The University of Central Arkansas will host the second annual Counseling and Psychology Students (CAPS) professional development workshop series, ?Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Your Most Difficult Cases,? presented by Dr. Kelly G. Wilson on Friday, March 23 at UCA. This workshop will present Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a unique, evidence-based, psychological treatment that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. Participants will understand the rationale and empirical support for ACT, learn ACT interventions to motivate client change and to foster a strong working alliance and develop strategies for the use of mindfulness and acceptance in the face of psychological obstacles to valued living.
Recent studies have demonstrated that ACT is useful for treating a wide variety of difficulties, including depression, anxiety, chronic stress, substance abuse and even psychosis. ACT also helps individuals with medical conditions, such as terminal cancer, chronic pain and type-2 diabetes. Data has also shown that ACT can significantly improve therapist burnout.
This workshop is intended for students and all mental health professionals interested in ACT as well as acceptance and mindfulness-oriented approaches, regardless of their level of familiarity with the material. Case demonstrations and experiential exercises will be used to illustrate the application of ACT interventions to treat complex cases.
Kelly G. Wilson, Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology at the University at Mississippi. He is president of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science and is one of the co-founders of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He has central interests in the application of behavioral principles to understanding topics such as purpose, meaning and values, therapeutic relationship, and present moment focused work. Wilson has devoted himself to the development and dissemination of ACT and has published 28 articles, 18 chapters, and 4 books. He has presented workshops to more than 3,000 individuals in 13 countries, and has participated as co-investigator in a wide range of research projects in the U.S., Sweden, Spain, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The CAPS professional development workshop series is sponsored by CAPS, the Counseling and Psychology Graduate Student Organization, and the Department of Psychology and Counseling at UCA. The workshop will take place in the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center on the campus of UCA. The cost of the workshop is $40 for students, $90 for professionals and $100 for late registrations received after March 16. The registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and workshop materials. Registrations will be taken at the door on the day of the event. Additional materials and books will be available to purchase at the workshop. All proceeds from CAPS workshops go to support graduate student travel.
For more information or to request a brochure, contact Melanie Straw-Watson at (501) 450-5276 or melaniesw@uca.edu.
