Unlock the Healing Power of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in a Dynamic 2-Day Online Workshop for Mental Health Professionals
November 15 & 16, 2024 (10am - 5pm EST)
Are you ready to revolutionize your approach to therapy and empower your clients to lead lives filled with meaning and purpose? Join us for an immersive online workshop on November 15 and 16, 2024 (10am-5pm EST each day), covering the practical use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for mental health professionals like you. Led by Dr. John P. Forsyth, a seasoned ACT trainer with a wealth of clinical experience, this dynamic 2-day event offers a unique blend of theory, experiential exercises, and case examples to deepen your competency and mastery of ACT.
Over the course of two transformative days, you'll delve deep into the core principles and practical applications of ACT, gaining invaluable insights and tools to enhance your therapeutic practice. Discover how to help your clients cultivate psychological flexibility, overcome barriers to change, and live in alignment with their deepest values.
Whether you're new to ACT or looking to refine your skills, this workshop provides a supportive and engaging environment to expand your clinical toolkit and elevate your effectiveness as a mental health professional.
Don't miss this opportunity to join a community of like-minded practitioners interested in cultivating transformative healing, growth, and change in themselves and their clients.
Key Workshop Highlights
In-Depth Exploration of ACT - Gain a comprehensive understanding of ACT principles and processes.
Practical Integration Techniques - Learn how to seamlessly incorporate ACT into your therapeutic practice.
Engaging Hands-On Exercises - Participate in experiential activities to solidify your skills.
Immediate Application - Acquire actionable ACT strategies you can start using right away.
Enhanced Therapeutic Toolkit - Expand your skill set to address a wide range of mental health concerns.
Exclusive Resources and Support - Access valuable materials, expert guidance, and ongoing support to continue your professional development.
Secure your spot today and journey towards becoming a more effective and impactful mental health practitioner with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Intended Audience
All mental health professionals, including post-doctoral fellows and graduate students, are welcome to attend. Familiarity with ACT is not required.
Skill Level
Beginner to Intermediate
Learning Objectives (12 CEs / 2 Days)
Define the three pillars of ACT that guides its practice;
Define and identify the six ACT processes that contribute to human suffering (i.e., psychological inflexibility) and link them with the six ACT intervention processes used to promote psychological flexibility (i.e., the hexaflex model);
Describe the ACT therapeutic stance;
Explain a functional contextual approach to ACT case conceptualization;
Describe and conceptualize common mental health concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression) within an ACT framework;
Describe ACT values clarification exercises and identify barriers to valued action;
Define creative hopelessness and its purpose within ACT;
Describe ACT exercises used to undermine control and struggle with psychological and emotional content;
Identify exemplars of excessive struggle and avoidance and describe mindful and compassionate alternative behaviors;
Define and identify “fusion” and “experiential avoidance” and their role in various forms of human suffering;
Explain select ACT intervention exercises to cultivate psychological flexibility;
Define self-compassion and its relation to psychological acceptance;
Describe strategies to foster the ongoing development of ACT consistent clinical competencies.
Continuing Education Credits
1. CE-Classes.com is the provider of CEs (12 credits)
2. Certificates are awarded online after completion of the workshop. Participants print their own certificate after registering at CE-Classes.com (https://ce-classes.com), entering a keycode (provided to you by Dr. Forsyth via email shortly after the conclusion of the workshop), and completing an evaluation form.
3. You must attend the full workshop over 2 days to be eligible for CEs.
4. Licensed Professionals should contact their regulatory board to determine course CE approval.
5. CE-Classes.com is approved by
The American Psychological Association (APA) CE-Classes.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Florida Certification Board
The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider #852 BAP-Expires 3/31/2025
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-12-174-0225 Expires 02-2025
The Texas Board of Social Work Examiners – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education
The Texas Board of Professional Counselors – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education
Massachusetts Social Workers
Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board - Approval from a state licensing board for counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists is accepted by the OH CSWMFTB.
New York Social Work Board – CE-Classes.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0120.
New York Mental Health Practitioners Board – CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0260.
New York Psychology Board – CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0211
• This course is NOT available for NBCC credit
• This training does not offer ASWB ACE credit to social workers.
Registration & Tuition Fee
Early bird registration – If you register before Sept. 15, 2024, you’ll receive a 30% discount on registration. $ 260.00 USD (30% discount / inclusive of $30 CE processing fee)
Standard registration – Applies to all registrations that do not qualify for the early bird discount. $359.00 USD (inclusive of $30 CE processing fee)
To register for the workshop, visit XXXX.com (this will be the workshop landing page)
Policies
1. Cancellations: If you cancel within 14 days of the start of the workshop, you will be refunded 50% of your tuition fee. If you cancel after that, there will be no refund.
2. Grievances: All grievances must be in writing to contact@drjohnforsyth.com and will be replied to within 5 - 10 business days.
3. ADA Compliance: This workshop is in compliance with the Americans Disabilities Act. Please contact John@drjohnforsyth.com if special accommodation is required.
About the Presenter – John P. Forsyth, Ph.D.
John is a highly sought after teacher and trainer in the practical use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness practices to alleviate human suffering, awaken the heart and spirit, and to cultivate living well.
John is also a Professor of Psychology at the University at Albany, SUNY, and the Director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program (ADRP) in Albany, NY. John's research focuses on understanding processes that contribute to human suffering and developing ACT interventions to enhance psychological well-being. As a licensed clinical psychologist in New York, he specializes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for anxiety disorders and various other mental health concerns.
John's academic journey began with a B.A. in psychology from Providence College, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from West Virginia University. He completed his pre-doctoral internship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center / Jackson VAMC Consortium, serving as Chief Psychology Resident in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior.
