Pre-workshop Reading

Some of the pre-workshop reading below is compulsory for everyone; all attendees need to read it prior to attending the workshop. The rest of the pre-workshop reading is ONLY compulsory for APS members who wish to claim specialist PD hours; for everyone else, these additional readings are highly recommended, but voluntary. Also, at the very bottom of this page, after all the recommended reading, you'll find three useful downloadable documents, including the 'ACT Pack', which is choc-a-bloc full of powerful resources.

Aside from the readings below, you may like to take a look at some of the articles & papers on the Articles & Papers page.


INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP
These 2-day workshops are worth 12 specialised CPD hours.

Compulsory reading for EVERYONE: To get the full benefit out of the introductory workshop, you will need to read this non-technical introduction to ACT, 'Embracing Your Demons', originally published in Psychotherapy in Australia magazine. Although it is pitched at therapists, all coaches should be able to see how it is relevant to coaching, too click here to download the article.

We also strongly recommend that you download and read the chapters mentioned below.

Compulsory reading for APS members seeking specialist CPD hours: In addition to the above article, please read these first two chapters of the introductory textbook 'ACT Made Simple': click here to download them

ADVANCED WORKSHOP
These 2-day workshops are worth 12 specialised CPD hours.

Compulsory reading for EVERYONE: There is no compulsory reading for everyone, but we strongly urge you to finish reading The Happiness Trap, and re-read your handouts from the introductory workshop. We also recommend this article by Kelly Wilson on the use of values interventions in ACT

Compulsory reading for APS members seeking specialist CPD hours: please read these two papers on

a) ACT with Psychosis and b) ACT With Paediatric Chronic Pain Syndrome

Part 1 Training in ACT for ADOLESCENTS & YOUTH
These 1-day workshops are worth 6 specialised CPD hours.

Compulsory reading for APS members seeking specialist CPD hours: please read this review of the evidence for ACT and also please read this chapter by Louise Hayes, from The Oxford Handbook of Happiness

Part 2 Training in ACT for ADOLESCENTS & YOUTH
These 1-day workshops are worth 6 specialised CPD hours.

Compulsory reading for APS members seeking specialist CPD hours: please read this ACT Research Update and Adolescent Depression Review

Turbo-Charge Your Workplace Coaching with ACT
These 1-day workshops are worth 6 specialised CPD hours.

Compulsory reading for EVERYONE:
Please read these two short posts from the Working with ACT blog. They show how ACT relates to the workplace:
http://workingwithact.com/psychological-flexibility-at-work/
http://workingwithact.com/psychological-flexibility-at-work/the-role-of-psychological-flexibility-in-building-performance-and-wellbeing/

Compulsory reading IF YOU ARE NEW TO ACT:

In this session we will be using the ACT tool called the Matrix. We won't be covering the basics of ACT (You need to attend the 2 day Introductory Workshop to learn that). To help you to understand the context of the approach please read at a minimum this article by Russ Harris
http://www.actmindfully.com.au/upimages/Dr_Russ_Harris_-_A_Non-technical_Overview_of_ACT.pdf

It is written with a focus on psychological health but the underlying theories are still useful for coaches and will help you to understand the basic stance of ACT.

We also strongly urge you to read an introductory ACT book such as The Happiness Trap or ACT Made Simple.

You can download the first two chapter of ACT Made Simple Here:
http://www.actmindfully.com.au/upimages/ACT_Made_Simple_Introduction_and_first_two_chapters.pdf

Compulsory reading for APS members seeking specialist CPD hours: please read this paper by Todd Kashdan and Jonathan Rottenberg
http://psychfaculty.gmu.edu/kashdan/publications/Kashdan%20&%20Rottenberg%20(2010)%20Psychological%20flexibility%20CPR.pdf

THREE USEFUL DOCUMENTS

The ACT Packet. This is a generic ACT workshop handout, written by Steven Hayes, and used by many ACT trainers. It contains many useful items, including summaries of key techniques and metaphors.

ACT Case Formulation by Jay Luoma. This shows you how to formulate cases from an ACT perspective. In my opinion, it is much more user-friendly than the case formulation sheet in the "ACT Packet', above.

Working With The ACT Case Formulation Sheet by Jay Luoma. This shows you how to make the most out of Jay's ACT case formulation sheet.

Please note: all therapists, coaches, and other health professionals are welcome to join the worldwide ACT emailing list. This email 'chat group' enables an online ACT community where professionals from all over the world can get advice, discuss concepts, contribute ideas, provide peer supervision, give input into challenging cases, keep informed about ACT events worldwide, etc. To join, you need to first join the ACBS - Association for Contextual Behavioural Psychology. ACBS is the 'mothership' of ACT and RFT. Membership is via values-based dues - i.e you pay whatever you think its worth. (The minimum fee is $10.00) Membership entitles you to a vast array of free resources. For more info, or to join, go to: www.contextualpsychology.org