ACTivating Your Practice (Part One)
Introductory - The basics of ACT theory and practice
Course Summary
An introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for complete newbies. If you've had little or no ACT training before, this is the place to start.
Description
Do you work with people in a helping or caring role? Do you have an interest in mindfulness and acceptance? Are you interested in expanding your practice with new and exciting ways of being of service to the people you work with? Then come and dip your toe in the water and see if ACT will help supercharge your work with other people. ACT aims to offer a science-based model to better meet the challenge of coping with the human condition. It is a unique transdiagnostic psychological intervention that comes from the contextual behavioural science tradition. ACT uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with behaviour change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. It is concerned with helping individuals identify what is important to them and how they can take committed action towards having a vital and meaningful life. Rather than focussing on reducing ‘symptoms’ or changing thoughts, ACT promotes skills that help people develop a more helpful relationship with their inner experience.
With over 1000 randomised controlled trials attesting to its efficacy, it is rapidly developing a wide-ranging evidence base across numerous areas of clinical practice, not just in mental health but also in physical health, coaching, values-based businesses, and any work where behaviour change is a goal.
During this four-session online workshop you will:
- Learn the key concepts of the ACT model and the underlying science of relational frame theory
- Learn how to engage your clients in exploring what really matters with a view to driving purposeful life change
- Develop a toolkit of new techniques to work with difficult thoughts and feelings
- Learn to use mindfulness and other skills to help clients connect with present moment experiences
The workshop will be highly interactive, involving a variety of methods including didactic teaching, experiential exercises, group work, and live/video demonstrations of therapeutic interventions.
Eligibility
This workshop is aimed at people who are working with others in any kind of caring/helping capacity, with the intent to facilitate behaviour change. No previous knowledge of ACT will be assumed.
Dates
19 and 26 February, 4 and 11 March 2024, 7-10pm
Course Curriculum
Richard Bennett & Dawn Johnson
Dr Richard Bennett works as a Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and as an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Birmingham. He worked in adult and forensic mental health services in the NHS for over 20 years before setting up Think Psychology, an independent psychology practice offering, therapy, supervision, and training. Richard is also an active member of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Sciences (ACBS) and the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP). He is recognised as a BABCP accredited psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer, and an ACBS Peer-reviewed ACT trainer. He is the co-author of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques, The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Self-Esteem, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
Dr Dawn Johnson works as a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, offering therapy, teaching, training, supervision, and consultation. In a long NHS career, she gained extensive experience of adapting and differentiating ACT and other contextual behavioural interventions to work with people with intellectual disabilities, neuro-diversity, people in acute psychological distress, enduring mental health presentations, and the general public. Dawn also uses ACT systemically, having been involved in providing interventions and consultations with families, carers, non-health professionals and with NHS staff at an organisational level. She regularly delivers ACT training and ACT-informed staff wellbeing workshops. Dawn is an active member of ACBS as a board member of the UK and Ireland Chapter, and as a member of various strategic committees. She is the co-author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
