Feasibility Trial of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

The intervention presents, a mixture of instruction, discussion, and the use of metaphor and experiential activities designed to sensitise participants to the effects of self-stigma and shame on how they live their lives. This training condition provides instruction and experiences that train participants to notice, and then to override, the very human tendency to categorise and then avoid aversive thoughts and feelings and the people and situations that evoke them. The acceptance and commitment training condition will cover the following topics: (a) introduction to enacted and self-stigma (b) cognitive defusion/behavioural flexibility (c) acceptance vs. avoidance and control of emotions and thoughts and (d) values and committed action.

The peer support group will allow participants to share and discuss experiences related to their experiences of homelessness, shame and stigma. The group will be facilitated by an expert in facilitating peer support groups with marginalised populations.