ACT-Informed Exposure for Therapists Who Don’t Use Exposure
November 8, 2024 | 3:30-5:30pm PT
w/ Brian Thompson, PhD and Brian Pilecki, PhD
About The Workshop
Exposure therapy is the gold standard intervention for anxiety. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has emerged as a useful framework to understand how to use exposure effectively, and research has demonstrated the effectiveness of exposure therapy within the context of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Bluett et al., 2014). For therapists without training, however, exposure therapy of any model can be intimidating. Consequently, many therapists are reluctant to use exposure (Farrell et al., 2016; Scherr, Herbert, & Foreman, 2015).
In this beginner workshop, therapists will learn how to use discrete, targeted ACT-informed exposure exercises that they can flexibly apply during treatment. One powerful tool that is relatively simple to learn and has broad applicability is imaginal exposure. If you’ve used classic ACT exercises such as Milk Milk Milk and Passengers on the Bus, imaginal exposure is a natural extension of these classic ACT exercises. The focus of this workshop is on learning how to create scripts for targeting private events (e.g., thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations) with which clients struggle and, through repetition, strengthen psychological flexibility. Attendees will learn practical tips for collaboratively writing exposure scripts and how to most effectively implement them.
Meet Your Instructors
Brian Thompson, PhD
Dr. Brian Thompson is a licensed psychologist and director of the anxiety clinic at the Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center in Portland, Oregon. Brian completed a post-doctoral fellowship focused on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) under the supervision of Jason Luoma, PhD, (e.g., Learning ACT) and Jenna Lejeune, PhD, (e.g., Values in Therapy). He has been studying ACT and ACT approaches to exposure for over 15 years. Passionate about evidence-based treatment, he specializes in working with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRD). In addition to working full-time as a clinician, Brian has published in peer-reviewed journals on Third Wave approaches to anxiety and OCRD, organized and contributed to professional trainings (e.g., workshops, symposia, panel discussion) on related topics, and offers consultation to professionals on integrating ACT and newer models of exposure in clinical work. He is a Past-President for the Oregon Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. Brian is an author of ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety: Creating Effective, Innovative, and Values-Based Exposures Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Brian Pilecki, Ph.D.
Dr. Brian Pilecki is a clinical psychologist at the Portland Psychotherapy Clinic that specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders (OCD, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder), trauma and PTSD, and matters related to the use of psychedelics. Brian completed his doctorate at Fordham University in Bronx, NY and completed his pre-doctoral internship at the Weill-Cornell Medical center at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and practices from an orientation based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Brian also has extensive experience in the areas of mindfulness and meditation, and incorporates them into his therapy with clients. He is an active researcher and has published on topics such as anxiety disorders, mindfulness, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. At Portland Psychotherapy, Brian is also involved in research in his specialty areas, including a clinical trial investigating MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of social anxiety.
AUDIENCE
Therapists who are new to exposure and would like to learn targeted ACT-informed exposure exercises to anxiety-related thoughts and catastrophic fears.
INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL
Introductory: A working knowledge of ACT is helpful for attendees, as this workshop will not provide much introduction to ACT.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this training, participants will be able to:
- Strengthen core ACT processes using ACT-informed exposure
- Identify markers for when imaginal exposure scripts might be useful
- Develop basic guidelines for between-session exposure practice
REGISTRATION
Registration is online. Presentations will be recorded and sent to anyone who registers for the event.
SCHOLARSHIPS
We reserve a number of partial scholarships for potential attendees who could not otherwise afford to come. We give particular priority given to those who would add diverse and under represented voices to our field. To submit an application, please click here.
CE CREDITS
Portland Psychology Clinic, Research & Training Center is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Portland Psychotherapy, Clinic, Research & Training Center maintains responsibility for all programs and content.
This workshop grants 2 CE credits for therapists with the purchase of Professionals with CE Certificate ticket and live attendance of the entire workshop. Credit will not be given for only watching the recording.
REFUNDS/CANCELLATIONS: We charge a $15 administration fee for cancellations made by participants more than two weeks before the training event. For cancellations within two weeks of the training event, we will refund 50% of the tuition. Alternately, participants may elect to apply 100% of their tuition to a future training event. No refunds will be given after training events.
SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS: Please contact us if you need accommodations to enable you to fully participate in the workshop. We will work with you and do our best to find a way to ensure your participation.
