ACT intermediate-level skills masterclass
Process-based functional analysis to shape psychological flexibility
Please note: this is very much an intermediate level workshop and is not open to beginners.
Do you find your ACT skills are sometimes chunky and clunky? Are you ready to move to fluid and flexible ACT? Then you will love this workshop by master clinician and peer reviewed trainer, Lou Lasprugato.
We all know that manualised, diagnostic-based approaches struggle with the fluid and dynamic psychology of each human being we encounter in our clinical work. What do we do with a client who doesn’t quite fit the model? What do we do with clients who have two, three or four diagnosable problems at the same time!
A new wave of process-based therapies is emerging in behavioural and cognitive approaches, that seeks to address this issue, calling for a “context-and individual-sensitive, principles-informed approach to care” (Ong, Levin, & Twohig, 2020). This wave is founded on the ongoing question, “What core biopsychosocial processes should be targeted with this client given this goal in this situation, and how can they most efficiently and effectively be changed?” (Hofmann & Hayes, 2019). This affirms a “commitment to responding to in-the-moment processes, which are to be conceptualised based on the functions they serve for the individual.” (Ong, Levin, & Twohig, 2020).
About this workshop
Lou will take you through these latest developments to demonstrate the power of behavioural interventions of modelling, evoking, and reinforcing, and how you can employ them to actively and effectively shape psychological flexibility in session. In this way, you learn how to apply ACT in a fluid and flexible way, to keep your work fresh, organic and deeply functional.
This intermediate-level 4-hour workshop will stretch you to help you progress to your next level as an ACT practitioner. It will focus on deepening and sharpening your ACT abilities through grounding your approach in contextual behavioural principles and the latest cutting-edge developments in process-based therapy. You will learn how to detect and code across the six dimensions of psychological flexibility to maximise the impact of your interventions.
The workshop will include the use of a video vignette, a demonstration, and small, feedback-enhanced, group sessions.
What you will gain from this workshop
In the sessions, Lou will will explore methods for developing highly focused formulations by understanding both rigid and adaptable processes across six psychological dimensions. He will help you to develop ways to swiftly pinpoint the core flexible processes that go beyond the initial clinical issue, as well as techniques to conduct spontaneous functional analysis for addressing processes effectively in real-time situations. He will focus on modelling openness, awareness, and engagement behaviours to initiate significant change and enhance therapy sessions by integrating key clinical behaviours into your work. Additionally, he will collaborate on strategies to strengthen your therapy relationships and create solid commitments to change through specific and focused positive reinforcement.
Feedback from previous attendees
“The workshop was really practical and offered really a helpful experience of the processes and skills to practice. Lou’ s perspective was engaging and brought some cool variation to my work.”
Dr Richard Coates, clinical neuropsychologist
“This was an excellent workshop and, as an experienced ACT practitioner, I found it useful for expanding my skillset!”
Charles Galyon, Child Psychologist
Group booking discounts
Contextual Consulting offer discounts for groups of people from the same organisation e.g. an NHS Trust that does not have a contract arrangement with us.
Please email us here to arrange a group discount or find out more about our CPD contracts here.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Methods to develop highly focused formulations by capturing inflexible and flexible processes across six psychological dimensions
- Ways to rapidly identify the central flexibility processes above and beyond the presenting clinical problem
- Techniques to develop on-the-fly functional analysis to more effectively target processes in-the-moment
- How to powerfully model openness, awareness, and engagement behaviours to create meaningful change
- How to supercharge sessions by evoking key clinical behaviours and bringing them into the room
- Strategies to vitalise your therapy relationships and create firm commitments to change through precise and targeted reinforcement
APA psychologists: This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 4 CE credits for psychologists.
Nationally certified counselors: This workshop is available for 4 credit hours. Contextual Consulting Ltd. has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7578.
To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.
If you have disability and require adjustments or accommodation, please email us at admin@contextualconsulting.co.uk to discuss your needs and we will do our best to help you.
Booking cancellation
The registration fee will be refunded minus a administration charge if cancellations are received at least two weeks before the workshop date.
Cancellations within two weeks of the event date are charged the full registration fee, other than in exceptional circumstances that can be verified.
Event cancellation
In the event of cancellation of the course outside of our control we will not be held accountable for travel and/or accommodation costs incurred. However, the workshop fees will be refunded.
All workshops will be subject to minimum delegate numbers being met; in the event that a workshop should be cancelled delegates will be given no less than 2 months’ notice.
Replacing delegates
If a delegate is unable to attend and a replacement is nominated there may be a charge depending on the individual circumstances, this will be advised at the time. Please contact the us to request a replacement of delegates at least a week before the workshop date.
Contextual Consulting is committed to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest in the planning, promotion, delivery, and evaluation of continuing education. Potential conflicts of interest occur when an individual assumes a professional role in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of continuing education where personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness.
There was no commercial support for this event. None of the planners or presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.