This class provides an emphasis on developing a detailed understanding and a foundation of skills of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) when working with mental health and addictions clients. ACT is an empirically validated approach for working with a wide array of concerns including anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, eating disorders, chronic pain and other mental health concerns. The therapy uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies to create behavioral change and increase psychological flexibility. This course explores the theoretical foundation of ACT and how it is different from most other orientations to therapy. Course content will also include learning the psychological flexibility model (i.e., Hexaflex) and its application to intervention and treatment. The course will also illustrate some interventions that are common for ACT practitioners working with clients. Emphasis is placed on learning this model of therapy from the inside out through the application of self-practice/self-reflection (SP/SR) training model.
