Trauma-focused ACT

An in-depth, integrated approach to healing from trauma 

To overcome the profound and multiple effects of trauma, you’ll want to help your clients achieve all of the following changes:

• find safety and security in their bodies,
• unlearn old physical responses to trauma,
• overcome hyperarousal and hypoarousal,
• shift from self-hatred to self-compassion,
• work mindfully with body memory,
• break free from dissociation,

and learn how to build develop rich and meaningful lives.

About this workshop

This intermediate-level ACT training is intensely practical, with a major emphasis on working with the body and limbic system. Sadly many therapists don’t realise that ACT is a powerful somatic therapy, ideal for working flexibly and creatively with the body (which is, of course, where so much trauma is “imprinted”). This 2 day equivalent masterclass will show you how to use ACT in a deeper, holistic, integrative way, working flexibly with body, mind and emotion.

Trauma-Focused ACT (TF-ACT) is a flexible, comprehensive approach model for treating the entire spectrum of trauma-related issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, depression, anxiety disorders, moral injury, chronic pain, shame, suicidality, insomnia, complicated grief, attachment issues, and sexual problems.

In this intermediate level training, you’ll discover cutting-edge strategies for healing the past, living in the present, and building a new future using a  compassion-based, exposure-centered approach.

Who would benefit from this workshop

Please note that this is an intermediate level workshop, so you’ll need to be familiar with the ACT model before attending.

For those seeking introductory ACT courses, explore available options here.

We highly recommend this workshop for mental health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurse practitioners and licensed mental health counsellors.

“just wonderful. It felt like a bubble of protected time to learn and consolidate. I’ve been to many ACT workshops, and they are all good, but this one was the one where ‘the penny dropped’ with regard to how all the separate processes interlink. Can’t thank you enough.” Dr Karen Sutton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist

It was very well organised, enjoyable, well thought about with a good mixture of theory, slides and practical demonstrations and videos. I found the the clear and simple way of explaining theory very useful. Russ is a fantastic speaker and it was a privilege to join this workshop and hear/learn from the “master” himself. Thank you!  Sanna, Clinical Psychologist

What you’ll learn:

• The neurobiology of trauma, including Polyvagal theory and Attachment theory
• How to work effectively with the limbic system
• How to bring a numb body back to life
• Why and how “talk therapy” and “supportive counselling” can keep clients stuck in trauma
• How to use movement and mindfulness to help a client’s body unlearn old adaptive responses to trauma
• How to work with a freeze response
• How to help clients find a sense of safety and security in their body
• Simple psychoeducation to help clients understand their trauma symptoms

You’ll also learn about:

• How to reverse hopelessness and build optimism from the word ‘go’
• How to rapidly ground and centre your clients
• How to use values for post-traumatic growth
• Epigenetic aspects of trauma, and how to ameliorate them
• How to recognise and reverse emotional dysregulation
• Powerful new tools, techniques and metaphors for working with trauma
• When and where ‘mindfulness meditation’ is contraindicated in trauma work
• How to use mindfulness processes flexibly and safely (without meditation)

And we’ll cover

• The art and science of compassionate, flexible exposure
• How to keep exposure safe by ‘Dipping in’ and ‘Dipping out’
• How to develop self-compassion, step-by-step, in the face of self-hatred
• How to revisit traumatic memories safely, without getting trapped in them
• How to use self-as-context naturalistically to help clients transcend past trauma
• How to deconstruct and overcome shame, step-by-step

And, as if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also discover:

• Inner child imagery and rescripting
• Nightmare rehearsal and rescripting
• Working with body memory
• Defusion from self-hatred, self-criticism, self-blame
• Mindfulness and defusion as antidotes to worrying, rumination, catastrophising
• How to overcome common barriers to change
• Working with comorbidity
• Shifting paradigms: from the “window of tolerance” to the “window of flexibility”
• Making “homework” simple, desirable, and likely to be successful
• And much, much more!

You’ll receive these resources:

• Articles, protocols, and research data on the clinical use of ACT with trauma
• An 8-week e-course after the workshop for ongoing learning
• Detailed handouts covering a wide array of useful ACT interventions
• Scripts for a wide range of experiential exercises.
• A variety of useful client worksheets
• MP3 recordings of key mindfulness exercises

Please note that Contextual Consulting are fortunate to have Russ speaking at several workshops. You may be interested to join us for his ACT for self-harming and suicidality (intermediate) on 28^th September, for ACT for adult ADHD on 19th October or  ACT for worrying, ruminating & obsessing workshop (intermediate) at the end of November.

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.