ACT for Physical Health: Adjustment, Purpose and Flexibility – Introductory Level
Recorded Webcast – two day workshop
Presenter: Dr. Ray Owen
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Developing a long-term physical health condition can be a challenge in many ways; not just dealing with its physical symptoms, but learning to live a satisfying life even with the limitations and difficulties the condition brings.
Understandably, many of us struggle to adjust, and that struggle shows up in many ways – emotional distress, relationship difficulties, losing a sense of purpose and of identity, problems with healthcare services and getting stuck in an unfulfilling rut.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of CBT which can help people in this situation to:
- Have a clearer sense of purpose based on their own values, and what matters to them
- Learn to accept those aspects of the situation that can’t (for now) be changed, and take committed action to change what can be
- Be more willing to try different ways of doing things, and hold onto the ones that
work for them - Be less ‘pushed around’ by the unwanted thoughts and feelings that inevitably show up.
This 2-day workshop is aimed at practitioners who work to support people living with long-term physical health problems. It will introduce the Acceptance & Commitment Therapy model as a way of making sense of, and helping with, the challenges of living life well with health problems. It will include:
- The ideas behind the model
- The evidence-base,
- The core processes of ACT as applied to physical health difficulties (including case examples and experiential exercises)
- Trying out some initial ACT techniques that can be incorporated in your practice
The workshop requires no prior knowledge of ACT and is suitable for people from a wide range of job roles, including psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors and coaches.
This 2 day workshop will give you the opportunity to learn more about:
- Theoretical base and evidence for the ACT model
- The 6 core processes of ACT, as applied to the problems of physical ill health
- How to helping people develop a sense of purpose through identifying their own values
- Supporting more flexible responding to the challenges of the outside world, of the condition (& any treatments), and of difficult thoughts and feelings that arise and get in the way
The workshop will use a combination of didactic presentation, video, live role-play, small-group skills practice and experiential exercises. The latter will involve evoking and being present with potentially unpleasant thoughts and feelings regarding one’s own actual or potential ill-health, in the service of becoming more able to support others with physical health problems.
Dr Ray Owen
Dr Ray Owen is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Health Psychologist with over 20 years experience of working in Physical Health settings within the NHS. He has substantial experience of teaching and supervision in a wide range of contexts, both within the Health Service and on a freelance basis. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and an accredited facilitator in the national Advanced Communication Skills Programme for senior cancer practitioners.
He has taught extensively on ACT in physical health contexts, and is the author of two successful self-help books published by Routledge – ‘Facing the Storm (2011)’ and ‘Living with the Enemy (2014)’, both of which were shortlisted for the BMA Popular Medicine Book of the Year Award.
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.
ACT for Physical Health: Adjustment, Purpose and Flexibility – Introductory Level
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