Using Exposure-Based Strategies in
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
A One-Day Professional Workshop
with John P. Forsyth, Ph.D. and Georg Eifert, Ph.D.
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES | THE PRESENTERS | LOCATION
A One-Day Workshop in Oakland, California
November 18th (9:00 am-5:00 pm).Workshop Description
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a newer third-generation evidence-based behavior therapy that balances mindfulness and acceptance processes with commitment and behavior change processes to (a) weaken the influence of unhelpful thoughts and emotional avoidance, while (b) promoting greater experiential and psychological flexibility in the service of valued ends. In short, ACT teaches clients how to be with their hurts and do what works—to live well, richly, and meaningfully, without first having to defeat sources of emotional and psychological pain. This work can be challenging for both therapists and clients alike, for much of ACT work involves contacting difficult and painful psychological content without defense and for a purpose other than psychological relief. Thus, understanding the application and integration of exposure-based strategies within an ACT approach is essential for effective ACT work.
This one-day workshop will explore the use of exposure-based practices in the context of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The main focus will be on anxiety and fear, but additional attention will be devoted to other sources of pain (e.g., guilt, anger). The workshop will cover traditional cognitive-behavioral (CBT) interoceptive and exteroceptive exposure strategies, and then show how they are framed and applied within ACT.
Our day together will be filled with didactic teachings, live and video demonstrations, and practical experiential exercises that will be done individually, in dyads, and small groups. The exercises will highlight the integration of exposure strategies in the context of mindfulness and acceptance work (along with kindness and compassion exercises) and values work. Participants will be encouraged (but never forced or coerced) to engage the material at a personal level, as it applies to their own lives, and then also in the context of their clinical work. All that I ask is that participants are willing to get inside the ACT model and approach, if only for just one day. Clinical worksheets and other practical tools will be provided.
Learning Objectives
Over the course of a day, several core ACT themes will be cultivated and participants will:
- Learn how to conceptualize and apply exposure-based strategies in a traditional sense (CBT), and then in the context of ACT;
- Learn how to frame exposure exercises within ACT, including strategies to address client resistance and unwillingness;
- Learn how acceptance, mindfulness, and defusion strategies can be intermingled with exposure to enhance psychological flexibility in the service of helping clients move in the direction of their chosen values and life goal
Workshop Location
The workshop will be held in a comfortable new conference room at New Harbinger Publications, 5720 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609.Date, Time
Date: November 18, 2010
(one day before the start of the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) in San Francisco, CA (www.abct.org)
Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm (registration and coffee & tea 8:30am - 9:00am )
If you’re in town for ABCT and staying in San Francisco, we are accessible by BART.Workshop Schedule
Session 1: 9:00am - 12:15pm
Overview: The Nature of Exposure-Based Interventions
What are they, why do they work, and when and how to apply them.
Lunch: 12:15pm - 1:45pm
Session 2: 1:45pm - 3:30pm
Framing Exposure in ACT: Mindful-Acceptance & Compassion in ACTion
Overview, rationale, and approach to help clients “get with” discomfort as it is.
Session 3: 3:45pm - 5:00pm
The Application of Exposure Strategies Within ACT Nurturing willingness in the service of a more vital life.
John P. Forsyth, Ph.D., is a clinical scientist, professor, writer, and licensed psychologist in Upstate New York. He is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of anxiety disorders and a leader in the growth of newer acceptance and mindfulness-based behavior therapies. This work is based on a new approach to psychological health called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which forms the backdrop to the myriad of talks and workshops conducted by Dr. Forsyth around the world each year. He is also Associate Professor of Psychology, and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program at the University at Albany, State University of New York.
Dr. Forsyth has an active research program, some of which has been funded by NIMH and more recently the Department of Defense, focused on ACT and the anxiety disorders. He has published numerous articles about how excessive struggle with unpleasant thoughts and emotions feeds human suffering, and what mindfulness and acceptance can offer as a solution.
In 1999, he was the recipient of the Dissertation Award from the Society for a Science for Clinical Psychology for excellence in research, and in 2000 received the B. F. Skinner New Researcher Award from Division 25 of the American Psychological Association for innovative and important behavioral research by a new investigator. In 2006, he received the University at Albany and SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Teaching. He serves on the editorial boards of several leading journals, has served as an external reviewer for DoD grant proposals, is a member of an ad hoc research task force at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, NY, and is a Clinical Fellow of the Behavior Therapy and Research Society.
He is also a coauthor of three widely acclaimed books: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders and ACT on Life, Not on Anger. His latest book, The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety: A Guide to Breaking Free From Anxiety, Phobias, and Worry Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, was published in January 2008 and is written for a general audience. His forthcoming ACT-infused book, Your Life on Purpose, aims to help the general public clarify their values and employ strategies to move with the inevitable barriers to valued action. Collectively, his work has helped foster growing international interest in acceptance and mindfulness approaches in cognitive-behavior therapy, psychology, mental health care, medicine, and society.
