Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Bootcamp: Skills-Building Course

In this two-day workshop you'll become familiar with the general model of ACT treatment, the psychological flexibility model, and you'll experience experiential exercises as demonstrations of the major techniques.

You'll be equipped with the core knowledge of ACT and links with cognitive behavioural treatment approaches.

You'll learn:

• the key theoretical components of the model (contextual behavioural model, relational frame theory, therapy processes)
• the six core ACT processes and how to practically apply them
• how to engage clients in exploring their personal values to drive purposeful life change
• how to help clients untangle from difficult thoughts
• how to use mindfulness in a flexible, formulation-informed manner that doesn’t always rely on meditation

The workshops will involve a mix of teaching, small skills group work, live and video demos and experiential exercises.

This two-day workshop builds upon the introductory workshop and will deepen your abilities in using the ACT approach in clinical practice.

You'll learn how to rapidly develop ACT-based case formulation and apply it in a fluid and flexible way.

You'll learn a range of practical skills to use acceptance, defusion and mindfulness techniques effectively.

The workshop will focus on:

• practical application of the model
• key skills training in key ACT processes
• understanding and doing formulation
• small group practice

After completing the introductory two-day workshop, you'll be encouraged to use the techniques with clients and then bring these experiences to the supervision/reflective practice groups.

These 2-hour sessions will take place on Skype and be facilitated by an ACT expert. Each group will have a maximum of 5 participants.

These groups will help you integrate theory with practice in a highly practical and experiential way.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

• describe the six core processes of the ACT model
• critically evaluate the evidence base pertaining to ACT and relational frame theory (RFT)
• effectively use acceptance and defusion techniques
• appropriately apply present moment and values techniques with clients
• design and employ effective metaphors with clients
• carry out an ACT formulation
• recognise personal ACT processes as they apply to the practitioner