His dedication to teaching has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the University at Albany Excellence in Teaching Award and the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. His ACT self-help book, "The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety," received the Self-Help Seal of Merit Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in 2011. In 2014, he was named a Fellow of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.
John has an impressive portfolio of over 100 articles, six books (many translated into multiple languages), and several book chapters. He has co-authored a classic ACT professional book for mental health professionals called “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: A Practitioner's Treatment Guide.” His popular ACT self-help books include "The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety," "ACT on Life, Not on Anger," and "Your Life on Purpose." His latest ACT-infused releases, "Anxiety Happens" and "The Anxiety Happens Guided Journal," are designed for anyone dealing with anxiety, stress, and fear. A completely updated and revised third edition of "The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook" is set to be released in Spring 2025.
Apart from serving as a senior consulting editor for the ACT book series with New Harbinger Inc., John is also a member of the teaching faculty at prominent health and wellness institutes like the Omega Institute, The Esalen Institute, 1440 Multiversity, Kripalu, and The Cape Cod Institute. He frequently offers professional workshops and trainings, often together with his wife, across the U.S. and abroad.
In addition to his academic and professional commitments, John maintains a small private practice and provides Zoom-based clinical consultation and supervision for mental health professionals looking to deepen their skills in ACT.
John's work has significantly contributed to the growing interest in acceptance and mindfulness-based practices in psychology, mental health, medicine, and beyond.
www.drjohnforsyth.com
Conflict of Interest
Dr. John Forsyth is a professor at the University at Albany, SUNY and receives a salary. He is also a co-author or several ACT books, including serving as ACT series book editor with New Harbinger, Inc. Dr. Forsyth receives royalties from New Harbinger for books he has co-authored.
Course Agenda: Schedule & Format
(Online Live /12 CE Hours
DAY 1 – Friday Nov. 15, 2024 (10am - 5pm EST)
10am – 12pm: ACT Model and Case Conceptualization
· Centering Exercise
· Why It’s Hard Being Human
· Pervasiveness of Human Suffering
· ACT Model of Human Suffering
· Psychological Inflexibility
· ACT Intervention Processes & Psychological Flexibility
· Process vs. Content
· ACT Case Conceptualization
· The Sphere-a-Flex Model Guiding ACT Work
· ACT Therapeutic Stance
· ACT in a Nutshell Role Play Demonstration
· Pulling it All Together
12:00 – 1:00pm – Lunch / Down Time
1:00-3:30pm: Doing Effective Values Work in ACT & Identifying What Gets in the Way
· The Nature of Values in ACT
· Distinguishing Values From Goals
· The Link Between Pain & Values
· Connecting with Values
· Values Clarification and Assessment
· Exercises: Values Card Sort
· Exercise: Valued Directions Worksheet
· Clarifying Valued Intentions
· Exercise: Life Compass
· Exercise: Bull’s Eye Values Assessment
· Problems Connecting With Values
· Navigating “Values Conflicts”
· Barriers to Valued Action
· Exercise: My Life Theater
· Experiential Practice: Barriers Clarification Using Barriers
· Pulling it All Together
3:30-5:00pm: Creative Hopelessness: Creating Space for Something New
· Rationale and Role of Creative Hopeless Work in ACT
· Exploring Workability
· Establishing Creative Hopelessness
· Exercise: The Mask I Wear
· Context of Control & Workability
· Exercise: Metaphors to Weaken Illusion of Control
· Clinical Case Demonstration: Balloon Exercise
· Exercise and Role Play: Tug of War with Anxiety Monster
· Exercise: Writing Your Own Epitaph
· Pulling it All Together
DAY 2 - Saturday Nov. 16, 2024 (10am - 5pm EST)
9am-12pm: Cultivating Space & Flexibility – Mindfulness & Related Processes
· Centering Exercise
· The Importance of Perspective Taking
· The Nature of Mindfulness in ACT
· Exercise: Mindful Playdough
· Cultivating an Observer Perspective
· Self as Context vs. the Conceptualized Self
· Exercise: Chess Board Metaphor
· Exercise: The Documentary of You
· Defusing From Unhelpful Thinking
· Exercise Role Play: Thoughts on Cards
· Pulling it All Together
12:00 – 1:00pm – Lunch / Down Time
1:00-2:30pm: Nurturing Self-Compassion and Acceptance
· Compassion and Kindness Defined
· Cultivating Compassion
· Exercise: Loving Kindness Walking Meditation
· Exercises to Nurture Self-Compassion
· Taking Care of Old Wounds
· Nurturing Acceptance in ACT
· Exercise: Holding Our Pain Gently
· Paths to Acceptance
· Exercise: Acceptance of Thoughts & Feelings
· The Practice of Forgiveness
· Exercise: Nurturing Kindness with Younger You
· A Word about Exposure in ACT
· Pulling it All Together
2:30-4:00pm: Value Guided ACTion & the Journey Ahead
· How to Keep Our Clients Moving Forward?
· Building Patterns of Committed ACTion
· Steps Toward Value-Guided Committed ACTion
· The Importance of Intentions
· Setting SMART Value Guided Goals
· What to do When Clients Feel Stuck
· Demonstration: Bus Driver Exercise
· Exercise in Dyads: Making a Value-Guided Behavioral Commitment
· Discriminating ACT Consistent vs. Inconsistent Moves
· Detecting ACT Processes & Intervention Pivot Points
· How to Dance Around the ACT Model
· Self-Assessment of Where You Stand
· Common Therapist & Client Problems When Using ACT
· Next Steps: Developing ACT Competencies
· Wrap Up
Conclusion of Workshop – Thank You!