Description
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a relatively new and promising evidence-based approach to the treatment of severe mental illness such schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and major depression with psychotic features. While medications have traditionally been the treatment of choice for persons with symptoms of psychosis, they are frequently not enough. ACT can be integrated or used adjunctively with the interdisciplinary treatment modes commonly used in inpatient and outpatient settings. ACT for psychosis does not directly target reduction of psychosis symptoms; rather, ACT aims to improve the ability to cope with psychotic symptoms and to reduce distress associated with psychotic symptoms. ACT seeks to increase patients’ willingness to respond to internal events with an accepting, non-judgmental awareness. This form of intervention can be particularly helpful when patients are struggling with internal events that are not amenable to control, or when persisting with efforts to control them leads to problems in everyday life. ACT encourages values- based living with the goals of helping patients become less entangled with their symptoms and more focused on effective behavior. In this webinar, we will review the principles of and evidence supporting ACT, learn how to utilize ACT approaches with clients with avoidance problems, and demonstrate clinical techniques for applying ACT.
Format
Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity with post-test.
This presentation was recorded on May 7, 2021.
Learning Objectives
Summarize the current state of evidence for ACT treatment with psychosis.
Describe how to utilize acceptance approaches with avoidance problems to strengthen a client’s willingness to have distressing thoughts and emotions.
Demonstrate clinical techniques for increasing psychological flexibility in clients using ACT.
Outline
- Introduce principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Overview of research and evidence supporting ACT
- Explain how to apply ACT to psychosis
- Introduce clinical techniques of ACT
Target Audience
Psychologist, Counselor, Social Worker
Instructional Level
Intermediate
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.0 hours
Program Start Date: July 30, 2025
Program End Date: July 30, 2028
Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board
After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.
How to Earn Credit
After completing the evaluation, participants will have the opportunity to claim their hours of participation and download the appropriate certificate. Physicians may obtain an official CME certificate, other healthcare professionals may receive a CE certificate (as applicable), and all other attendees may generate a certificate of participation. Each certificate will reflect the event date and total hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Psychologists
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. APA maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive up to 1.00 [type*] continuing education credits.
Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity - including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others - are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Faculty
- Dr. Jennifer L. Patterson is a Clinical Psychologist and is an expert in training professionals in the practice and philosophy of compassionate and mindful living. Dr. Patterson is a public speaker who leads workshops across the US and internationally. Dr. Patterson is the clinical director of the MidAmerican Psychological Institute (MPI) in Joliet, Illinois and established MPI's Clinic for Compulsive Behaviors which aims to use evidenced-based treatment for behaviors like OCD, hoarding, self-injury, and emotional eating. At MPI she supervises pre-doctoral candidates using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP). Dr. Patterson reports financial relationships with commercial interests.
Program Planners
- Teri Brister, PhD, LPC, National Alliance on Mental Illness. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Stacy Coyle, PsyD, The Ross Center. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Tristan Gorrindo, MD, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
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