Working with chronic pain
Using acceptance, mindfulness and values
Chronic pain poses significant challenges for individuals and can have a profound impact on their well-being and lives. Pain can overshadow people’s lives, especially as they struggle to control their pain and eliminate it. Although this struggle is understandable, it can create a vicious cycle that can dominate, and leave little room for purpose and meaning.
There is emerging evidence indicating that as pain sufferers set aside struggles for control over pain, attend to present experiences, and engage in meaningful activities, they suffer less and function better, even while pain persists. These treatment processes are respectively referred to as acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action where the best researched therapy model has been acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also recommends ACT for the management of chronic pain.
Workshop overview
In this engaging and thought-provoking workshop, your speaker Dr Kevin Vowles, professor of clinical health psychology will provide a comprehensive overview of the ACT model, focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action as crucial processes. Through a combination of didactic instruction, case conceptualisation exercises, and experiential skill-building activities, you will have ample opportunities to deepen your understanding and refine your clinical practice.
By the end of this workshop, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify treatment targets in individuals with chronic pain. Moreover, you will gain the confidence to apply interventions that promote acceptance, mindfulness, and values in your clinical practice, ultimately enhancing the well-being of your clients.
What you’ll learn
In this workshop, you will learn:
- The ACT theoretical model and its impact on treatment targets.
- Clinical skills to enhance acceptance, mindfulness, and clarity in valued actions.
- Values-based actions for effective treatment in chronic pain settings.
- The relationship between ACT theory, assessment, and shared treatment plans.
- How to prioritise components for ACT in chronic pain case conceptualisation.
We invite you to join us as we delve into this fascinating area of research and practice to explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those suffering from chronic pain.
Who would benefit from this workshop?
Meant for practitioners who have already had basic introductory training in ACT, we recommend this workshop for all mental health professionals working in pain and physical health settings, including psychologists, BCBAs, medics, social workers, nurse, coaches, therapists, GPs, and OTs.
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.
APA psychologists: This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 12 CE credits for psychologists.
Nationally certified counselors: This workshop is available for 12 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.
On completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the ACT theoretical model with regard to at least 3 treatment targets.
- Model at least one clinical skill designed to augment acceptance, mindfulness, and clarity in valued actions.
- Identify at least three values-based actions for use in chronic pain settings.
- Articulate the relation between the theoretical principles of ACT, their assessment in treatment, and their utility in deriving a shared treatment plan with treatment recipients.
- Prioritise the components of an ACT for chronic pain case conceptualisation.
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.
The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate, by Jennifer Kemp.