ACT Series
Description
This webinar will be held in two parts and discusses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
The first workshop will be held on Friday, April 10th and is titled “A Call to ACTion for Clinicians: An introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy”. This is an introductory level webinar. Geared to clinicians with no knowledge of ACT, the session will provide a foundation in the fundamental ACT principles and processes, emphasizing practical application.
The second workshop will be held on Friday, April 17th and is titled “From Theory to ACTion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Case Formulation and Treatment Planning.” This is an intermediate level webinar. Therapists familiar with the basic principles and core processes of ACT will learn how to conceptualize their clients’ challenges using an ACT model. This session will integrate lecture, discussion, and experiential learning through role-play and other exercises.
We encourage you to attend both webinars, but you have the option of only attending one. The price per webinar decreases if you attend both.
Please note that while Part 1 requires no prior exposure to ACT, Part 2 will assume you either attended Part 1 or have some basic knowledge of ACT.
Both webinars will be held from 9am-12:15pm Eastern Standard Time.
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A Call to ACTion for Clinicians: An introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
An ever-growing body of research supports ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) as an effective intervention for anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance use concerns, chronic pain, psychosis, and other problems. ACT therapists recognize that clients often spend more time and emotional energy trying to avoid discomfort than acting in ways that bring fulfillment. They encourage clients (and themselves!) to live more in the present moment, identify what matters most to them, and choose actions that support those values to build a life of meaning and purpose. Interventions focus on choices and actions rather than efforts to change or eliminate unpleasant feelings. ACT teaches clients to develop psychological flexibility, which allows them to engage with and overcome challenges rather than avoid discomfort. Geared to clinicians with no knowledge of ACT, the session will provide a foundation in the fundamental ACT principles and processes, emphasizing practical application.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the session, participants will demonstrate the ability to:
- Identify the fundamental principles underlying ACT as an intervention.
- Define psychological flexibility and explain how it relates to the alleviation of suffering.
- Demonstrate familiarity with the six core processes of ACT.
- Identify ACT techniques associated with each of the ACT core processes
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From Theory to ACTion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Case Formulation and Treatment Planning
ACT is an evidence-based therapy effective with a wide variety of mental health concerns. ACT therapists help clients to increase psychological flexibility, empowering them to overcome the difficult thoughts and feelings that cause them to limit their options unnecessarily. Without these self-imposed limits, clients learn to identify what truly matters to them and to bring more of it into their lives.
Therapists familiar with the basic principles and core processes of ACT will learn how to conceptualize their clients’ challenges using an ACT model. Beyond serving as the foundation for good treatment planning, a sound ACT formulation empowers clinicians with the flexibility to make effective, in-the-moment treatment choices. This session will integrate lecture, discussion, and experiential learning through role-play and other exercises.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the session, participants will demonstrate the ability to:
- Explain the importance of case formulation in treatment planning within an ACT framework
- Define psychological flexibility.
- Name common barriers to psychological flexibility.
- Identify ACT techniques associated with each of the ACT core processes.
Instructor Bio
Dr. Sohnle, a licensed psychologist since 2001, is board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and serves as an examiner for certification candidates. He is a certified CBT therapist (Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies) and is on the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. He has provided clinical services in inpatient, IOP (substance use), and outpatient settings, and he has worked with adult clients ranging from their teens to their nineties, including clients living with severe and persistent behavioral health concerns. He was the Principal Investigator for the COPSA Institute for Alzheimer’s disease and Related Disorders at Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare (UBHC), where he directed geriatric programs and clinics for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. His leadership extended to vital substance use programs, including Specialized Addiction Treatment Services (SATS) in New Brunswick and at the Middlesex County Jail. Dr. Sohnle's hands-on experience also includes neuropsychological assessments at the COPSA Institute and the Samuel L. Baily Huntington’s Disease Family Services Center, alongside his involvement in clinical trials research. Dr. Sohnle served as the Training Director, Associate Director, and Director of Rutgers Student Health-CAPS, where he now practices as a behavioral health consultant. He also maintains an active private practice.
Deeply committed to his role as an educator, Dr. Sohnle has trained and supervised graduate students, doctoral interns, postdoctoral fellows, psychiatry residents, and early and mid-career professionals. He has presented symposia at national conferences and has authored or co-authored numerous articles and book chapters. He co-authored the book Trauma Among Older People: Issues and Treatment, published by Routledge. He serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry (volunteer faculty) and is a Lecturer at GSAPP.
Dr. Sohnle has no conflicts of interest for this program.
Contact Us
For questions, please contact: ce@gsapp.rutgers.edu
Continuing Education Information
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0123.
LMFT/MFT and LPC/LAC Licensed in New Jersey: Programs approved by the American Psychological Association are acceptable sources of continuing education credits. Please see https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/regulations/Chapter-34-Subchapters-10-31-Professional-Counselors.pdf, Section: 13:34-15.4 APPROVAL OF COURSES OR PROGRAMS on page 27. For all other professional licenses and certifications, please reference your issuing state board regulations regarding reciprocity of continuing education credits.
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.