ACTing it out with chairwork – intermediate level
Chairwork methods for ACT practitioners
If you have an interest in chairwork, already possess knowledge or experience with it in your practice, and desire to further develop your skills, this intermediate-level workshop is tailor-made for you. Chairwork is a powerful therapeutic action method approach that uses space, movement, and drama to bring about change. Join our workshop leaders as they dive into key areas, including utilising chairwork for emotional processing, enhancing values work, and expanding perspective taking. Discover effective methods to bring your therapy sessions to life and truly engage your clients.
This comprehensive training will give you more skills and confidence to bring chairwork into your practice right away. You experience and practice some of the most effective chairwork interventions available, and learn how they can be applied to a variety of client issues.
About this workshop
This workshop is designed for ACT practitioners who are familiar with chairwork and want to take their skills to the next level. You will learn how to facilitate more complex, multi-chair tasks and address challenging clinical issues such as interpersonal conflicts and emotional processing difficulties. If you want to enliven your therapy sessions and bring ACT to life, this workshop is for you.
You will discover practice sophisticated experiential methods for enhancing perspective-taking, clarifying values, addressing interpersonal difficulties, and much more. Time will also be dedicated to exploring how to overcome stuck points in chairwork, such as scepticism and limited availability of chairs. This workshop will incorporate a variety of teaching methods including demonstrations, group discussion, experiential self-practices, and small group exercises.
What will you get out of this workshop?
Key learning points in this workshop will include:
- The core principles, processes, and procedures that make up chairwork.
- How to facilitate complex multi-chair tasks face-to-face and online.
- Chairwork tasks for perspective-taking, values clarification, emotional processing, healing interpersonal injuries, and resolving trauma.
- Advanced process skills for facilitating chairwork effectively.
- Strategies for addressing common blocks in chairwork.
Feedback from Matt and Tobyn’s previous workshop
This is a great training. It was incredibly useful for my practice, learned a lot. The real plays and opportunities for us to practice were invaluable! Will recommend this training!
Maria João Martins, Clinical psychologist
I really enjoyed it – it was so smooth, the demonstrations felt authentic and encouraged me to also be authentic in my roleplays in the practice parts – so I could really experience the power of this technique.
Sarah Huibregtse Van Loon – Psychological therapist
The online course “ACTing it out: Using Chairwork to Enliven Your Sessions” presents a great blend of theoretical depth and engaging practical exercises. The instructor’s expertise in chairwork and ACT can be noticed throughout the course, illuminating the subject matter with insightful commentary and a profound understanding the principles behind the practice. The course dynamics are thoughtfully crafted, promoting an active learning environment that is both stimulating and supportive. The course’s positive atmosphere, combined with the teacher’s expertise, makes for an enriching educational experience that can genuinely enhance the therapeutic practice of its attendees.
Paulo Gomes – Clinical psychologist and professor
Who would benefit from this workshop?
This workshop is for clinicians, including psychologists, psychotherapists, and BCBAs who would like to make their work more action-packed. Practitioners with prior training and/or experience using chairwork will benefit the most.
Exploring the applications of chairwork in ACT
If you are interested in learning about the basics of using chairwork in ACT sessions, check out our on-demand workshop, ACTing it out: using chairwork to enliven your sessions, with Tobyn Bell and Matt Pugh
APA psychologists: This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 7 CE credits for psychologists.
Nationally certified counselors: This workshop is available for 7 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.
At the end of this working, the learner will be able to:
- Facilitate complex multi-chair interventions.
- Address challenging issues using chairwork, including conflict and trauma.
- Utilise advanced ACT process skills to maximise the effectiveness of chairwork.
- Address blocks that sometimes arise in chairwork, such as doubts and reservations.
- Identify situations where chairwork less suitable and/or requires adaptation.
- Bell, T., Montague, J., Elander, J., & Gilbert, P. (2021). Multiple emotions, multiple selves: compassion focused therapy chairwork. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 14, e22.
- Pugh, M.,Dixon, A., & Bell, T. (2023). Chairwork and the therapeutic relationship: Can the cart join the horse? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 79, 1615-1626.
- Bell, T., Montague, J., Elander, J., & Gilbert, P. (2021). “Suddenly you are King Solomon”: Multiplicity, transformation and integration in compassion focused therapy chairwork. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 31, 223-237.
- Pascual-Leone, A., & Baher, T. (2023). Chairwork in individual psychotherapy: Meta-analyses of intervention effects. Psychotherapy, 60, 370-382.
- Pugh, M., Bell, T., & Dixon, A. (2021). Delivering tele-chairwork: A qualitative survey of expert therapists. Psychotherapy Research, 31, 843-858.