ACT BootCamp® – Bay Area
About This Workshop
- Psychological flexibility
- The six core processes
- Skills for observing and moving the processes flexibly in session
Prior to registering, please click here to review speaker-planner conflict of interest disclosures and complete CE information.
Program
21 February | Day 1, Thursday | Introduction to ACT | Robyn Walser, PhD
Learn the basics of the model and establish a foundational understanding of relational frame theory (RFT—the theory of language that underlies ACT), functional contextualism (the philosophy of science that underlies ACT), and how psychological inflexibility is at the heart of human suffering. Enhancing psychological flexibility has been shown in hundreds of studies to improve therapeutic outcomes across many different conditions and in many different areas of human endeavor. By the end of the day you will have a basic set of skills in the psychological flexibility model and in the six core processes of ACT—flexible contact with the present moment, cognitive delusion, acceptance, self-as-context, values, and committed action.
General Session | 6.5 CE Hours:
7:00 am – 8:00 am: Check-in*
8:00 am – 9:45 am: Language and Psychological Flexibility
9:45 am – 10:00 am: Morning Break*
10:00 am – 12:00 pm: ACT Therapeutic Agreement and Case Conceptualization
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch Break*
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm: Creative Hopelessness in Motivation and Change Over Time
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm: Afternoon Break*
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Integrating the ACT Core Processes
4:30 pm – 4:45 pm: Afternoon Break (for those staying for optional evening discussion)*
Optional Evening Session | 2 CE Hours:
4:45 pm – 6:45 pm: Optional Evening Mini-Workshops and Discussion: Role Play Demonstration: Flexible Implementation of ACT Pt. 1 | Robyn Walser
22 February | Day 2, Friday | ACT Model & Methods | Robyn Walser, PhD
Use the skills you learned on day 1 in a practical way so you can integrate ACT into your practice more effectively when you go back to a therapy setting. Robyn will guide you through experiential exercises as well as give you key takeaways you can use to enhance your practice and your life.
General Session | 6.5 CE Hours:
7:30 am – 8:00 am: Check-in*
8:00 am – 9:45 am: Integrating the ACT Core Processes Continued
9:45 am – 10:00 am: Morning Break*
10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Essential Characteristics of the Therapeutic Relationship from an ACT Point of View
12:00 pm – 1:30 am: Lunch Break*
1:30 am – 2:45 pm: The ACT Therapeutic Stance
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm: Afternoon Break*
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: The ACT Therapeutic Relationship: Competencies and Processes
4:30 pm – 4:45 pm: Afternoon Break (for those staying for the optional evening discussion)*
Optional Evening Session | 2 CE Hours:
4:45 pm – 6:45 pm: Optional Evening Mini-Workshops and Discussion: Role Play Demonstration: Flexible Implementation of ACT Pt. 2 | Robyn Walser & Kelly Wilson
23 February | Day 3, Saturday | The Therapeutic Relationship | Kelly Wilson, PhD
ACT is not a one-way street. Integrating the practice in your own life, modeling it in session with clients, and actively using the model has been shown to enhance the therapeutic relationship and increase therapeutic effectiveness. ACT Will come alive for you as you apply it to your own life in this moving and introspective training.
General Session | 6.5 CE Hours:
7:30 am – 8:00 am: Check-in*
8:00 am – 9:45 am: Suffering and Common Humanity
9:45 am – 10:00 am: Morning Break*
10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Word Prisons: Making Contact with what Obstructs Connection/Finding Connection in the Midst of Suffering
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch Break*
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm: Values and Vulnerability at the Heart of Relationships
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm: Afternoon Break*
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Values, Commitment, and Deepening Relationships
4:30 pm – 4:45 pm: Afternoon Break (for those staying for optional evening discussions)*
Optional Evening Session | 2 CE Hours:
4:45 pm – 6:45 pm: Optional Evening Mini-Workshops and Discussion: Role Play Demonstration: Flexible Implementation of ACT Pt. 3 | Kelly Wilson & Steven Hayes
24 February | Day 4, Sunday | Skills-Based Intensive | Steven Hayes, PhD
Now that you know the basics of the model, you are going to go deeper. This day will be highly experiential with round after round of clinical skills building exercises and feedback. It is designed to help enhance your fluidity with using the model and provide you a deeper understanding of ACT as well as specific tools and techniques you can use in your practice to enhance clinical outcomes.
