Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Fundamentals

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, also known as ACT, is a form of process-based psychotherapy and a branch of clinical behavior analysis. ACT is considered evidence-based and has been determined to be effective in treating numerous disorders including anxiety, chronic pain, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, addiction and more. The primary goal of ACT is to improve psychological flexibility, values-led action, and the treatment integrates cognitive, behavioral, and holistic strategies. ACT teaches acceptance as a means of coping with negative thoughts, feelings, and circumstances.  

In this 2-hour continuing education webinar for clinicians, Dr. Lori Ryland will provide an overview of the fundamentals of ACT including the six core processes of ACT:

• Acceptance
• Cognitive defusion
• Being present
• Self as context
• Valuing
• Committed action 

This introductory-level continuing education webinar is designed to help mental health professionals:

1. List at least three mental health disorders that can benefit from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
2. Discuss how ACT differs from traditional CBT in how cognitions are a focus of treatment.
3. Identify key values and how to help an individual determine if their current behaviors are consistent with those values.
4. Define cognitive defusion and identify a scenario when someone is “fused” with a thought.
5. Discuss what is meant by the metaphor “dropping the rope.”

Statement of program material's accuracy, utility, and risks: This program presents an overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Fundamentals. It is consistent with the ethics code of the American Psychological Association and has its own established code of ethics as developed by the Association of Comprehensive Psychology, an approved CE Sponsor of the APA. This workshop is intended for mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, etc.) who are interested in learning more about ACT and no prior training is necessary. The instructional level for this event will be similar to a graduate level lecture class. This program discusses strategies for applying the concepts taught in a clinically responsible manner, although the presenter may not know how to apply all principles discussed to every situation or person. A body of research surveyed in the program suggests that the methods are effective and safe for diverse populations. As always, however, misapplication of the concepts with various populations could lead to unintended outcomes.

Declaration identifying any potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support: The presenter, Lori Ryland, declares no relevant conflicts of interest nor commercial support with respect to the content of this presentation.

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact GoodTherapy here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2022 – 3/30/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education credits.

GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0395. GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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