Mastering the Act of ACT: Advanced Understandings and Applications of Acceptance & Commitment

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-wave psychological intervention that blends acceptance and mindfulness strategies with commitment and behavior change techniques to increase psychological flexibility. This course takes clinicians above and beyond the fundamentals, offering a deeper understanding of the clinical principles that make ACT so effective. Students will learn enhanced ways to make ACT sessions experiential and to help clients develop organic and personal understanding of the Hexaflex. Clinicians will learn common stuck points in ACT and solutions. This seminar encourages a journey of moving from apprentice to master, mastering a deeper understanding and application of ACT.

Participants will be able to:

• Identify and learn the aspects of functional contextualism relational frame theory as they relate to the development and process of ACT.
• Identify and practices strategies for utilized applied behavioral analysis in session and its relevancy in selecting ACT interventions for treatment.
• Identify and learn the core concept of “psychological flexibility” and the conditions that foster it in session.
• Identify and learn how psychological inflexibility can contribute to unworkable behavior, including self-harm and substance use.
• Identify and learn how ACT core concepts can be adapted for work with youth and families.
• Identify and learn common stuck points within ACT therapy and practice tools for moving through them.
• Apply ACT concepts and strategies to case conceptualization and treatment planning.
• Identify and learn tools for safe, therapeutic self-disclosures and the development of ACT-consistent metaphors.