General Session | 6.5 CE Hours:
7:30 am – 8:00 am: Check-in*
8:00 am – 9:45 am: From It, Toward It, and Within It: The Therapeutic Relationship in ACT
9:45 am – 10:00 am: Morning Break*
10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Reading the Flexibility Processes
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch Break*
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm: Opening the Door to Any Flexibility Process
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm: Afternoon Break*
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: ACT Done Dynamically
No evening session on last night.
*Not available for CE
Learning Objectives
Day 1 | Introduction to ACT | Robyn Walser
- Describe the language based processes (e.g. RFT) that create suffering.
- Describe the six processes that underlie psychological flexibility/inflexibility
- Demonstrate the ability to formulate an ACT consistent therapeutic agreement
- Describe how to use the 6 core processes in case conceptualization
- Explain how to use “creative hopelessness” to motivate a change in the control agenda
- Demonstrate the process of creative hopelessness and how it functions across time
- Describe and demonstrate how acceptance and defusion work together in supporting openness to experience
References:
- Luoma, J., Hayes, S. C., & Walser, R. D. (2007). Learning Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Skills Training Manual for Therapists. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
- Walser, R. D. (2013). Love and the human condition. In T.B. Kashdan & J. Ciarrochi (Eds.) Mindfulness, acceptance, and positive psychology: The seven foundations of well-being. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
- Walser, R. D. (2009). The Mindful Couple. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications
Day 2 | ACT Model and Methods | Robyn Walser
- Describe the state of ACT as an evidence-based treatment
- Describe and demonstrate use of perspective taking and its relationship to creating flexibility
- Describe and demonstrate how committed action and values clarification work together in creating meaning and behavioral goals
- Explain how ACT can address multiple clinical issues and presenting problems
- Define the essential characteristics of the therapeutic relationship from an ACT point of view including intrapersonal and interpersonal processes
- Describe the ACT therapeutic stance
- Describe and demonstrate the ACT therapeutic relationship and its core competencies
References:
- Luoma, J., Hayes, S. C., & Walser, R. D. (2007). Learning Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Skills Training Manual for Therapists. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
- Walser, R. D. (2013). Love and the human condition. In T.B. Kashdan & J. Ciarrochi (Eds.) Mindfulness, acceptance, and positive psychology: The seven foundations of well-being. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
- Walser, R. D. (2009). The Mindful Couple. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications
Day 3 | The Therapeutic Relationship | Kelly Wilson
- Describe the role of acceptance and mindfulness processes in mindful interviewing.
- Describe the role of values and committed action processes in mindful interviewing.
- Facilitate mindful interviewing with values content.
- Facilitate mindful interviewing with painful content.
- Describe the role of perspective taking in the mindful interview.
- Use shifts in perspective taking to facilitate mindful engagement in values work.
- Use shifts in perspective taking to facilitate self-compassion in the face of suffering.
References:
- Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd edition). New York: Guilford Press.
- Wilson, K., & DuFrene, T. (2009). Mindfulness for Two. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
- Wilson, K. & DuFrene, T. (2010). Things might go terribly, horribly wrong. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Day 4 | Skills-Building Intensive | Steven C. Hayes
- Describe how psychological flexibility processes apply to the therapeutic relationship
- Describe the three overall and essential functions of the ACT clinician regarding psychological flexibility in the therapy session
- Describe at least one way of reading each flexibility process as it shows up in session
- Demonstrate the ability to detect flexibility relevant material in session
- Describe at least one generally useful method of opening the door to each of the flexibility processes in session
- Demonstrate the ability to shift the focus to any flexibility target
- Demonstrate the ability to respond to any client statement from any flexibility process
References:
- Luoma, J., Hayes, S. C., & Walser, R. (2017). Learning ACT (2nd edition). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
- Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd edition). New York: Guilford Press.
