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Evaluation ViewAttendees 2

Full Day Institute - Ticketed

Treatment - Mindfulness & Acceptance

Session: Breathing The Science of Compassion into the Behavioral Treatment of Trauma: An Introduction to Compassion-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CFACT) for Complex PTSD

Institute 2 - Breathing the Science of Compassion into the Behavioral Treatment of trauma:an Introduction to Compassion-focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CFACT) for Complex PTSD

Thursday, November 16, 2023
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM PST
Location: Chiliwack (402), Level 4
Earn 7 Credit
Ticketed Session
Keywords: ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy), Compassion / Empathy, Trauma
Level of Familiarity: Basic to Moderate
Recommended Readings: Tirch, D., Schoendorff, B., & Silberstein, L. R. (2014). The ACT Practitioner's Guide to the Science of Compassion: Tools for Fostering Psychological Flexibility. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.,   Gilbert, P. (2009). The Compassionate Mind: A New Approach to Life Challenges. London: Constable and Robinson Ltd.,   Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.,   Teresa M. Au, Shannon Sauer-Zavala, Matthew W. King, Nicola Petrocchi, David H. Barlow, Brett T. Litz,
Compassion-Based Therapy for Trauma-Related Shame and Posttraumatic Stress: Initial Evaluation Using a Multiple Baseline Design,
Behavior Therapy, Volume 48, Issue 2, 2017, Pages 207-221,,   Craig, C., Hiskey, S., & Spector, A. (2020). Compassion focused therapy: A systematic review of its effectiveness and acceptability in clinical populations. Expert review of neurotherapeutics, 20(4), 385-400.
During this era of pandemic, war, and systemic inequality, people all over the world have been reporting increasing distress and symptoms of PTSD (Yuan et al., 2021). This wave of trauma responses is a painful reminder of how pervasive and complex the psychological sequelae of traumatic events can be. Effective treatment for people living with trauma is a global priority, and it needs to address a range of different traumatic experiences, from the acute and physical to the chronic and emotional. Grounded in Compassion Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CFACT, Tirch, Schoendorf & Silberstein, 2015) and tri-phasic treatment of trauma (Herman, 1992), this workshop provides an integrative and ACT-consistent framework for working with trauma in its multifarious and varied forms. Participants will learn the foundations of an approach to trauma that integrates compelling techniques from Compassion Focused Therapy (Gilbert, 2010), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Hayes, Strosahl & Wilson, 2012), and CBT (Ehlers & Clark, 2000). Rather than a mere remix of therapy techniques, the model presented involves a robust and coherent case formulation strategy, that drives deployment of evidence based processes and procedures. Participants will be able to discuss the supporting research and scientific foundations of this approach to trauma, as well as be able to integrate these techniques into their existing cognitive and behavioral practice. This workshop will introduce specific tools designed to help clients safely connect to the present, compassionately develop new relationships with the past, and meaningfully build a future, including elements of emotional exposure drawn from EMDR. Highly experienced trainers, who are innovators in compassion focused behavioral interventions will use rare and user-friendly experiential exercises, didactic instruction, and role-play practices to empower participants to meet their most complex cases with new perspectives and the transformational applied science of mindful compassion.

Outline:
I. Introduction
A. The global impact of trauma in the current era
B. The need for effective and comprehensive trauma treatment
C. The Elements of CFACT for Complex PTSD

II. Theoretical Foundations
A. Compassion Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CFACT)
1. CFT
2. ACT
3. Other sources (Buddhist Psychology, CBT, EvoS, FAP, etc.)

B. Tri-phasic treatment of trauma

III. Integration of Evidence-Based Approaches
A. Incorporating techniques from Compassion Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and CBT with theoretical integrity and coherence
B. Case formulation strategy for evidence-based processes and procedures

IV. Supporting Research and Scientific Foundations
A. Evidence for the effectiveness of compassion-focused interventions in trauma treatment
B. Scientific principles underlying the integration of CFACT

V. Cultivating Mindful Compassion and Psychological Flexibility
A. Role of mindful compassion in enhancing trauma-focused therapy
B. Strategies for developing psychological flexibility in clients with a history of complex trauma

VI. Bottom-Up and Top-Down Compassion-Focused Grounding Techniques
A. Training clients in grounding techniques during the stabilization phase
B. Incorporating both bottom-up and top-down approaches for comprehensive healing

VII. Compassion-Focused Therapy Imagery Practices in ACT-Consistent Treatment
A. Introduction to foundational compassion-focused therapy imagery practices
B. Application of imagery practices in ACT-consistent trauma treatment

VIII. Psychoeducation on the Evolutionary Model of Emotion Regulation
A. Explaining the evolutionary model of emotion regulation found in CFACT
B. Providing psychoeducation to clients on emotion regulation processes.
IX. Case Conceptualization
A. Developing an ACT-consistent and trauma-informed case conceptualization
B. Focusing on cultivating psychological flexibility and compassion in the treatment process.

X. Conclusion and Transformational Applied Science of Mindful Compassion
A. Empowering participants to approach complex trauma cases with new perspectives.
B. Encouraging the integration of mindful compassion in clinical practice.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:
  • Explain how cultivating mindful compassion and psychological flexibility can be used to enhance trauma-focused therapy.
  • Describe how to train clients to use bottom-up and top-down compassion-focused grounding techniques during the stabilization phase of trauma processing therapy.
  • Use foundational compassion focused therapy imagery practices in ACT consistent treatment for trauma.
  • Provide psychoeducation on the evolutionary model of emotion regulation found in CFACT.
  • Complete a case conceptualization that is ACT consistent, trauma informed and focused on cultivating psychological flexibility and compassion.
  • Long-term goals: Integration of Compassion-Focused Approaches: learn to integrate compassion-focused approaches, particularly Compassion Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CFACT), into their existing cognitive and behavioral practice for trauma treatment. They will become better able to incorporate the principles, techniques, and case formulation strategy learned during the workshop into their clinical work, resulting in an enhanced ability to address the complex psychological sequelae of trauma in a compassionate and effective manner.
  • Long-term goals: Cultivation of Mindful Compassion and Psychological Flexibility: learn to cultivate mindful compassion and psychological flexibility as core therapeutic skills in their trauma-focused therapy. They will work towards developing a deep understanding of how to foster compassionate connections with clients, helping them safely connect to the present, develop new relationships with the past, and build a meaningful future. By consistently incorporating mindful compassion and promoting psychological flexibility, participants will become better able to facilitate transformative healing experiences for their clients and achieve better treatment outcomes in complex cases of trauma.