Association for Contextual Behavioral Science

Workshop Description:
The workshop will begin with a brief introduction to the Hexaflex multidimensional diagnoses, assessment, and treatment model. This fully dimensional model allows clinicians to examine psychological difficulties across a wide range of presentations. After an initial orientation, participants will spend time with a series of experiential exercises. These exercises will be completed in dyads and the results will be processed in the dyad and in the group. Initial tasks will be relatively simple and aimed at illuminating core ACT processes. These initial exercises involves one individual speaking while the other maintains a simple, accepting, present-moment focused attention on the speaker.

The workshop will then progress to more complex iterations of these exercises, which will include increasingly challenging content and also increasingly complex tasks for the participants. In each of these iterations, the linkage between assessment and intervention of core ACT processes will be intensively observed and examined. For example, in examining a core ACT process of fusion/defusion, participants will see how it is possible to view problems in thinking ranging from full-fledged thought disorders, seen among psychotic patients, to the “thought disorders” of everyday life.

Moreover, participants will learn over the course of these experiential exercises to discriminating vital versus nonvital, and avoidance versus values-based interactions. Through successive iterations participants will make these discriminations in themselves, as they experience their partners, then, eventually, they will make these discriminations in coaching their partners during experiential client role plays. The final task in the workshop will involve case conceptualization using a Hexaflex worksheet.

This workshop will contain significant use of mindfulness and present-moment focused work. Although formal mindfulness meditation practice is not necessarily emphasized in ACT, mindfulness processes are central to the work. These exercises will show how to translate values directed, present moment focus directly into clinical interactions—or what may be called “mindfulness for two.” So, if you join in this experience, you will spend three days honing ACT skills by bringing mindful presence to the therapeutic interaction to case conceptualization.

Workshop Objectives:
Learning objectives will be taught through both direct teaching and experiential learning methods. However, the predominant learning method will be experiential throughout the training. Learning objectives include:

1. Case conceptualization from and ACT perspective
2. Practice in acceptance, defusion, present-moment focus, self-as-context, values, and
commitment interventions.
3. Practice at conceptualizing therapist obstacles using the ACT model.
4. Practice at using the ACT model to understand and create a powerful therapeutic contract and
relationship with your most difficult clients.

Details about this Workshop, as well as a Registration form, can be obtained by pasting the following URL into your browser: http://portfolio.du.edu/rstoraas Download the pdf file under Training. Contact Ragnar at rstoraas@du.edu for additional information or problems obtaining the registration materials.