ACT 1 – Ann Arbor
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
About This Workshop
- An experiential understanding of the six basic processes of ACT’s Psychological Flexibility Model:
- Flexible contact with the present moment
- Cognitive Defusion
- Acceptance
- Self-as-context
- Values
- Committed action
- The relationship between the six basic processes and Relational Frame Theory (RFT)
- How to apply the Psychological Flexibility Model to case conceptualization and treatment planning
- Practical skills for meeting clients where they are and fostering their willingness and openness to change
- Ways to assess, observe, and influence client processes in session
Program
Friday, March 27
8:00 am to 8:30 am
- Registration (Not available for CE)
8:30 am to 10:15 am
- Welcoming and Introduction
- Orientation to ACT
- ACT Roots: Philosophy, Theory, Technology
10:15 am to 10:30 am
- Morning Break (Not available for CE)
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Psychological Inflexibility (Core Processes)
- Creative Hopelessness (Confronting the Control Agenda)
12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
- Lunch Break (Not available for CE)
2:00 pm to 3:15 pm
- Psychological Flexibility (Mindfulness Processes):
- Contact with the Present Moment
- Self-as-Context
3:15 pm to 3:30 pm
- Afternoon Break (Not available for CE)
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
- Psychological Flexibility (Mindfulness Processes continued):
- Defusion
- Acceptance
- Q & A
Saturday, March 28
8:00 am to 8:30 am
- Check-in (Not available for CE)
8:30 am to 10:15 am
- Psychological Flexibility (Valued Action Processes):
- Values
- Committed Action
10:15am to 10:30am
- Morning Break (Not available for CE)
10:30 am to 12:30pm
- Self-Compassion
- The ACT Matrix:
- Case Conceptualization
- Treatment Planning
12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
- Lunch Break (Not available for CE)
2:00 pm to 3:15 pm
- The Therapeutic Relationship:
- Informed Consent
- Goal Collaboration
- Therapeutic Stance
3:15 pm to 3:30 pm
- Afternoon Break (Not available for CE)
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
- Shaping Psychological Flexibility (Skill-Building Practice)
- Q & A
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Relate ACT to its foundational underpinnings of Functional Contextualism, Relational Frame Theory, and Applied Behavior Analysis
- Describe the six core processes of psychological flexibility/inflexibility
- Demonstrate how to contact the present moment with flexible, yet focused, attention
- Demonstrate how to access the observing process of self-as-context
- Demonstrate how to cultivate compassion with the perspective-taking process of self-as-context
- Demonstrate how to facilitate defusion from sticky cognitions
- Demonstrate how to foster acceptance of painful private experiences
- Demonstrate how to construct and clarify values while differentiating from goals
- Illustrate how to use creative hopelessness to motivate a change in the control agenda
- Demonstrate case conceptualization and treatment planning with the ACT Matrix while probing for toward moves (committed action) and away moves (experiential avoidance)
- Formulate ACT-consistent informed consent, goal collaboration, and therapeutic stance
- Demonstrate how to model, evoke, and reinforce psychological flexibility within the therapeutic relationship
- Explain the concept of workability and how it informs the entire ACT model
Continuing Education
Please review complete CE and conflict-of-interest disclosure information prior to registering. This course is jointly sponsored by Praxis CET and Institute for Better Health (IBH) and is approved for 13 CE Hours by the following:
- APA – Psychologists
- ASWB – National Social Workers
- NBCC – National Counselors
- NAADAC – Drug & Alcohol Counselors
- NY State – Counselors and Social Workers
- Other State Level Counselors, MFTs, and Social Workers
- WESPSB – Educators
- ACCME – Physicians
- ANCC – Nurses
Prerequisites
Audience
Recommended Reading
References
Hayes, S. C., & Hofmann, S. G. (2017). The third wave of cognitive behavioral therapy and the rise of process‐based care. World Psychiatry, 16 (3), 245–246.
Biglan, Anthony, Steven C. Hayes, and Jacqueline Pistorello. “Acceptance and commitment: Implications for prevention science.” Prevention science 9.3 (2008): 139-152.
Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J., Bond, F., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Model, processes, and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(1), 1-25.
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.

1401 Briarwood Circle
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Available Discounts
- Groups of 3 or more professionals receive 20% off at checkout
- Register by February 14 to save $50 on professional registrations
- Student registrations are not eligible for ANY discounts