Acceptance and Commitment therapy Introduction

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential and Practical Introduction

October 3, 2025 8:00am-4:30pm PST
October 4, 2025 8:00am-4:30pm PST

w/ Jason Luoma, PhD and Jenna LeJeune, PhD

Hilton Garden Inn- Portland Airport

About The Workshop

This two-day workshop provides a thorough overview of the theory, principles, and techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It is intended for those who are relatively new to ACT and for those who have done some reading on their own about ACT but who may not have had the opportunity to participate in more experiential learning, observe models, or receive feedback while using the ACT model. 

The first morning of the workshop is didactic in order to lay a shared groundwork for understanding.

In the afternoon, in keeping with the ACT tradition of being an experiential model of therapy, the workshop shifts to an experiential focus, where you apply the ACT model and processes to your own life. A fundamental principle in ACT is that humans who are in the role of “therapists” get caught in the same traps that humans who are in the role of “clients” get caught in. As such, as ACT therapists are typically taught from the inside-out (i.e. through experiencing ACT in relation to their own psychology) as well as the outside-in (i.e. through learning the theory and principles). In the experiential portion of the workshop, you will be in the role of the “client” and you will have the opportunity to apply the ACT processes as relevant to your own struggles and values. This portion of the workshop will be run much like ACT group therapy, but modified for the purpose of professional training.

The workshop will then progress to working in the role of “therapist.” Learning from this role will focus on case conceptualization, watching experienced ACT therapists model therapy interventions, and practicing ACT strategies with others in the workshop followed by feedback and discussion.
 
While this workshop is intended for those who are relatively new to ACT, attendees are expected to have already read some basic material about ACT before attending this workshop. This workshop will not have a heavy focus on presenting didactic material which can be easily obtained through reading any one of a variety of ACT books. Participants will get the most from the workshop if they have read at least one basic ACT text, such as:  

Instead of presenting didactic material that is already easily available in these and other books, this workshop will focus on learning through experience, whether that is with one's own struggles or in the therapist role.

Meet Your Instructors

Jason Luoma, PhD

Jason Luoma, PhD,is CEO of Portland Psychotherapy in Portland, OR. His research focuses on shame, self-stigma, connection, self-compassion and the application of ACT and psychedelic assisted therapy to shame and self-criticism. He has been an investigator on three clinical trials of psychedelics (MDMA-AT for social anxiety, 5-MO-DMT for treatment resistant depression, and psilocybin-assisted therapy for chronic pelvic pain), as well as more than two decades of research resulting in over 75 peer-reviewed publications relating to psychology, psychedelics, and psychotherapy. He is a peer-reviewed trainer in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), has delivered more than 200 workshops and trainings throughout the world, and contributed to the development of the association for Contextual Behavioral Science including serving as president. Dr. Luoma is co-author of two books including one of the best-selling ACT books for therapists, Learning ACT: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Training Manual for Therapists, as well as Values in Therapy: A Clinician’s Guide to Helping Clients Explore Values, Increase Psychological Flexibility, and Live a More Meaningful Life. He is also an innovative leader who has created numerous organizations and initiatives, including being co-founder and CEO of Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center, a social enterprise that funds psychological research through profits obtained through a group clinical practice and co-founder of the Open Psychedelic Evaluation Nexus, an interdisciplinary research network studying the impact of state legal psychedelic services. He is also co-Founder of Perspectives Retreats, an organization that provides experiential training retreats for health care providers wanting to gain experience with psychedelic-assisted therapy. He is also senior scientist at the Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science and host of The Research Matters Podcast, a podcast that interviews leaders and experts in psychological research.   His work on shame and compassion can be read at www.actwithcompassion.com.

Jenna LeJeune, PhD

Jenna LeJeune, PhD, is President and co-founder of Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research and Training Center in Portland, Oregon. She is also a therapist at the Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science where she is involved in various clinical trials involving psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. As a clinical psychologist, Dr. LeJeune is deeply interested in issues of meaning, purpose, and values. Much of her work focuses on working with shame, sexuality, and relationship struggles, including an individual’s relationship with their own body. She is the co-author of the book Values in Therapy: A Clinician's Guide to Helping Clients Explore Values, Increase Psychological Flexibility, and Live a More Meaningful Life as well as numerous other book chapters, journal articles, and other publications. Dr. LeJeune is also a peer-reviewed ACT trainer and provides ACT trainings for professionals around the world.

Join us!

Students

$220

for up-and-coming professionals

Access to exclusive 2-day event with Jason Luoma and Jenna LeJeune
Free Access to Portland Psychotherapy Community Resources
Must be enrolled in accredited study program

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