Development of the “Affect Regulation Training” (ART) Program

Abstract

The Affect Regulation Training program was developed as a transdiagnostic intervention to specifically enhance a broad range of affect regulation capabilities. Based on the Adaptive Coping with Emotions Model, we identified seven specific, teachable skills which we termed ART Skills: ART Skill #1—Muscle Relaxation, ART Skill #2—Breathing Relaxation, ART Skill #3—Nonjudgmental Awareness, ART Skill #4—Acceptance and Tolerance of Emotions, ART Skill #5—Compassionate Self-Support, ART Skill #6—Analysis of Emotions, and ART Skill #7—Modification of Emotions. These ART Skills are presented to participants during the training as techniques that can be used to interrupt neurological vicious cycles in the brain, which are involved in intensifying and maintaining negative emotions. As participants become familiar with each skill and its application, the individual ART Skills are chained together to create the ART Sequence.