Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) With Adults

INTRODUCTION

ACT is a broad approach to the challenges of human suffering and engaged living; it is not just a set of intervention techniques for specific psychological disorders. This four-day workshop will introduce ACT, both as a model and intervention technology, emphasizing the innovative theoretical foundation and the clinical application. The workshop will describe how to apply ACT across a broad set of problem areas that are commonly seen in mental health settings with adults (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, anger, etc).The workshop will include didactic teachings, demonstrations, activities, reflection/sharing and practical experiential exercises that will be done individually, in dyads, and small groups. 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.

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

COURSE CONTENT

• ACT perspective on human suffering, RFT , EA
• ACT Model of psychological flexibility and engaged living
• Core Hexaflex processes 
• Committed Action: Finding small steps in the valued path
• The Role of Kindness and Compassion
• Disarming an unhelpful mind
• Using ACT to engage with avoidance
• Introduce Hexaflex as a clinical model
• Using of metaphor in ACT
• Applying ACT with diverse Asian clients
• Techniques for applying Hexaflex with Depression
• Techniques for applying ACT with Anxiety

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 need to have a background in clinical mental health work.

AWARD

Participants who meet 80% class attendance will be awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment by the Academy of Human Development.

COURSE FEES

TRAINER

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.

APPLICATION and ENQUIRIES

Dave Goh

6593 5284

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