ACTivating Your Practice - An Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Workshop (Part 2) with Dr Richard Bennett and Dr Dawn Johnson

So, you dipped your toe in the ACT ocean. We’re guessing you enjoyed the refreshing sensation of the warm water of change lapping at your feet, or even the thrill and excitement of the cold water awakening your practitioner soul. Awesome! Did it leave you hungry for more?

Knowing that we can engage people in meaningful ways of working and that we can connect with others in ways that are normalising and more in tune with our common humanity is a powerful driver to learn to fine tune some of the basic ACT skills, right?

In part two of this workshop series, we wade deeper into the ACT ocean and offer you the chance to learn new skills and exercises and practice 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.

During this four-session online workshop you will:

• Consolidate your existing knowledge of ACT’s psychological flexibility model
• Learn to identify ACT’s core processes and be able to track them in yourself and your clients
• Further your practical skills in using ACT methods, as well as methods you already know, to achieve a shift in each process
• Observe live demonstrations and then practice specific techniques in small learning groups

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.

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, or something equivalent. We will assume that you have a basic knowledge of the ACT model and at least a little experience of using ACT in your life and/or work.

Previous feedback for this workshop

“Fantastic! Thank you for the theory and experiential learning. It will be so valuable in my everyday life and as a practitioner”

“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”

“If felt a safe space to share and practice especially as Dawn and Rich embodied ACT themselves”

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

“Very helpful and a great learning opportunity”

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

“The role plays / real plays were really powerful. The teaching and exercises were brilliant”

“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.