Presented by Michael May, MA, LPCC-S
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported treatment aimed at increasing psychological flexibility by undermining problematic dominance of human language over experience and facilitating active engagement in valued and meaningful living. This introductory, full day, workshop will provide attendees with a comprehensive introduction to this approach, including its philosophical and theoretical underpinnings, as well as the six core ACT processes: Acceptance, Defusion, Contact with the Present Moment, Self-as-Context, Values, and Committed Action. Participants will be offered a variety of opportunities for practice; through case examples, targeted experiential exercises, or observation of impromptu role-plays. This workshop is an opportunity for clinicians who are new to the approach or are just in the beginning stages of applying ACT in their clinical work. Attendees can expect to walk away from this workshop with a comprehensive foundation for subsequent learning and application of the model.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will be able to identify the ways in which Contextualism, as philosophy of science, informs learning and applying ACT.
Attendees will be able to identify the six core Psychological Flexibility processes of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy.
Attendees will be able to define Experiential Avoidance and Cognitive Fusion and their role in ACT conceptualization of psychopathology.
Attendees will be able to identify how ACT seeks to undermine unworkable language functions via Defusion/Distancing exercises.
Attendees will learn how Contacting Values may aid in increasing important and meaningful client behaviors in ACT.
Attendees will learn how Acceptance/Expansion may aid in increasing client willingness to engage in values-consistent behaviors even while experiencing discomfort.
Attendees will learn several ACT consistent metaphors and experiential exercises to utilize within clinical work.
*This program is awaiting approval for 7 Continuing Education Hours by the following boards:
Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors (approval pending)
Kentucky Board of Social Work (approval pending)
Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (approval pending)
Board of Marriage and Family Therapists (approval pending)