- Hayes, S. C., & Lillis, J. (2012) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychology Association.
Evening Session Pt. 1: Role Play Demonstrations-Flexible Implementation of ACT | Robyn Walser | 2 CE hours
- Identify ways to use core psychological flexibility processes to focus on interpersonal connection and being bold in therapy
- Identify ways to use core psychological flexibility processes to foster creative hopelessness
- Demonstrate the flexible use of multiple core processes in a single episode of contact with a client
References:
- Luoma, J., Hayes, S.C., & Walser, R. (2017). Learning ACT (2nd Ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications
- Harris, R. (2013). Getting unstuck in ACT: A Clinicians guide to overcoming common obstacles in acceptance and commitment therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
- Westrup, D., & Wright, M.J. (2017). Learning ACT for group treatment: An acceptance and commitment therapy skills training manual for therapists. Oakland, CA: Context Press
Evening Session Pt. 2: Role Play Demonstrations-Flexible Implementation of ACT | Robyn Walser & Kelly Wilson | 2 CE hours
- Identify ways to use core psychological flexibility processes with challenging or stuck clients
- Identify ways to use core psychological flexibility processes to focus on qualities of the interpersonal relationship
- Explain how integrating ACT into your practice can positively impact your work with clients
References:
- Harris, R. (2009). ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on acceptance and commitment therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications
- Wilson, K.G., & DuFrene, T. (2009). Mindfulness for two: An acceptance and commitment therapy approach to mindfulness in psychotherapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications
- Torneke, N. (2017). Metaphor in Practice: A professional guide to using the science of language in psychotherapy. Oakland, CA: Context Press
Evening Session Pt. 3: Role Play Demonstrations-Flexible Implementation of ACT | Kelly Wilson & Steven Hayes | 2 CE hours
- Identify ways to use multiple processes as part of a case conceptualization based on psychological flexibility
- Identify ways to shift among core psychological flexibility processes quickly, flexibly, and effectively
- Demonstrate the flexible use of selected core processes as individual processes
References:
- Harris, R. (2009). ACT questions and answers: A practitioners guide to 150 common sticking points in acceptance and commitment therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications
- Hayes, S.C., & Smith, S. (2005). Get out of your mind & into your life: The new acceptance and commitment therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications
- Stoddard, J.A., & Afari, N. (2014). The big book of ACT metaphors: A practitioners guide to experiential exercises and metaphors in acceptance and commitment therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications
Continuing Education
Prerequisites
Audience
Recommended Reading
Luoma, J., Hayes, S. C., & Walser, R. (2017). Learning ACT (2nd ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Harris, R. (2009). ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on acceptance and commitment therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Wilson, K. G. & DuFrene, T. (2009). Mindfulness for Two: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Approach to Mindfulness in Psychotherapy. New Harbinger: Oakland, CA.
Wilson, K. G. & DuFrene, T. (2010). Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong. New Harbinger: Oakland, CA.
References
Luoma, J., Hayes, S. C., & Walser, R. (2017). Learning ACT (2nd edition). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd edition). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Luoma, J., Hayes, S. C., & Walser, R. D. (2007). Learning Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Skills Training Manual for Therapists. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Refund and Cancellation Policy
We understand, sometimes things come up!
Praxis will offer a full refund to registrants of both live and live-online trainings who cancel their registration up to 14 days before the course or workshop start date, minus an administrative processing fee of $30 for a 2-day workshop or online course, and a $50 fee for a 4-day workshop. If cancelled within 14 days, no refund will be issued, however, a credit for the same amount will be applied toward another learning product, which expires within 1 year. Please email us at events@praxiscet.zendesk.com to cancel a registration.