Date of Award

Winter 3-16-2026

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Kathryn Barrs

Second Advisor

Shelly Smith-Acuna

Third Advisor

Elizabeth Robinson

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Keywords

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Veterans, Military, Fitness, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Martial arts, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains a significant and persistent challenge among military Veterans, despite the availability of evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Many Veterans continue to experience symptoms due to treatment dropout, stigma, emotional avoidance, and difficulty engaging in traditional talk-based therapies. This paper proposes a novel integration of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) as a more holistic and accessible approach to trauma recovery.

BJJ, a grappling-based martial art, has gained recognition as a meaningful practice for Veterans, offering opportunities for emotional regulation, social connection, and identity reconstruction. This paper explores how the lived experience of BJJ naturally aligns with the six core processes of ACT: acceptance, cognitive defusion, present-moment awareness, self-as-context, values, and committed action. Through physically engaging with discomfort, uncertainty, and challenge, Veterans may begin to relate differently to their internal experiences while reconnecting with personally meaningful values. Rather than replacing traditional therapy, BJJ is conceptualized as an experiential extension of ACT principles, one that allows psychological flexibility to be practiced in real time, through movement, community, and shared struggle. Clinical, ethical, and cultural considerations are discussed, along with implications for future research and potential integration within Veteran care systems. This framework highlights the importance of embodied, values-driven approaches to healing and offers a pathway for Veterans to move beyond symptom management toward a renewed sense of purpose and engagement in life.

Copyright Date

3-12-2026

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Conner Cox

Provenance

Received from author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

32 pgs

File Size

414 KB

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