ACTivating Your Practice - An Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Workshop (Part 3) Dr Richard Bennett and Dr Dawn Johnson

So, you dipped your toe in the ACT ocean with an introduction, then went back for more about how to use ACT in sessions with clients. And here you are, about to join us for an even deeper dive into the blissfully refreshing ACT waters.

You already know that you can engage people in meaningful ways of working, and that ACT offers a way for you to connect with others in ways that are normalising and more in tune with our common humanity. Hopefully this is a powerful driver to learn more, and to fine tune some of your basic ACT skills.

In part three of this workshop series, we wade even deeper into ACT and offer you the chance to learn new skills and exercises, as well as practicing them in a safe and nurturing environment. Now you understand the theory and have some basic techniques in your swim bag, this is more about expanding the skills you have and implementing them in your day to day life and work. Think of it as learning more about how to use the techniques that you have already picked up.

During this four-session online workshop you will:

• Expand your existing knowledge of the ACT model with more advanced techniques for moving psychological flexibility processes
• Explore bringing yourself into your work using functional analysis to enhance your self-refective skills and your relationships with your clients
• Deepen your knowledge of the 'Open, Aware, and Active' areas of ACT work
• Observe live demonstrations and practice specific techniques which target shifts in each of the core processes

The workshop will be highly interactive, involving a variety of methods including didactic teaching, experiential exercises, group work, and live/video demonstrations of therapeutic interventions. Please note, as the sessions are largely experiential, you will get the most out of them if you attend live and are able to participate in the practical exercises. Whilst the teaching and demonstration parts of the workshop are recorded, the small group practice sessions in the breakout rooms are not.

Eligibility

This workshop is aimed at people who are working with others in any kind of caring/helping capacity, with the intent to make behaviour changes. It would be best suited to those who have previously completed some introductory ACT training, such as our ACTivating Your Practice (Part 1) course, and/or some intermediate level training such as our ACTivating Your Practice (Part 2) course, or something equivalent. We will assume that you have a basic knowledge of the ACT model and some experience of using ACT in your life and/or work.

Previous feedback for this workshop

“This was a really helpful introduction to ACT. The breakout groups and practical skill building was helpful"

“It’s been great, with lots of opportunities to practice skills and ask questions. I’ve really valued the space to build on my skills and I feel much more confident in using the different elements of the ACT model”

"Dawn and Richard embody the ACT model and stance, which makes for human and relatable examples. It was a tough ask to work through examples after 9pm but they provided enough scafolding to enable this"

"Very good excercises. Very helpful to understand the material. Very engaging"

“I really appreciated the interactive and experiential nature of the training. The environment felt safe and stimulating”

“I really hope to take this into my practice and continue to learn"

“Really helpful to practice skills and reflect on them in the session. Great to watch demos first”

“Practicing and role playing was particularly helpful and seeing a real example helped with confidence to give it a go"

“The genuine passion for the subject area helped me get across the ideas behind ACT”

About the facilitators

Richard Bennett works as a Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist. He worked in adult and forensic mental health services in the NHS for over 20 years before setting up Think Psychology, an independent psychology practice offering, therapy, supervision, and training. Richard is also an active member of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Sciences (ACBS) and the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP). He is recognised as a BABCP accredited psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer, and an ACBS Peer-reviewed ACT trainer. He is the co-author of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques and The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Self-Esteem.

Dawn Johnson works as a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS and in private practice, offering therapy, teaching, training, supervision and consultation. She has extensive experience of adapting and differentiating ACT and other contextual behavioural interventions to work with people with intellectual disabilities, neuro-diverse populations, acutely distressed clients and the general public. She also uses ACT systemically, having been involved in providing interventions and consultations with families, carers, non-health professionals and with NHS staff at an organisational level. Dawn is an active member of ACBS.

Title image by Paula Brustur on Unsplash