About
I’m Jacob Martinez, an ACT therapist and trainer from Texas, based in Wisconsin. I specialize in using the ACT Matrix, and creating novel ACT interventions. My goal is to help clinicians become fluent in ACT and “think outside the books”.
This site is my evolving catalogue of ways to use the ACT Matrix to conduct therapy from intake to termination, and every step in between. Nearly all of this content is published here for the first time, and introduces new formulations of the ACT Matrix such as the the Grieftrix (the matrix for grief work), and the Survival-Vital Matrix. You may use, study, and share the content here for your professional purposes. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The ACT Matrix is a graphical user interface to learning, teaching, and doing Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. It’s both a technique and a method of applying ACT and fostering psychological flexibility. The traditional version of the ACT Matrix was developed over several years by Kevin Polk, Mark Webster, and Jerold Hambright.
This site offers several expansions and alternate versions of the matrix created by me.
-
Many clinicians utilize the ACT Matrix alongside traditional Acceptance & Commitment Therapy work. It is perfectly compatible with nearly every ACT intervention, skill, and concept. The only intervention the ACT Matrix is semi-incompatible with is the Choice Point exercise as they target different processes but utilize very similar language, clients can become easily confused if trying to use both or when switching back and forth between them.
The majority of ACT Matrix practitioners use it as a tool to help foster psychological flexibility in junction with traditional ACT interventions, exercises, and metaphors. The matrix itself is so flexible that it can be used by nearly anybody regardless of their main theoretical orientation. Many other professions utilize it, such as teachers, physicians, executives, and team leaders.
A select few practitioners (like me) use the ACT Matrix as a distinct approach to Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. You can think of this as a kind of side-branch or fork of ACT. The ACT Matrix approach in and of itself relies much less on the Hexaflex model of ACT, and instead targets psychological flexibility through Relational Frame Theory and other basic behavior change principles.
This site is suitable for people who are brand new to the matrix and just want to integrate it into their usual work, and those who crave more advanced applications.
-
My number one intention for this site is showing how the ACT Matrix can be used as a complete model of psychotherapy and can be used to conceptualize any human behavior, psychopathology, as well as all psychological well-being.
Once you have a foundational understanding of how the matrix works you can apply it to any case or presentation.
-
I have written an intake protocol that covers presenting the matrix for the first time with clients. You can see that here, complete with scripts, tips, and tricks.