The recorded session is for on demand viewing only. To obtain continuing education credit (CE), you must log into the ABCT e-learning system. https://elearning.abct.org/
ACT-informed exposure, an acceptance-based cognitive behavioral treatment, has been shown to be comparatively as effective as traditional exposure in the treatment of anxiety disorders (Arch et al., 2012; Twohig et al., 2018). As the ability to be open and present with discomfort is as important in traditional exposure work as it is in ACT, CBT therapists can benefit from integrating an ACT understanding of acceptance into traditional exposure without necessarily needing to learn the full ACT model. This workshop offers practical tips on how the process of acceptance, or what is often called “willingness” in ACT, can be targeted to facilitate exposure and enhance learning.
This workshop will provide a theoretical overview of willingness in ACT and demonstrate common interventions to initially orient clients to willingness that potentially can strengthen this crucial process in ways that are helpful in conducting successful exposure therapy later on. The presenters will also emphasize how paying attention to willingness during exposure, such as by using quantitative ratings similar to SUDS, can help bring attention to when clients are struggling with avoidance behaviors during exposure practice and develop an internal sense of how willingness may fluctuate. This workshop will also address how acceptance can be applied to feelings of joy, social closeness, or accomplishment that occur in exposure therapy, as some clients may have a tendency to avoid positive emotions just as often as they avoid negative ones. ACT has an abundance of metaphors, experiential exercises, and activities to strengthen acceptance or willingness that may benefit all exposure therapists. Participants will also develop a greater understanding of how ACT’s perspective on willingness can be used in case conceptualization to troubleshoot when clients are struggling with exposure work.
Short outline: - Importance of acceptance in exposure therapy - Acceptance or willingness within the ACT psychological flexibility model - Case conceptualization - Clinical interventions for enhancing acceptance/willingness - Tracking willingness during exposure to assess client engagement - Willingness/acceptance with positive emotions - Troubleshooting common client difficulties with acceptance/willingness - Summary and wrap-up
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:
Describe how acceptance is framed from an ACT perspective.
List acceptance-based interventions that complement traditional exposure therapy.
Respond to common client barriers using an acceptance lens.
Use willingness scores to track client engagement during exposure practice.
Long-term goal: Demonstrate strategies for orienting clients to practicing acceptance during exposure therapy.
Long-term goal: Expand repertoire of clinical interventions in helping clients effectively engage in exposure. work
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