ACT for self-harming & suicidality

Key strategies when dealing with challenging patterns of behaviour

2 hour workshop (2 CE credits)
Skills building workshop
Recording available for 6 months
ACT therapists, practitioners and clinicians

Course Description

About this workshop

Have you ever found yourself stuck, struggling or stressing out about how to work with self-harming or suicidal clients?

Of course you have!

We all have!

These challenging patterns of behaviour – often linked to trauma – are typically persistent, pervasive, and distressing. And not only do they increase clients’ suffering, but they also tend to trigger therapist anxiety and self-doubt.

Fortunately, there are a number of practical and effective ACT techniques and strategies that can quickly help your clients to interrupt and change these behaviours. This 2-hour workshop – which draws upon key themes from Russ’s textbook, “Trauma Focused ACT” – will involve a combination of didactic and experiential learning, as well as videos of therapy sessions.

Russ proudly proclaims his workshops a ‘jargon-free zone’ – and bases his training on three core values: simplicity, clarity, and having fun. His highly acclaimed ACT workshops are brief, powerful, cost-effective and life-enhancing.

Who would benefit from this workshop?

Meant for practitioners who have received basic introductory training in ACT, we recommend this workshop for mental health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurse practitioners and mental health counsellors.

Feedback from previous workshops is always very positive:

“Very well organised, enjoyable, well thought about with a good mixture of theory, slides and practical demonstrations and videos. Russ is a fantastic speaker, and it was a privilege to join this workshop and hear/learn from the “master” himself. Thank you!”

“So well put together. Russ is just a fantastic facilitator for ACT processes. Instils confidence in clinical approach and self-compassion as a therapist, and a human being!”

 “Love Russ’s energy and enthusiasm.”

“Definitely worth staying up late for!”

Please note that Contextual Consulting are fortunate to have Russ speaking at several upcoming workshops.  You may be interested to join us for his ACT for adult ADHD on 19th October,   ACT for worrying, ruminating & obsessing workshop , at the end of November or Trauma-focused ACT  starting on 4th June ’24 (all intermediate level).

What you’ll learn:

  • The three “I”s of suicidality
  • The basics of functional analysis and how to apply it to suicidality.
  • How to rapidly interrupt and undermine suicidal behaviour
  • How to defuse from hopelessness or nihilism
  • Simple ways to get to values when the client is suicidal
  • Shame-busting: moving from self-contempt to self-compassion
  • How to work with pain that seems unbearable and never-ending
  • How to find meaning when “life is meaningless”
  • How to get past “I have no values”, and set goals when “nothing matters”
  • Functional analysis of self-harming: what triggers and reinforces it?
  • How to take a “bottom-up” approach, emphasising interoceptive exposure and somatic mindfulness
  • How to interrupt self-harming, and instigate, model and reinforce alternative self-caring repertoires

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.

If you have disability and require adjustments or accommodation, please email us at 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.

In this workshop you will learn:

  • The three “I”s of suicidality
  • The basics of functional analysis and how to apply it to suicidality.
  • How to rapidly interrupt and undermine suicidal behaviour
  • How to defuse from hopelessness or nihilism
  • Simple ways to get to values when the client is suicidal
  • Shame-busting: moving from self-contempt to self-compassion
  • How to work with pain that seems unbearable and never-ending
  • How to find meaning when “life is meaningless”
  • How to get past “I have no values”, and set goals when “nothing matters”
  • Functional analysis of self-harming: what triggers and reinforces it?
  • How to take a “bottom-up” approach, emphasising interoceptive exposure and somatic mindfulness
  • How to interrupt self-harming, and instigate, model and reinforce alternative self-caring repertoires

This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 2 CE credits for psychologists. To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.

ACT for self-harming & suicidality
28th Sep 2023
04:30 - 06:30 (New York time) change timezone

FAQs

To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.

To access this workshop you will need a stable internet connection and a set of smart phone ear buds with built in microphone. Your internet speed should be a minimum of 1.5mbs  DOWNLOAD & UPLOAD. You can check that here at www.speedtest.net

We will have dedicated technicians on hand throughout the entire duration of the workshop. They will be there to help you manage any issues that may come up and get you back in to the workshop again. Also, if you think there may be a problem, be it with your work access or anything else, you can log in early to check if things are working for you, and be prepared. There may of course be technical issues that come up on your end, which will be your responsibility to look after. But these are rare and we have an extra handy troubleshooting guide that comes with tips and tricks to deal with any problems.

Yes! As long as you have access to a web browser and you’re connected to the internet, you will be able to attend. It’s that simple – all you need to do is go to the webpage link, login and you’re set to go. You can join the workshop on any device including your home computer or iPad. You can even join in using your smart phone.

Yes, we have a special portal in the system to allow you to connect with other participants joining via the workshop.

You just need a computer (PC or Mac), laptop or tablet that can access the internet. You need a good broadband speed that would allow you to comfortably stream a movie (such as a video on YouTube).

Yes, a video of the presentation will be available to you for up to 6 months after the workshop is finished.  You’ll be able to go back over any part of the workshop to review or check anything that you missed. You also don’t actually have to attend the live workshop – if you’re not able to make it on the actual date, you can still login afterwards and watch the recorded version.

Yes, you will receive a CPD certificate.

Absolutely. You will be able to ask the presenter questions, just as you would in any workshop. You’ll also have the extra benefit of being able to interact with other colleagues who have also joined the workshop.

It’s super simple. All you need to do is follow a link that you will be provided prior to the course, along with instructions.