Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Guide Exposure Therapy: The BasicsÂ
Thursday, February 20, 2025 | 1:00-4:00pm (Pacific Time)
w/ Brian Thompson, PhD, Brian Pilecki, PhDÂ
About The Workshop
Exposure therapy is the gold standard intervention for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs). Since the early success of exposure, many theories have been created to understand and explain its mechanism. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has emerged as a useful framework to understand how to use exposure effectively including how to overcome barriers to engagement with exposure. Within the past 10 years, research has demonstrated the effectiveness of exposure therapy within the context of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Bluett et al., 2014). This is a beginner workshop intended to provide the foundations of exposure therapy including types of exposure interventions and design effective exposure exercises for various anxiety disorders and OCRDs. Participants will learn how to use the ACT model to guide the implementation of exposure techniques and how ACT processes may be strengthened by exposure exercises. This workshop will provide some background in theory and will demonstrate to use of ACT-informed exposure in clinical contexts using experiential demonstrations and the practice of new skills by participants.Â
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.Â
AUDIENCE
Therapists who would like to learn more about integrating exposure therapy with the ACT model of psychological flexibility, especially therapists new to exposure. It is helpful to have some background in ACT though folks who are new to the model are also welcome.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this training, participants will be able to:
- Provide an ACT-consistent rationale for exposure therapy.
- Explain how and when to use different types of exposure (in vivo; imaginal; interoceptive).
- Design exposure exercises that strengthen ACT processes.
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 3 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.
