Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of the "third wave" psychological interventions that is garnering empirical support in research as well as growing interest among clinicians. ACT includes elements of acceptance and mindfulness, targeting functional and contextual changes rather than changes in the content, form, or frequency of mental phenomena. Third wave therapies such as ACT may be especially powerful for "stuck" patients who fail to respond to such direct challenges in therapy.
This introductory workshop will familiarize attendees with the basic underlying philosophy and theoretical foundation of ACT. Functional Contextualism, and Relation Frame Theory will be introduced. The body of the workshop will include six core components of ACT: Acceptance, Cognitive Defusion, Contact with the Present, Self-as-context, Values, and Committed Action.
Participants will be equipped with the clinical skills necessary to begin using ACT strategies and techniques as part of their own therapeutic repertoire. Interactive self-reflective and experiential exercises will be used to facilitate learning.
Learning Objectives:
• Identify the role of experiential avoidance in the development and maintenance of psychopathology.
• Recognize client barriers to identifying and acting upon values.
• Recognize the role of language and cognitive fusion in maintaining maladaptive behavioural patterns.
• Lead clients in experiential exercises designed to facilitate awareness of valued life directions and motivated valued behaviours.
• Recognize the role of present moment process in the enhancement of therapeutic alliance.
Dates
Nov. 13, 2014 | 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Nov. 14, 2014 | 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Facilitator
Kenneth Fung MD FRCPC MSc. & Mateusz Zurowski, MD, MSc. FRCPC
Registration
Please register at least one week in advance of the workshop date you wish to attend. Registration is limited. Note that lunch is not provided.
Fee: $425.