Hexaflex Model

What is the Hexaflex Model?

The Hexaflex Model is a key framework within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a psychological intervention designed to enhance psychological flexibility. This serves as a visual guide to understanding these processes, which include present-moment awareness, acceptance, defusion, self-as-context, values, and committed action. These processes aim to help individuals better cope with challenges, such as chronic pain or emotional distress, by fostering a healthier relationship with their thoughts and feelings.

A key feature of the Hexaflex Model is the emphasis on mindfulness exercises and embracing the present moment. By practicing mindfulness, individuals learn to become aware of their thoughts without getting caught up in them, enhancing psychological flexibility. This flexibility allows them to engage in committed action aligned with their values rather than being driven by avoidance or fear.

ACT therapists use the Hexaflex Model as a foundational tool to guide clients toward self-compassion, resilience, and acceptance, which can mitigate human suffering. The model promotes self-compassion by encouraging individuals to view themselves with kindness during tough times, improving mental well-being.

Applying the Hexaflex Model in practice

In practice, the ACT Hexaflex Model guides individuals through a series of six processes that enhance psychological flexibility. At the model's heart is the ability to engage in the present moment with nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. This process, known as self-as-context, helps individuals detach from their thoughts, fostering an observing self that can view experiences without judgment or attachment.

Another key aspect of applying the ACT model is overcoming cognitive fusion, where thoughts become entangled with self-identity. Through the ACT principles, individuals learn to defuse these thoughts and focus on their chosen life directions. This leads to committed action, where one takes meaningful steps toward personal values despite discomfort or obstacles like chronic stress.

The foundation of ACT is the relational frame theory, which explains how language and cognition can shape behavior, often leading to avoidance or negative patterns. ACT encourages breaking these patterns by helping individuals accept distressing experiences rather than avoiding them. This acceptance and commitment to actions aligned with personal values allow individuals to navigate challenges effectively.

How to use our Hexaflex Model PDF?

The Hexaflex Model is an effective tool for healthcare professionals to guide patients in improving their psychological flexibility. Our Hexaflex Model template features the components of psychological flexibility and inflexibility and can serve as a reference tool or a handout for clients. The following are helpful steps on how to use it:

Access the template

Download the Hexaflex Model through this guide and have it ready for your session. The template provides a structured format for introducing the ACT Hexaflex Model and its practical application to your patient.

Review the template content

Before using the template with a patient, review its content to familiarize yourself with the six processes of the Hexaflex Model and its counterparts that show the challenges of psychological inflexibility. Understanding each core process will help you better guide your patient through the model and explain the significance of concepts.

Introduce the Hexaflex Model to the patient

Once comfortable with the template, introduce the Hexaflex Model to your patient. Explain how the model is part of commitment therapy and helps manage difficult emotions and thoughts by increasing awareness of the present moment and encouraging positive behavioral changes.

Provide patient education

Educating the patient about the ACT principles is essential. Walk them through each core process, explaining how mindfulness exercises, non-judgmental awareness, and committed action can improve their well-being. Tailor your explanations to the patient's needs for better understanding and engagement.

Discuss next steps

After introducing the Hexaflex Model, discuss the next steps with the patient. Set clear goals and encourage ongoing use of the model to enhance their psychological flexibility. Plan follow-up sessions to review progress and adjust the approach as necessary based on their response.

Benefits of using our Hexaflex Model template

The Hexaflex Model template offers healthcare professionals a structured way to introduce and apply the ACT principles in therapy. By using this template, practitioners can help patients overcome psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance, promoting healthier behaviors and a more meaningful life.

Visual representation of core processes

The template clearly represents the six core processes in the ACT Hexaflex Model, helping patients understand how these elements interconnect. This visual aid makes explaining complex concepts like experiential avoidance and psychological inflexibility easier, allowing for more effective patient engagement.

Increase psychological flexibility

Using the template, you can help patients increase psychological flexibility, which is central to ACT aims. This flexibility enables individuals to become more adaptive in their thinking and behavior, allowing them to better manage internal experiences like thoughts, emotions, and body sensations.

Support goal setting and valued goals

The template encourages patients to identify their valued goals and the qualities guiding their actions. This process aligns with ACT’s goal-setting focus and helps individuals move toward a life that reflects their values. It also promotes commitment to taking action despite challenges.

Fully engage patients in sessions

Using the Hexaflex Model template helps patients fully engage in therapy. By learning concepts that help them align with their values and internal experiences, patients are more likely to actively participate in each session, fostering stronger therapeutic outcomes.