An Overview of How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Can Support Improved Outcomes for System-Involved Youth

Nicole Kelly

Training Description

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidenced based treatment modality that combines mindfulness and acceptance strategies along with commitment and behavioral strategies. Join us to learn more about how acceptance and commitment strategies can support system-involved youth and young adults towards improved outcomes. We will provide an overview of the model and strategies to apply it with system-involved youth and young adults.

Learning Objectives

· Participants will be able to explain how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can support improved outcomes for system-involved youth.

· Participants will be able to acquire at least two acceptance and commitment strategies which can be applied with system-involved youth who demonstrate avoidance.

· Participants will be able to identify at least one strategy to support youth making a commitment to make necessary changes.

Agenda

1:00-1:15pm  Welcome and Introductions

1:15-3:00pm  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Overview

· Defining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

· Populations Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is helpful for

· Benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

· Core processes: acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present

· Core processes 4-6: self as context, values, committed action

· What to expect in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

· Things to consider for system-involved youth

3:00-3:15pm  Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

3:15-4:45pm  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy application

· Acceptance and Commitment Therapy strategies overview

· Anchor breathing

· The struggle switch

· Defusion exercise

· Thank your mind and name the story

· Clarifying values

4:45-5:00pm  Closing

Meet Our Trainer

Nicole Kelly is a clinical psychologist who has worked with trauma survivors for 14 years. She currently consults with agencies on trauma-informed care, programming for commercially sexually exploited youth, vicarious trauma, and leadership development. Nicole has been training multidisciplinary audiences on trauma-related topics since 2015 and provides guest lectures at local universities on human trafficking.

This course meets the qualifications for (3.75) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.