Drop the rope ACT exercise | Steven C. Hayes (Video)
This intervention involves using physical metaphors to address anxiety, particularly through a rope-pulling exercise. A volunteer enacts a scenario where they face an "anxiety monster" while avoiding a bottomless pit. The key lesson is that clients can choose to "let go of the rope," symbolizing the release of the struggle against anxiety and shifting focus towards meaningful life activities. Hayes, through this metaphor, highlights the importance of acceptance, cognitive defusion, and the flexibility to engage in values-based actions despite emotional difficulties.