Language as Foundation - Pre-conference Workshop

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is being delivered effectively by various disciplines in diverse professional settings, for addressing a broad range of populations across multiple geographic locations (see ACT Evidence Overview).  By deepening the understanding of how language and cognition are foundational for effective interventions, Relational Frame Theory (RFT) provides a framework from which ACT interventions can be both flexible and comprehensive. Considering language as the intervention, the current workshop outlines how clinicians can increase accessibility and meet the ever growing complexities of child and adolescent mental health settings.

Clinicians increasingly support children and adolescents with differing intellectual skill sets, varying neurotypes and from early intervention settings all the way through developmental trajectories to young adulthood.  While clinical presentations, individual life histories and language capabilities can vary a lot, the increase in child & adolescent mental health difficulties is only going in one direction.  Therapists need sensitive and responsive tool kits to…