About the Course
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a third-generation, evidence-based, behavior therapy that balances mindfulness and acceptance processes with commitment and behavior change processes to weaken the unhelpful influence of thoughts and emotional avoidance in guiding behavior, while promoting greater experiential engagement and psychological flexibility in the service of valued ends.
When using ACT, the clinician focuses less on symptoms reduction and more on helping clients to engage with what matters most to them so they can live deeper, richer, more meaningful lives. ACT helps clients and therapists to learn to be with their pains and do what works.
The workshop will include didactic teachings, activities, reflection/sharing and practical experiential exercises that will be done individually, in dyads, and small groups. The exercises will illustrate the integration of connecting with our directly lived experience, recognizing cognitive fusion, and developing engaged mindfulness and acceptance strategies to disarm forms of human suffering while also promoting greater clarity of values and action in the service of living well. This workshop will encourage participants (but never force or coerce) 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. Clinical worksheets and other practical tools will be provided. personal level, as it applies to their own lives, and then also in the context of their clinical work.
Pre-requisites
Participants should preferably have a background in clinical mental health work. Some general familiarity with CBT or ACT will be helpful, but is not required. Interested participants may request a pre-workshop reading list.
Course Outline
ACT perspective on human suffering, RFT , fusion, experiential avoidance (EA), “psychopathology,” and its successful alleviation
ACT Model of psychological flexibility and engaged living
Introduce Hexaflex processes, : the 6 core ACT processes
Experiential exercises to introduce core Hexaflex processes
Seeing avoidance: the visible and invisible
Words and Rules: Seeing the Role Unhelpful Verbal Rules Play in Our Lives and the lives of our clients
Introduce Values, valued direction; showing up for pain as part of living a meaningful, vital life
Committed Action: Finding small steps in the valued path
The Role of Kindness and Compassion
Disarming an unhelpful mind: Defusion, Being Present, Willingness and Kindness in the Service of A Valued Life
Clinical demonstration with participant issue followed by discussion
Role play: Using ACT to foster flexibility in session
Self as context: Beyond self as concept to observing self selecting valued guided action
Course Objectives
Learn the ACT model of human suffering and its alleviation,
Integrate the ACT view of psychological flexibility, including the six processes that are the focus of ACT
Appreciate the central role of experiencing and being in contact with present moment experience as keys to developing psychological flexibility
Understand the common role of cognitive fusion and emotional avoidance in creating disengaged living (as well as the behaviors we identify as psychological/psychiatric symptoms),
Work to identify and liberate themselves from the dominance of their own unhelpful verbal rules, and extend this skill to clients
Acquire skills (for themselves and their clients) to identify and clarify valued domains and vital sources of vitality and engagement
Learn to help clients balance acceptance and change while moving in the direction of their chosen values and life goals;
Integrate a range of experiential exercises, metaphors, applied mindfulness and defusion techniques into their clinical work;
Understand the ACT therapeutic stance and how not to do ACT.
Apply ACT in a culturally consistent way in an Asian context.
Who Should Attend
This workshop is for mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy and counselling, including psychologists, social workers, counselors, therapists, nurses, psychiatrists, and others as well as graduate students, psychiatric residents, post-doctoral fellows.
Participants should preferably have a background in clinical mental health work. Some general familiarity with CBT or ACT will be helpful, but is not required. Interested participants may request a pre-workshop reading list.
Award
Participants who meet 75% class attendance will be awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment by the Academy of Human Development.
Your Trainer
Dr Benjamin Weinstein
Dr Benjamin Weinstein, PhD, a clinical psychologist, is currently a lecturer at Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Previously, he taught at Lynch School of Education, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and Graduate School of Psychology(MS & Doctoral Programs), Assumption University, Bangkok, Thailand. Dr Weinstein specialises in Adult Psychotherapy, ACT and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Depression & Anxiety Disorders, to name a few. From 2004 till present Dr Weinstein also practices as facilitator, trainer and organizational consultant of Pro-Change Consulting Co., Ltd (Thailand) and Consulting Clinical Psychologist Psychological Services International, Bangkok, Thailand.
He first graduated with Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by Master of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, majoring in Clinical Psychology. In 2001, he completed his doctoral training with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under APA Accredited Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. Since 1989 Dr Weinstein had won various academic honours and awards, such as AGPA 2002 Conference Scholarship awarded by American Group Psychotherapy Association; 1999-2000 UWM Dissertation Fellowship, by University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee Graduate School; Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Academic Year Fellowship (Arabic) by United States Department of Education. Dr Weinstein is versatile in research since 1995 , in conjunction with Veteran Affair Health Science Research and Development, Bedford, MA, and Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center, MA and others.
He is a prolific writer as well from 1997, contributing either singly or partnering, for books, professional presentation and journals.His wide clinical experiences include working as a consulting clinical psychologist across Asia-Pacific region since 2001, based at Psychological Services International (PSI) in Bangkok, providing psychotherapy for adults and couples; and clinical supervision for mental health professionals.
Testimonials
Amber Li Mengyi, Counsellor-in-training
The workshop provided insightful details of ACT and the relevant techniques. It would be beneficial to both mental health professionals and individuals who possess basic counselling skills, as the content was largely practical and easy to follow. Dr Ben is very skilful in delivering the content and managing the workshop pace.
Janice Soh, Manager @ MSF
The training is useful regardless for client or for self.
Rose Apphia Rujiab Faquir, Counsellor
He provides very comprehensive handouts. The quality of delivery and content is beyond expectations. I hope AHD will bring him back for part 2
