Michael C. May – Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Proficiency Course: Master the Core Components & Skills of ACT Across Diagnoses

Outline

ACT Foundations: ACT Foundations: What You Need to Know What You Need to Know

• Context: Why it is Fundamental to ACTContext: Why it is Fundamental to ACT
• How to determine the functional purpose of behaviorHow to determine the functional purpose of behavior
• What is language: Relational Frame TheoryWhat is language: Relational Frame Theory
• The source of psychological sufferingThe source of psychological suffering
• The ACT model of psychopathologyThe ACT model of psychopathology
• Experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion & the toxic cycleExperiential avoidance, cognitive fusion & the toxic cycle
• Psychological Flexibility: What it is & why it’s importantPsychological Flexibility: What it is & why it’s important
• The Inflexahex diagnostic modelThe Inflexahex diagnostic model
• Limitations of the research & potential risksLimitations of the research & potential risks

THE CORE CONCEPTS OF ACT THE CORE CONCEPTS OF ACT

Acceptance:Acceptance: Combat Experiential Avoidance Combat Experiential Avoidance

• What is “acceptance” in ACT?What is “acceptance” in ACT?
• Experiential avoidance: The “Control Agenda”Experiential avoidance: The “Control Agenda”
• Client control over unwanted thoughts & feelingsClient control over unwanted thoughts & feelings
• How to confront the control agendaHow to confront the control agenda
• Interventions for fostering acceptanceInterventions for fostering acceptance
• Acceptance Exercises: Acceptance Exercises: The “Unwanted Party Guest;” “Barriers to Writing” The “Unwanted Party Guest;” “Barriers to Writing”

Defusion: Defusion: Break Down Thoughts as Barriers Break Down Thoughts as Barriers

• The problem with cognitive fusionThe problem with cognitive fusion
• Weaken unworkable language functionsWeaken unworkable language functions
• Should thoughts always control behavior?Should thoughts always control behavior?
• Build an environment of defusion within sessionBuild an environment of defusion within session
• Strategies for building defusion skillsStrategies for building defusion skills
• Defusion Exercise: Defusion Exercise: “Having vs Believing” our thoughts “Having vs Believing” our thoughts

Self-As-Context: Self-As-Context: Aid Clients in Distancing Themselves from Their Thoughts Aid Clients in Distancing Themselves from Their Thoughts

• What is self-as-context?What is self-as-context?
• Self-as-content vs. self-as-contextSelf-as-content vs. self-as-context
• Mitigate attachment to the conceptualized selfMitigate attachment to the conceptualized self
• Help clients understand self-as-contextHelp clients understand self-as-context
• Interventions to foster self-as-contextInterventions to foster self-as-context
• Self-As-Context Exercise: Self-As-Context Exercise: The “observer self”The “observer self”

Contact with the Present Moment: Contact with the Present Moment: Mindfulness Strategies to Reduce Worry about the Past & Future Mindfulness Strategies to Reduce Worry about the Past & Future

• Mindfulness: A core feature of all human psychopathologyMindfulness: A core feature of all human psychopathology
• What “mindfulness” means in ACTWhat “mindfulness” means in ACT
• The goal of mindfulness practice in ACTThe goal of mindfulness practice in ACT
• How to train mindfulness with flexibilityHow to train mindfulness with flexibility
• Overcome obstacles in teaching mindfulnessOvercome obstacles in teaching mindfulness
• Address relaxation-induced panicAddress relaxation-induced panic
• Formal & informal mindfulness interventionsFormal & informal mindfulness interventions
• Contact with the Present Moment Exercise: Contact with the Present Moment Exercise: Mindfulness without Meditation Mindfulness without Meditation

Values: Values: Guide Clients in Identifying & Clarifying What Matters Guide Clients in Identifying & Clarifying What Matters

• The importance of values in ACTThe importance of values in ACT
• How values can be transformative in human behaviorHow values can be transformative in human behavior
• Values & goalsValues & goals
• How to evoke values from clientsHow to evoke values from clients
• From instant gratification to pursuit of valuesFrom instant gratification to pursuit of values
• Values Clarification Exercise: Values Clarification Exercise: The Eulogy The Eulogy

Committed Action: Committed Action: Establish Values-Consistent Patterns of Behavior Establish Values-Consistent Patterns of Behavior

• The relationship between values & committed actionThe relationship between values & committed action
• What’s considered committed action?What’s considered committed action?
• Address persistent inaction, impulsivity or avoidanceAddress persistent inaction, impulsivity or avoidance
• Interventions Interventions
  • Exposure-based approachesExposure-based approaches
  • Behavioral activation strategiesBehavioral activation strategies
  • Social-skills training interventionsSocial-skills training interventions
  • Problem-solving barriers to committed actionProblem-solving barriers to committed action
  • Behavioral homeworkBehavioral homework
• Case Study: Case Study: Engaging in committed action with depression Engaging in committed action with depression

ACT in Action: ACT in Action: Utilize ACT with Specific Clinical Populations Utilize ACT with Specific Clinical Populations

• PTSDPTSD
• AnxietyAnxiety
• Personality disordersPersonality disorders
• DepressionDepression