Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: A Practical Introduction 

Overview: Anxiety disorders are common, chronic, and disabling. This 1-day workshop is for mental health professionals who wish to enhance their knowledge, skills, and clinical sensibilities using ACT for anxiety disorders and exposure-based strategies within the ACT model.

ACT is an evidence-based transdiagnostic approach that balances mindfulness and acceptance processes with commitment and behavior changes in the services of living a more vital life. 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 the ACT model of psycholgical health and suffering is essential for effective ACT work with anxiety concerns.

Led by a dynamic husband and wife team, this workshop will introduce ACT, both as a model and intervention technology, and illustrate its use across the spectrum of anxiety-related concerns. This workshop will use a combination of didactic and experiential activities and will be intensely practical. 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. Worksheets and other practical tools will also be provided.

John Forsyth, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized author, speaker, researcher, and trainer in the use of ACT and practices that cultivate mindfulness, loving kindness, and compassion. For over 20 years, his work has focused on developing ACT and mindfulness practices to alleviate human suffering, awaken the human spirit, and to nurture psychological health and vitality. He has written several popular ACT books including, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders (for mental health professionals), and several ACT self-help books for the public: The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety 2nd ed., and ACT on Life, Not on Anger, and Your Life on Purpose. His latest book, Anxiety Happens: 52 Ways to Find Peace of Mind, was released in April, 2018.

John holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program at the University at Albany, SUNY. He is a licensed clinical psychologist, with expertise in the use and application of ACT for several forms of psychological and emotional suffering. He is also a widely sought after ACT trainer and consultant, and serves as the senior editor of the ACT book series with New Harbinger Publications.

Jamie Forsyth, Ph.D. is a gifted clinician and clinical supervisor, with extensive expertise in the use and application of ACT with severe forms of mental illness, and forms of psychological and emotional suffering in inpatient, outpatient, and college mental health settings. Beyond ACT, Jamie is a skillful integrationist and researcher, with specialized knowledge in relational and process-oriented therapeutic work, addictions, motivational interviewing, including mindfulness and self-compassion practices.

Jamie holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York. She is a clinican and clinical supervisor at Union College, where she offers ACT-based outpatient psychotherapy to college students presenting with significant psychological, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Her clinical work, grounded in evidence-based know-how, offers unique insights into the subtle nuances of ACT and mindfulness practices within her college community. Along with her husband John, Jamie co-leads ACT professional workshops in the United States and abroad.

Objectives:

At the conclusion of the workshop, the participant will be able to:

• Describe the ACT model of human suffering linked with six central treatment targets of ACT practice.
• Conceptualize anxiety and fear within an ACT transdiagnostic framework.
• Identify excessive struggle and avoidance while promoting more mindful and compassionate actions.
• Define and identify "fusion" and "experiential avoidance" and their role in various forms of anxious suffering.
• Demonstrate clarifying values and barriers to valued action and how this can be useful for their patients and for themselves.
• Create a healthy space for contacting difficult thoughts and emotions while helping clients take steps in the direction of their chosen values and life goals.

Who Should Attend: This intermediate level workshop is appropriate for social workers, licensed mental health counselors, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, life-coaches, and other mental health professionals, including graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Some general familiarity with ACT will be helpful, but it is not required.

Schedule:

8:00 - 8:30 am

Registration and light continental breakfast

8:30 - 10:00 

ACT Model and Case Conceptualization

Getting Inside the ACT Model of Psychological Suffering & Health

ACT for Anxiety Transdiagnostic Case Conceptualization

Why the ACT Model Matters!

10:00 - 10:10

Break

10:10 - 11:40

Creating Space for Something New

Why Creative Hopelessness in ACT?

Exploring Workability

Establishing Creative Hopelessness

11:40 - 12:50 pm

Lunch (on your own)

12:50 - 2:20

Doing Effective Values Work in ACT

The Nature of Values in ACT

Connecting with Values

Barriers to Valued Action

2:20 - 2:30 

Break

2:30 - 4:00

Cultivating a New Relationship wiht Anxiety and Fear

Mindfulness, Self-as-Context, and Diffusion Work: Overview and Purpose

Self-Compassion and Kindness - Powerful Antidotes to Suffering

Cultivating Acceptance in the Service of Valued Action

Framing Exposure in ACT

Wrap up & the Journey Ahead

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