New ACT Group in Buffalo
I have started an ACT group at the Community Mental Health Clinic- The population consists of clients with addiction, trauma and possibly other diagnoses. I've read a number of ACT books, and recently have attended Kevin Polk's training and in January I'll attend Kellly Wilson's 4 day training in Oregon. In my treatment center, I've developed 4 stages of groups:
Phase 1:CBT on Addiction (2 days a week) Motivational Interviewing (2 days a week)
Phase 2:DBT (2 days a week and Psycho-education on Trauma (1 day a week)
Phase 3: Schema Focused Therapy (2 days a week)
Phase 4: ACT (2 days a week). There is an optional MBSR 8-week Group as well.
The ACT has been in place for 1 month now and the clients are using the DBT and SFT knowledge to build on their understanding of ACT concepts. It is probably because of my lack of training, but a few o the clients are somewhat impatient with the time it has taken to setup the concepts: Core Question, iView, Valued Direction.
I am hoping that when I return from Oregon after the training, I can improve the deliverance of the material.
- Marcella Brimo's blog
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Upcoming Community Events
- Intermediate ACT Skills Training, London with Martin Brock(Event)(Now)
- ACT by Numbers for Valued Living (Personal Growth and Development)(Event)(3 days)
- Iniziando l’ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy workshop teorico-esperienziale per Clinici (Event)(6 days)
- Experiential Introduction to Acceptance and commitment Therapy with skills training, in London UK(Event)(6 days)
- Learning ACT through the Matrix (for MH Professionals) Webinar(Event)(10 days)
- Groupe : "Agir pour une vie pleine de sens : A ccepter, C hoisir et T enir le cap (ACT)" à Bruxelles (Belgique)(Event)(11 days)
- The Matrix: A Collaborative Approach to Increasing Psychological Flexibility(Event)(17 days)
- Kelly Wilson in Iowa City, Iowa April 9, 2010(Event)(19 days)
- Verdiepende vervolgcursus in Blooming te Bergen (NH)(Event)(19 days)
- ACT Toronto 2010: Introductory Experiential Workshop(Event)(20 days)
- Melbourne: Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: 1 Day Advanced Workshop(Event)(20 days)
- ACT in Groups (the webinar is for mh professionals)(Event)(24 days)
- Mindfulness and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy with Kelly G. Wilson in Toronto(Event)(27 days)
- Public Workshop: Quit Smoking - Raucherentwöhnung - Köln (Cologne/Germany) (Event)(27 days)
- Atelier ACT 2 Jours à PARIS: Utiliser la Thérapie d’Acceptation et d’Engagement dans sa pratique clinique (Event)(33 days)
- ACT with Trauma Memories: A 4-Session Protocol(Event)(38 days)
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Skill Building and Case Conceptualization with Kelly G. Wilson in Durham, NC(Event)(40 days)
- Disarming Anxious Suffering Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A 2-Day Workshop With John Forsyth(Event)(46 days)
- Vervolgcursus Acceptance and Commitment Therapy(Event)(46 days)
- An Experiential Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Two-Day Workshop(Event)(60 days)
- Atelier ACT 2 Jours à PARIS: Créer des relations thérapeutiques qui soignent avec la Thérapie d’Acceptation et d’Engagement(Event)(61 days)
- ACBS Pre-Conference Workshops: Reno, Nevada, USA(Event)(90 days)
- ACBS World Conference VIII: Reno, Nevada, USA(Event)(91 days)
- Erste Winterthurer ACT-Tage(Event)(103 days)
- ACT Training with Kelly Wilson in Winterthur Switzerland(Event)(106 days)
- Kelly Wilson - Atelier Residentiel 3 jours 12, 13 & 14 Juillet 2010 Sainte Foy-Les-Lyon, France (tous niveaux)(Event)(113 days)
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Anxiety Relief A 5-Day Professional Training (with Forsyth & Eifert)(Event)(119 days)
- Atelier ACT 2 Jours à PARIS: Eplorer les processus de l'ACT - Atelier Expérientiel(Event)(166 days)
- Introductiecursus ACT in conferentiehotel Blooming in Bergen (NH)(Event)(222 days)
Comments
One year later..
I haven't found very much information on doing ACT in a group setting, yet I find that it is a wonderful compliment to our DBT group which precedes it. Group members are able to take a stand on their values, learn about valued direction and report in group about their experiences and barriers as they move though the group, it provides an opportunity for clients to enter the room with their struggles and identify the skills have been most helpful. Other group members also encourage each other to keep moving forward. The exercises for cognitive defusion, the bus exercise, using the metaphores, etc make for a lively interactive group experience.
The gradual expansion of ACT into our program
While doing a group on Schema Focused Therapy today I made the connection for the clients via neurobiology of the sympathetic the correlations between the SFT's coping modes of surrender, avoid and counterattack with the limbic systems freeze, flight and fight reactions.
What occurred to me was that these coping modes are internal responses to internal stimuli--the fight, fight and freeze are reactions designed to help the organism react to external stimuli. This correlates with the RFT and has provided a nice bridge between the SFT group and ACT group.