Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: A Nuts and Bolts Workshop- North Carolina
Brief Program Description
This workshop presents a unified Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) protocol for persons suffering from any of the major anxiety disorders. ACT is a newer third generation behavior therapy based on behavior analytic research and theory (i.e., Relational Frame Theory) regarding the nature of human language and cognition. This work, in turn, conceptualizes most psychological suffering as resulting from unnecessary and unworkable verbal self-regulatory processes (i.e., excessive rule-governed behavior, fusion with literal language, experiential avoidance) getting in the way of value-guided actions. Instead of thinking and feeling better in order to live better, ACT teaches anxious clients how to live better with painful private events and move with them into a more vital and valued life. Clients learn that inflexible attempts to control anxiety are a problem, not a solution. Experiential exercises (acceptance, mindfulness, defusion) and value-guided behavioral activation are central to ACT for Anxiety Disorders will be emphasized throughout the workshop. Some techniques will be demonstrated, and participants will have opportunities to try them out too. Clinical worksheets and other tools will be provided.
Proposed Objectives:
On completion of the workshop the participants will be able to:
1. identify the basic components of the ACT model of human suffering and how it differs from more traditional cognitive-behavioral views;
2. learn how to make experiential avoidance and valued living the explicit treatment targets;
3. learn how to integrate experiential exercises, metaphors, and defusion techniques to foster acceptance as an alternative to symptom mastery and control treatment agendas;
4. learn ways to help anxious clients balance acceptance and change while moving in the direction of their chosen values and life goals.
Proposed Audience: This is an introductory workshop for mental health professionals and graduate students interested in learning more about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. CE credits offered. Contact NCABA at
http://www.nc-aba.com for registration information.
Selected Readings
Eifert, G. H., & Forsyth, J. P. (2005) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for anxiety disorders: A practitioner's treatment guide to using mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based behavior change strategies. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Hayes, S. C. (2004). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Relational Frame Theory, and the third wave of behavior therapy. Behavior Therapy, 35, 639-665.
Orsillo, S. M., Roemer, L., Lerner, J. B., & Tull, M. T. (2004). Acceptance, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral therapy: Comparisons, contrasts, and application to anxiety. In S. C. Hayes, V. M., Follette, & M. M. Linehan (Eds.), Mindfulness and acceptance: Expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition (pp. 66-95). New York: Guilford Press.
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Upcoming Community Events
- 3-Day Eugene Intro and Skill Building with Kelly Wilson(Event)(3 days)
- Lancaster, PA--ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Powerful Life Change(Event)(8 days)
- King of Prussia, PA--ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Powerful Life Change(Event)(9 days)
- Cycle de Formation ACT Lyon, France Nov 2008-Mars 2009(Event)(9 days)
- Cherry Hill, NJ--ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Powerful Life Change(Event)(10 days)
- ACT: Using Mindfulness and Values to Make Powerful Life Change - Robyn Walser -Bel Air/West LA, California(Event)(11 days)
- ACT Interest Group, Sheffield, UK(Event)(17 days)
- Cycle de Formation ACT Lyon, France Nov 2008-Mars 2009(Event)(23 days)
- Vervolgcursus Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Blooming, Bergen (NH)(Event)(24 days)
- ACT Training at the Albert Ellis Institute, NYC with DJ Moran(Event)(25 days)
- "Acceptance and Mindfulness in Clinical Practice" Steven C Hayes, Århus, Denmark 3.-4. of february 2009(Event)(28 days)
- Cycle de Formation ACT Lyon, France Nov 2008-Mars 2009(Event)(51 days)
- Introductiecursus Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Bergen, Holland(Event)(52 days)
- La nouvelle génération de thérapie cognitive et comportementale : la théorie et la pratique - Frédérick Dionne, Ph.D.- Montreal (Event)(52 days)
- Workshop-Atelier ACT - Paris (2 jours)(Event)(59 days)
- Erfahrungsorientierter Einführungsworkshop in Lenzburg, Schweiz, mit Jan Martz und Rainer Sonntag(Event)(59 days)
- Evidence-Based Treatment Conference - Las Vegas, NV(Event)(62 days)
- Cycle de Formation ACT Lyon, France Nov 2008-Mars 2009(Event)(65 days)
- Dover, New Hampshire -- Making Bold Moves: Enhancing Your Practice with Acceptance & Commitment Therapy(Event)(74 days)
- Introductiecursus Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Bergen, Holland(Event)(80 days)
- Awakening to Mindfulness Conference - San Diego, CA(Event)(86 days)
- 3-Day in Sydney: Skill Building and Case Conceptualization with Kelly Wilson(Event)(98 days)
- 3-Day in Brisbane: Skill Building and Case Conceptualization with Kelly Wilson(Event)(102 days)
- 3-Day in Melbourne: Skill Building and Case Conceptualization with Kelly Wilson(Event)(106 days)
- La nouvelle génération de thérapie cognitive et comportementale : la théorie et la pratique, par Frédérick Dionne, Ph.D. (Event)(141 days)
- ACT introductiecursus Utrecht - Netherlands(Event)(143 days)
- Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment - Steve Hayes - Greater Hartford, CT(Event)(150 days)
- Kelly Wilson: Acceptance & Commitment Therapy - Combined Introduction and Skill Building Addictions Workshop(Event)(168 days)
- Pre-Conference Experiential Workshops (Enschede, The Netherlands)(Event)(174 days)
- ACBS World Conference III - Enschede, The Netherlands(Event)(175 days)
- Using ACT to Help your Clients Get Out of Their Minds and into Their Life - Steve Hayes - Eastham, Massachusetts(Event)(216 days)
