ACT for a community mental health population
Hello members of ACBS,
I am writing to express my interest in ACT and contextual behavioral science, as well as my appreciation of the ACBS website. I am currently engaging an internship at Family Counseling Center, under the supervision of Dr. Daniel J. Moran. Fellow budding therapists here at FCC—Siquilla Liebetrau, Kevin Zalizniak, and Rodney Balnco—and I would like to develop an ACT based group therapy program in which our clients could participate and benefit.
Our student team is collaborating on how to best apply the six principles of ACT to an open experiential group comprised of adults in our community mental health population. We seek to develop a group and promote it in such a way that our clients would take an interest and join us. Communication with other students who have attempted the same objective at other mental health centers has conveyed that developing an ACT group in which clients participate is the challenge. While the structure and model of these groups likely met the ACT criteria, attendance was minimal.
We would greatly appreciate any ideas and suggestions on how such a group should be structured, and how it could be optimally presented—sharing that there is strong potential for clients to live a more vital and purposeful life.
Thank you,
Brent
Brent G. Ryder, M.S.
Doctoral Candidate
School of Professional Psychology
Pacific University
(503) 351-2235
ryde0694@pacificu.edu
ACT in Groups
Brent,
My colleagues and I do a lot of group work. It sounds like bragging, but we have over a 90% return rate for groups.
The "secret" is to start slow and build. Almost everyone entering a group, whether it be group therapy or a conference, is a little standoffish at first. So be careful to use words they can understand and concepts that they can relate to right off. Then as they get used to the ACT process and language, increase the complexity of words and intensity of the exercises.
Earlier today I posted my "Psychological Flexibility Warm Up." I use that warm up for everything I do. If you had been at our Idiot's Guide to ACT in Groups at the ACT World Conference you would have seen me doing that routine. That warm up routine was born out of literally hundreds and hundreds of ACT groups and presentations. Working on how to get the audience into the front end of the functional contextual process, and laying down a structure that is infinitely expandable.
Of course you don't have to use the warm up routine, however if you watch it you will get some ideas on how to gently start a group or presentation.
All seven elements of the Hexaflex are in the Matrix (including psychological flexibility). Defusion and Acceptance are part of "Moving Away" and Values and Committed Action are part of "Moving Toward." Self as Context and Present Moment are part of the 5-Senses and Mental Experiencing elements.
However, the only two terms we use from the Hexaflex are Psychological Flexibility and Values. The other terms take too much defining with audiences, and defining words takes us out of the process. It's all about getting into the process and staying there as much as you can.
Let me know if you have questions. The group manual from the Idiot's Guide Conference is under the PowerPoint presentations for the last World Con.
Let me know if you have any questions. I will be glad to help you with setting up your first group.
Kevin L. Polk, Ph.D.
[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyDE0cm_7gY]]
[[www.drkevinpolk.com]]
ACT for a community mental health population
Hello Kevin,
Thank you for your message. I am excited and heartened to read of your success applying ACT to groups and experiencing such a high return rate. I tried your recently posted "Psychological Flexibility Warm Up," and could easily recognize its value. I also personally benefited by participating in your warm up exercise. Although I try to live by ACT principles in my own life, I have found it challenging to integrate such processes on an ongoing basis. Engaging your process enhanced my Sunday.
It is also easy to recognize the value of your “Matrix,” especially when working with clients in either an individual or group format. Thank you also for your suggestions, such as to start slow and build. I look forward to developing and sharing a group that incorporates your effective processes and suggestions.
Take care,
Brent
Brent G. Ryder, M.S.
Doctoral Candidate
School of Professional Psychology
Pacific University
(503) 351-2235
ryde0694@pacificu.edu