Presenters: John P. Forsyth, Ph.D. & Jamie R. Forsyth, Ph.D.
Workshop Dates: March 14 & 15, 2019
Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm (both days)
Place: Queens University, exact location TBA

Workshop Overview
Acceptance and mindfulness-based practices are rapidly making their way into mental health care, medicine, and society – both to alleviate human suffering and nurture psychological health and wellness. This body of work offers a fresh perspective on psychological suffering, and powerful clinical strategies that support meaningful life changes. In this workshop, we will learn about one unique approach and set of intervention strategies based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (or ACT, said as one word).

ACT balances mindfulness and acceptance processes with commitment and behavior change in the service of living a more vital life.  ACT is both a form of therapy and an approach to living well, with evidence showing that it is useful for many forms of psychological and emotional suffering.  ACT offers a fresh perspective on psychological health and a set of powerful clinical strategies that support meaningful life changes.   In short, ACT teaches clients how to change their relationship with painful aspects of their experience and do what works – to live well, richly, and meaningfully, without first having to overcome sources of emotional and psychological pain.

This work can be challenging for both therapists and clients alike, for much of ACT work involves contacting difficult and painful psychological content without defense and for a purpose other than psychological relief. Thus, understanding the application and integration of the ACT model of psychological health and suffering is essential for effective ACT work.

This 2-day workshop will introduce ACT, both as a model and intervention technology, and illustrate its use across a broad set of problem areas that are commonly seen in mental health settings (e.g., anxiety, depression, anger).  Our time together will be a mix of instruction, demonstrations, and hands on practical experiential exercises that will be done individually, in dyads, and small groups.  The exercises will highlight the integration of mindfulness and acceptance strategies to disarm forms of human suffering and also to promote greater clarity of values and value-guided action.  Worksheets and other practical tools will be provided.

Registration Fee
By February 15th After February 15th
Regular $350.00         $450.00
Student $300.00         $400.00

We reserve the right to use any photograph/video taken at this event, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. A person attending the event who does not wish to have their image used should make their wishes known by contacting us at psycclin@queensu.ca.