When It Is Used
Use it when difficult internal experiences are being treated as reasons that valued action cannot begin.
Passengers on the Bus / ACTing Out the Passengers on the Bus Exercise
Passengers on the Bus / ACTing Out the Passengers on the Bus Exercise is an ACT metaphor-based experiential tool for practitioners, clients, and groups. It helps clients identify a valued direction, name difficult internal experiences as passengers, and practice continuing toward values while those passengers remain present.
Explore the bus metaphor map
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Tool guide
Learn more about this tool
Use this background section to understand when the tool fits, how practitioners use it, and what to consider before sharing it with clients.
What It Captures
The tool captures exercise mode, valued direction, passenger barriers, rehearsal observations, debrief reflections, and values-linked action step.
Group Use
In group role-play, participant-specific material should remain distinct enough for debrief without forcing comparison between participants.
Limits
The tool does not invent scripts or prompt sheets, rank values, score willingness, or interpret the clinical meaning of passengers.
Can this be used with groups?
Yes. Group role-play is a supported exercise mode, with participant-specific content kept distinct for review.
Does the tool decide what the passengers mean?
No. Passengers are client-reported internal barriers, and interpretation remains practitioner-led outside the system.
What if no action step is named?
The metaphor map can be preserved as partial, with the action step marked unresolved.