Empowering Meaningful Living with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for those Experiencing Trauma-Related Responding

Overview

Trauma survivors often work to avoid these experiences as well as trauma-related situations and cues. Narratives about the self as “damaged,” “broken,” or that their presence can taint others are common in survivors of trauma, and these stories can narrowly define who individuals are and, thus how they can act in the world.

It’s a common misconception that “healing” from trauma means being able to remove oneself from the trauma and “leave it behind.” This workshop will teach from the ACT approach, which does nearly the opposite—explores how to make room for difficult memories, feelings, urges, and thoughts as part of living a value-guided and deeply meaningful life.

Dr. Plumb Vilardaga will clarify the ACT approach and explain, model, and demonstrate how to apply ACT with trauma survivors. Participants will learn from a mix of didactic and experiential exercises asking attendees to tap into their thoughts, feelings, memories, and reactions as fellow humans to encourage and deepen emotional experiencing and cognitive flexibility, particularly as it applies to individuals with a history of exposure to trauma and adversity.

CEs: 4

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Explain the problem of experiential avoidance as it relates to trauma-responding
• Explain at least one application of acceptance and mindfulness in the ACT model as it relates to trauma-responding
• Identify cognitive fusion and instances of the conceptualized self, and at least 2 strategies to increase cognitive flexibility
• Identify at least two strategies for incorporating values work into clinical care with trauma survivors.

Meet the Speaker

Jennifer Plumb Vilardaga, PhD

Jennifer Plumb Vilardaga, is a clinical psychologist in private practice and a peer-reviewed ACT Trainer within the international community of ACT Trainers in the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. She received her doctorate under the mentorship of Steven C. Hayes, co-founder of ACT. She has worked as faculty at Duke University and as a clinician-educator in the Seattle Veterans Affairs Healthcare system, where she supervised providers learning ACT in VA programs across the country. She has published widely on ACT and co-authored a book on the use of personal values work in ACT. She has clinical expertise in chronic pain, substance use disorders, PTSD and trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, coping with illness and end of life, and adjusting to disability. She enjoys working with adults across the lifespan, veterans and servicemembers, and individuals in the LGBTQ+ community.

Tuition

• $105 – Regular
• $90 – Alumni
• $63 – Veterans

AUSSW students are free with promo code (contact: egerrato@adelphi.ed)

AU Faculty and Staff: Please contact Erin Gerrato for special reduced internal pricing.

Credentialing Information

​To receive approved continuing education credits, participants must attend the entire training or workshop and submit a completed evaluation form.

See full credentialing information and CEUs

Cancellation Policy

Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations made seven working days or fewer before the event for any reason—or for no-shows. We can provide credit towards a future workshop up to 24 hours before the event. After that, no credit will be issued.

Accessibility Statement