Georg H. Eifert, Ph.D., is professor and chair of the department of psychology at Chapman University in Orange County, California. He has authored over 100 publications on how we can get caught up in struggles with anxiety and other emotions and how learning mindful acceptance and compassion can help us. He regularly gives workshops around the world teaching people how to end unnecessary suffering and lead a more fulfilling life using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)––a mindfulness-based approach to increasing psychological health and wellness that balances acceptance and change.
Dr. Eifert was ranked as one of the top thirty Researchers in Behavior Analysis and Therapy, is a clinical fellow of the Behavior Therapy and Research Society, and serves on several editorial boards of leading clinical psychology journals. He also is a licensed clinical psychologist. He is coauthor of the two best-selling and highly praised treatment guides Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders (for professionals) and The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety (for the general public). The workshop draws heavily on these two books which will also be available for purchase at a substantial discount at the workshop venue. Dr. Eifert is also coauthor of ACT on Life, Not on Anger and The ACT for Anorexia Workbook.
Instructional Level and CEU Information
CEU credits will be available for this workshop for social workers, psychologists, LMHC's and LMFT's.
Note: Final number of CEU credits to be confirmed by date of the workshopWho Should Attend
Psychologists, social workers, nurses, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals, including graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Some general familiarity with ACT will be helpful, but is not required. The only requirement is that participants come with an openness to learn.WORKSHOP FEES:
Students
Paying by Check - $100
Paying by Paypal - $104
Professionals
Paying by Check - $190
Paying by Paypal - $196Payment due on or before November 8, 2010
Note: If you require CEU credit, please add $10 to your registration payment. CEUs will be available for this workshop.
You can register by sending a check (made out to: John Forsyth) for the registration fee along with your mailing address, email address, and discipline (e.g., PhD, LCSW, MFT etc.) to:
John P. Forsyth
18 Bridge Street
Slingerlands, NY 12159
Please remember to include your email address!
You will receive an email confirmation of your registration.
We are also able to take credit card payment, but only via PayPal.
To make a PayPal payment, you’ll need to have a PayPal account and submit payment to actforanxiety@nycap.rr.com. You will receive an email confirmation of your registration.
A full refund will be made for cancellations received by email (to actforanxiety@nycap.rr.com) on or before November 8, 2010. Cancellations after that date will incur a 20% processing fee.
Your workshop fees include:
- Handouts
- Tea and coffee service on Thursday
- Lunch on Thursday
- 30% discount discount on any of Dr. Forsyth’s or Dr. Eifert’s books published by New Harbinger Publications purchased at the workshop venue.LODGING INFO:
The following hotels have been suggested as the two closest business-grade accommodations. We have no connection with these hotels and cannot guarantee the quality.
- Woodfin Suites Hotel
5800 Shellmound Street, Emeryville, CA ph: (510) 601-5880- Courtyard by Marriott
5555 Shellmound Street, Emeryville, CA ph: (800) 321-2211
McKay, M., Forsyth, J. P., & Eifert, G. H. (2010). Your Life on Purpose: How to find what matters and create the life you want. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger, Inc. [This is a general ACT-infused trade book for the public and professionals outlining values work and strategies to address barriers to valued action].
Forsyth, J. P., & Eifert, G. H. (2008). The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety: A guide to breaking free from anxiety, phobias, and worry using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger. [This is a client/self-paced workbook, and includes significantly expanded content from the earlier professional guide. The workbook also includes a CD with printable forms and worksheets AND audio of mindfulness and acceptance exercises found in the workbook. The effectiveness of this workbook has been evaluated by Dr. Forsyth and his students in two randomized clinical trials with great results so far – see www.ACTforAnxiety.com]
Eifert, G. H., & Forsyth, J. P. (2005) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: A practitioner's treatment guide to using mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based behavior change strategies. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger. [This is a professional/therapist guide and provides an overview of ACT and a session-by-session protocol for its application. Also includes a CD with forms and worksheets. This efficacy of this protocol has been evaluated in a randomized clinical trial]
Eifert, G. H., McKay, M., & Forsyth, J. P. (2006). Act on life not on anger: The new Acceptance and Commitment Therapy guide to problem anger. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger. [This book adapts ACT principles to dealing with problem anger. It teaches readers how to change their relationship to anger by accepting rather than resisting angry feelings and learning to make values-based responses to provocation. It has been tested successfully in a small randomized trial.]
New Harbinger Publications | 800.748.6273 | www.newharbinger.com
5720 Shattuck Ave. | Oakland, CA 94609