Reddit mentions of Learning RFT: An Introduction to Relational Frame Theory and Its Clinical Application

http://ironshrink.com/2007/12/what-is-relational-frame-theory-part-one/ is probably the best 'simple' introduction on the web today. the link at the bottom of the page for part two is broken so use this instead: http://ironshrink.com/2008/02/what-is-relational-frame-theory-part-two/

Most of the rest of it is highly academic. http://www.amazon.com/Relational-Frame-Theory-Post-Skinnerian-Cognition/dp/0306466007 is the original statement of the theory intended for professional researchers and clinicians. Very dense with jargon and assumes a high level of familiarity with existing learning theory concepts, much of which is derived from Skinner. http://www.amazon.com/Learning-RFT-Introduction-Relational-Application/dp/1572249064/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1CFS9M89Y6BZG10DGT36 is intended to be more of an introduction to RFT, but having read it, I think it is still dense. being translated from Swedish into English doesn't help.

the core idea in RFT is the observation that while both a dog and a human can learn that "cookie" refers to those delicious little things you put in your mouth, only humans will also learn that those delicious things are named "cookie". If you show a cookie to a human, she will say "that's a cookie" before trying to eat it, while a dog will just try to eat it. This is not just a problem with dog's speech production mechanics. they simply do not make the backwards association.

the backwards association, called a derived relation if I remember correctly, is important, because it underlies the ability of symbols - mere noise and sensation in our heads - to take on the rewarding and punishing properties of actual experience with the world. This sort of learning underlies how a thought concerning a possible danger in the future can get us acting afraid right now. Of course it's more complicated than that but I think that is the central idea.

The thing that is most cool about this is that there is a great deal of research supporting the explanatory power of RFT - from rat labs up to human beings. RFT marks the first time I'm aware of that we have a wholistic theory of learning that is useful for explaining both animal behavior and the human sense of self; not in terms of where it comes from, but in terms of how it behaves.

Awesome! I take it you're not seeing clients yet. I'm applying to internship this year (ugh!). I'm going to give you a reading list because I'm super biased about all this stuff. You have no obligation to read anything I suggest. I'm a contemporary behavior therapy person myself. (ACT, DBT, BA, FAP, MI).

Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults with major depression. Lead author is Sona Dimidjian (2006) That builds off a Jacobson study (http://tinyurl.com/lb82qhj).

http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Functional-Analytic-Psychotherapy-Behaviorism/dp/0387097864 (this form of therapy could use any uncomfortable situations about your hand to become a therapeutic tool.)

http://www.amazon.com/ACT-Made-Simple-Easy---Read/dp/1572247053/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377316771&sr=1-1&keywords=act+made+simple This is the biggest modern behavior therapy. It's based of relational frame theory (http://www.amazon.com/Learning-RFT-Introduction-Relational-Application/dp/1572249064/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377316825&sr=1-1&keywords=learning+rft)

Last book I'll recommend is the main DBT book. (http://www.amazon.com/Cognitive-Behavioral-Treatment-Borderline-Personality-Disorder/dp/0898621836)

For sure read the first two articles. They're super important. The rest is just the stuff I'm interested in because I'm biased. Let me know if you ever want to nerd out about the behavioral side of CBT.