Ever find yourself stalled out with a client, wondering “Why are we so stuck?”, “Why does my client keep doing things that don’t work?”, “Why am I feeling so ineffective?” Welcome to the life of the therapist! Luckily, there is hope: functional assessment and clinically applied RFT can help us get unstuck.

This workshop is designed to help you get under the hood of ACT - explore the fundamental theoretical structures which are the mechanics of ACT. Over the course of four classes, we will learn the principles of both functional assessment and Relational Frame Theory (RFT), and we will practice applying these principles as we work with novel interventions and metaphors. As part of this process, we will learn how to design interventions to target problems in your most difficult clients.

Functional assessment and RFT take us beyond standard ACT interventions and teach us to “think functionally” about our clients’ behavior (and our own behavior). They help us identify and understand the sometimes invisible forces that are shaping current behavior as well as outcomes that might not be readily apparent but that have a big impact. And yes, you guessed it, many of those forces are embedded in processes of language and cognition that are difficult to influence.

When we can help our clients see how their behavior (including language and cognition) actually works - for better or for worse - then they can make choices based on desired outcomes, couched in a framework of valued living.

This workshop will center around the use of experiential exercises to help participants identify and work with different relational frames, think functionally, and enhance their sensitivity to context, function and flexible responding. It is appropriate for practitioners who have a basic understanding of ACT or similar cognitive behavioral approaches (e.g., DBT, CBT).

Following this workshop participants will be able to:

1. Explain what is meant by the term “context”

2. Explain what is meant by the term “function”

3. Describe the pragmatic truth criterion in functional contextualism

4. Explain how to use a modified ABC model in order to create a functional assessment

5. Explain the difference between symbolic and observable function in functional assessment

6. Describe the pragmatic truth criterion in contextual behavioral science

7. Describe mutual entailment

8. Describe combinatorial mutual entailment

9. Describe transformation of stimulus function

10. Identify and describe at least 3 relational frames

11. Describe at least one way in which metaphor can undermine the dominance of language

12. Identify and describe at least one type of rule governed behavior

13. Explain what is meant by “context sensitivity”

This workshop is intended for practicing clinicians and coaches interested in broadening their skill set in the area of functional assessment and clinically applied relational frame theory. The workshop is limited to 100 participants (there will be no wait list).

This workshop is appropriate for practitioners who have a basic understanding of ACT or similar cognitive behavioral approaches (e.g., DBT, CBT).

The workshop will be conducted via Zoom and will span four, three-hour sessions occurring the Fridays of 1/19/24, 2/16/24, 3/15/24, and 4/19/24 from 9am to 12:15pm Eastern Standard Time with one 15 minute break per workshop. The workshop fee includes all four sessions. Participants will receive a Zoom link to the workshop after registration. This workshop will be recorded and made available to all participants after each session (any breakout practices will not be part of the recording).

A $15 USD fee will be required to earn 12 CEs for psychologists* This fee is non-refundable (unless you cancel your registration in its entirety before the cancellation deadline). Participants must attend all sessions live to be eligible for CE credits. Attendance verification and evaluations will be required. CEs are awarded contingent on timely post-event paperwork submission by event organizers. *The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

For non-psychologists: As an alternative to a CE certificate, some credentialing agencies (please check with yours) may accept a certificate with the number of hours attended. Attendance Certificates can be provided for the $15 fee.

Any questions can be directed to the event coordinator Mindy Slovinsky at mindyslovinsky@gmail.com

$195 USD for non-SMACT members $165 USD for SMACT members Participants have the option to join SMACT for $30 and pay $165 fee (most ideal if local to Southern Maine) Registration will close Friday January 12, 2024 Cancellation deadline for full refund is (no refunds or partial refunds will be given after that date): Friday January 12, 2024

Relevant financial relationships and conflict of interest: No commercial support was obtained for this CE program or for the instruction content that could be construed as a conflict of interest.

No commercial support is being sought for an endorsement of any product (e.g., books, drugs, etc.). Dr. Miranda Morris will receive honoraria for this presentation.