Working with Processes of Avoidance and Self in Substance Use Treatment

11138 State Bridge Road,Alpharetta GA 30022

05 November, 2022

Description

In Person Seminar! Title: Working with Processes of Avoidance and Self in Substance Use Treatment: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Based Approach to Addiction Course Description: COVID-19 continues to increase vulnerability to known risk factors for substance use and mental health struggles. An in-depth, nuanced, refined approach to helping individuals suffering with substance use and co-occurring conditions is critical to our therapeutic efforts in these times. Clinicians can use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to meet the needs of our changed world and engage in a different way of addressing substance use issues with clients. ACT is a comprehensive, transdiagnostic treatment approach that expands beyond diagnostic criteria and addresses universal processes that are inherent within all human beings’ suffering. ACT is evidenced based and shown to be effective for a range of client populations across all levels of care. With a focus on mindfulness, intrinsic experience, and behavioral change, ACT is especially appealing for clinicians and therapeutic programs that value clinical depth combined with practical application. Participants in this training will engage in a focused review of processes related to self and the construct of experiential avoidance through case conceptualization, treatment planning, and development of clinical skills for clients struggling with substance use. This presentation is intended for participants in facility-based and private practice settings. Learning Objectives: Describe the defining features of the ACT processes with emphasis on processes related to self and identity, experiential avoidance, and psychological flexibility. Apply processes of self, experiential avoidance, and psychological flexibility to clinical conceptualization of clients struggling with substance use and differentiate approach from other approaches to addiction treatment. Demonstrate ACT based treatment planning and clinical technique for clients struggling with substance use and related issues and explain the change processes within the ACT approach that promote recovery and well-being. Apply ACT philosophy to professional development as clinicians and professionals in the behavioral health field. Presenter Bio: Jessie Alexander, LPCJessie is a licensed professional counselor and has worked in trauma-specific, gender-specific, and developmentally-specific therapeutic settings throughout her career providing in depth clinical services, program development, and clinical and operational management for all levels of care. Jessie served on the founding executive committees for both the Atlanta and Western North Carolina chapters of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. Jessie’s primary focus is in transdiagnostic treatment approaches, particularly related to the treatment of complex trauma and associated conditions. She has contributed to research and presented on a range of topics including the midlife stage of development and substance use trends, treatment integration for trauma and eating disorders, the phase-oriented approach to trauma treatment, psychophysiology and coping skills, multicultural bias in clinicians, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Jessie completed her undergraduate education with dual degrees in Psychology and Family, Child, and Consumer Sciences, and received her graduate education from Georgia State University in Professional Counseling. Continuing Education Credit: 3 CORE in-person (synchronous) or live webinar ((synchronous) contact hours of continuing education have been APPROVED by the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia (LPCA CE Approval #2022-10-01-216S) 3 Core hours of continuing education are pending approval by the Georgia Society for Clinical Social Work - Approval #. Refund Policy: Requests must be in writing. Refunds will be given on requests postmarked or faxed no later than 7 business days prior to the seminar. No refunds will be issued for "late arrivals" and "no shows". Address: October Road, Inc, Erin Evans, Administrative Assistant/Seminar Coordinator, 119 Tunnel Road Suite B, Asheville, NC. 28805-1800. Fax: (828) 350-1300. Requests may also be emailed to [email protected].