The Happiness Trap Cards

Russ Harris’s book ”The Happiness Trap” is one of my favorite self-help books. After reading it, I became so interested in this method that I attended an ACT workshop. It really did change my life and I incorporate different elements from this therapy in my thoughts and behaviors on a daily basis. Like any new behavior, though, it is easy to go back to old ways of acting. So it’s a brilliant idea to take many of the concepts from this book and have them on a deck of cards. This method has to be practiced continuously to have effect, and I can imagine, for example, pulling one card a day as a way of reminding oneself of the different concepts and actions that are an important part of this therapy.

A great idea!

This is a set of 50 cards based on the book of the same name. Each card has a brief description of an ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) principle on the front and a short practice on the back.

This deck is a nice introduction to ACT, even for people who haven't read the book. If someone picks up the deck without having any prior knowledge of ACT terminology or practices, I think they might struggle a bit with some of the cards' instructions. As an example, the 'hooking' and 'unhooking' terms come up quite a bit, but aren't explained or introduced. Some of the earlier cards I read had a snippet along the lines of "If a difficult thought arises during this, notice and unhook". I think if those were some of the first practices someone was doing, they might be a bit lost about how to continue without pulling another card or referencing the original book/other outside material. Working their way through the whole deck will probably explain enough to be able to complete the practices though.

Overall I liked the variety of practices in this deck and the way the cards are formatted. It's a great add-on for those who found The Happiness Trap helpful, and a nice, quick introduction for those who haven't read it but are interested in ACT.

Dive into a transformative journey with "The Happiness Trap Cards," a dynamic deck inspired by the bestselling classic on escaping the happiness trap. Featuring 50 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based prompts, this deck offers practical tools and empowering reflections to liberate you from the clutches of depression, anxiety, and insecurity. Embrace a richer, more meaningful life by incorporating the profound insights of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into your daily routine.

Unlock the secrets to fulfillment with each card, presenting strategies like "Thanking Your Mind," "Dropping Anchor," and "Noticing and Naming." Tackling themes from handling painful thoughts to building better relationships, these cards provide in-the-moment solutions for panic, insecurity, and fear. Enhance your life by breaking self-defeating habits, improving performance at work, fostering self-compassion, and navigating loneliness and loss. Packaged in a stylish playing card-style box, this deck is a convenient and accessible resource that has positively impacted millions, offering a fresh perspective on living a truly fulfilling life. I would recommend any of Russ' work, including this one!

I love the idea of these cards. There's a good variety of different situations that can help someone with mental health, growth, self and personal development, and just everyday life. A good description of how to actually implement things with the 'Practice' side of the cards.
ARC provided by NetGalley