
If you want to learn more about workability and creative hopelessness, check out our on-demand training, Getting unstuck and working with resistance: a practical guide to using creative hopelessness in ACT, with Dr Joe Oliver. In this training, Joe gives you a practical overview of how to use creative hopelessness in your sessions to manage resistance and increase commitment to behavioural change.