Workshop Description

This two-day in-person workshop provides a thorough overview of the theory, principles, and techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It is intended for those who are relatively new to ACT and for those who have done some reading on their own about ACT but who may not have had the opportunity to participate in more experiential learning, observe models, or receive feedback while using the ACT model. 

The first morning of the workshop is didactic in order to lay a shared groundwork for understanding.

In the afternoon, in keeping with the ACT tradition of being an experiential model of therapy, the workshop shifts to an experiential focus, where you apply the ACT model and processes to your own life. A fundamental principle in ACT is that humans who are in the role of “therapists” get caught in the same traps that humans who are in the role of “clients” get caught in. As such, as ACT therapists are typically taught from the inside-out (i.e. through experiencing ACT in relation to their own psychology) as well as the outside-in (i.e. through learning the theory and principles). In the experiential portion of the workshop, you will be in the role of the “client” and you will have the opportunity to apply the ACT processes as relevant to your own struggles and values. This portion of the workshop will be run much like ACT group therapy, but modified for the purpose of professional training.

The workshop will then progress to working in the role of “therapist.” Learning from this role will focus on case conceptualization, watching experienced ACT therapists model therapy interventions, and practicing ACT strategies with others in the workshop followed by feedback and discussion.

 While this workshop is intended for those who are relatively new to ACT, attendees are expected to have already read some basic material about ACT before attending this workshop. This workshop will not have a heavy focus on presenting didactic material which can be easily obtained through reading any one of a variety of ACT books. Participants will get the most from the workshop if they have read at least one basic ACT text, such as:  

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Second Edition: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change

ACT Made Simple: An Easy-To-Read Primer on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Learning ACT: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Training Workbook for Therapists

Instead of presenting didactic material that is already easily available in these and other books, this workshop will focus on learning through experience, whether that is with one's own struggles or in the therapist role.

AUDIENCE

This workshop is intended for mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, etc.) and at all levels of expertise and working with any population in any treatment setting.

*** Please note that this workshop is only open to health professionals and students enrolled in a graduate-level health or mental health program. This is an experiential workshop in which attendees will be asked to practice various therapeutic interventions. Thus, some previous training as a health professional or counselor is necessary for effective participation. In addition, as we do provide clinical case examples as part of the learning material, we need to make sure that all attendees have a similar understanding of and obligation to uphold HIPAA and other related laws around patient confidentiality. Therefore, unfortunately, we cannot open this workshop up to members of the public or professionals in non-mental health professions. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact us to discuss it.

INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL

This workshop is intended for any therapist or student in a mental health field who is relatively new to the ACT model. Participants should have a beginning familiarity with ACT and have, at a minimum at least have read a chapter before attending the workshop.

REGISTRATION

Registration is online. The workshop will serve refreshments and coffee at the start of the workshop.

We try to keep the tuition low so everyone who wants to can attend. Let us know if being able to pay the fee serves as a barrier to your attendance.

Scholarships: We reserve a number of partial scholarships for potential attendees who could not otherwise afford to come. We give particular priority given to those who would add diverse and under represented voices to our field. To submit an application, please click here.

SCHEDULE (for both days)

8:00am - Registration begins, 8:30am - Workshop begins, 10:00am - 15 minute break, 12:00pm - 90 minute break for lunch, 1:30pm - Workshop resumes, 3:00pm - 15 minute break, 4:30pm - Workshop ends

CE CREDITS

12 CE credits (with the purchase of Professionals with CE Certificate ticket, completion of the Learning Activity Evaluation, and attendance of the entire workshop)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Demonstrate increased skill in conceptualizing cases using the ACT model.
2. Use at least two new defusion and acceptance techniques.
3. Use new techniques for helping clients articulate their values.
4. Demonstrate how the different ACT techniques relate to each other and to the basic principles of ACT.
5. Apply creative hopelessness interventions with increased skill.
6. Better assess therapeutically-relevant client behaviors such as avoidance, cognitive fusion, and values-oriented behavior.
7. Use ACT processes with increased skill.
8. Utilize the different ACT processes more nimbly and with more flexibility within a given session.

 WORKSHOP LOCATION

Milagro Theatre

El Zocalo Space

525 SE Stark Street

Portland, OR 97214

Covid-19 Health & Safety: **This workshop is in-person. Portland Psychotherapy will continue to follow the changing CDC, state, and local guidelines and will adapt accordingly. If you are concerned about what guidelines we will be following regarding masking and social distancing during the workshop, please do not hesitate to contact us about our plans. In addition to the guidelines:

• Workshops will be limited in size and will be in a larger space than normal to accommodate for social distancing
• We will have plenty of hand sanitizer on hand and will provide disposable masks for those who need them.
• If you are sick or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with anyone who is sick/experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days, please do not attend. Send us an email so we can help make accommodations or provide a refund.

Covid-19 Cancellation Policy:

In the event that the workshop needs to be cancelled due to an increase in Covid-19 restrictions, we will alert attendees as soon as possible and will refund the fees people paid for the event. We will not reimburse for related expenses such as lodging or travel costs.

Refund/cancellation policy:

We charge a $15 administration fee for cancellations made more than one week before the training event. For cancellations within one week of the training event, we will refund 50% of the tuition. Alternately, participants may elect to apply 100% of their tuition to a future training event. No refunds will be given after training events.

Special Accommodations :

Please contact us if you need accommodations to enable you to fully participate in the workshop. We will work with you and do our best to find a way to ensure your participation.

Get Our Newsletter

To stay up to date on all the different workshops we offer, you can join our newsletter here.

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Jason Luoma, Ph.D., is CEO of Portland Psychotherapy in Portland, OR. His research focuses on shame, self-stigma, connection, self-compassion and the application of ACT and psychedelic assisted therapy to shame and self-criticism. He is currently organizing a clinical of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for social anxiety disorder that will be one of the first trials of psychedelic assisted therapy in the Pacific Northwest. He also recently organized a special section on psychedelic assisted therapy and contextual behavioral science. He is also an internationally recognized trainer in ACT, former chair of the ACT training committee, and past president of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. He has over 650 publications including co-authoring two books:  Learning Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Values in Therapy: A Clinician’s Guide to Helping Clients Explore Values, Increase Psychological Flexibility, and Live a More Meaningful Life. His work on shame and compassion can be read at www.actwithcompassion.com.

Jenna LeJeune, Ph.D. is the President at Portland Psychotherapy in Portland, Oregon. In her clinical practice, Jenna specializes in using ACT to work with adults struggling with various relationship difficulties, including problems with intimacy, sexuality, trauma-related relationship challenges, and also struggles a person may have in their relationship with their own body. Much of her clinical work focuses on ways in which compassion and perspective taking can be used to address issues related to shame, stigma, and self-criticism. She is a peer-reviewed ACT trainer and provides training in ACT to professionals around the world. Jenna is also the co-author of the forthcoming book, Values in Therapy: A Clinician’s Guide to Helping Clients Explore Values, Increase Psychological Flexibility, and Live a More Meaningful Life.