Description
ACT has quickly established itself as a leading ???third wave? approach in the behavioral therapy
tradition. However, unlike CBT, which emphasizes helping a client modify irrational or unhelpful
thoughts, the underlying philosophy of ACT is that trying to change or even fix ourselves often
exacerbates our symptoms???and, thus, acceptance is key. ACT brings together the best of many
worlds: it integrates mindfulness into a coherent system of therapy???at the same time,
extensive research on ACT with a variety of populations has helped it to achieved the status of
an evidence-based approach, recognized as such by the American Psychological Association
(APA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the
U.S. government. ACT is an effective, evidence-based counseling model that many Christian
clients can embrace when the model is integrated into a Christian-based foundation. Attendees
of this workshop will be presented with a comprehensive faith-based ACT model. Christian
Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy identifies core Christian Faith Disciplines, as well
as a related Christian Counseling theory, skills and techniques that make ACT a model that
every counselor should consider for his or her clinical toolbox. Attendees of this workshop will
also identify skills and techniques that can be integrated into any Christian counseling model. In
addition, attendees will be given resources to further their study of the Christian-based ACT
approach and identify next steps in employing this clinical model in helping clients in their
professional practices.
Presented by: Richard Hoffman, Ph.D.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Identify and explore the core concept of Psychological Flexibility using the hexaflex model in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Prepare clients to accept their thoughts and feelings, and modify their needs to control or eliminate them
- Explore basic faith-based counseling skills and techniques to promote psychological flexibility and emotional well-being
