Oral submission deadline: February 15, 2025

IGNITE - Panel - Symposium - Paper - Workshop - Plenary/Invited

Results of oral submissions will be emailed out in the last week of March or the first week of April 2025.

Poster submission deadline: March 20, 2025

Poster

Results of poster submissions will be emailed out in April.

Chapter/SIG meeting deadline: May 1, 2025

Chapter/SIG Meeting

*Due to local technological capabilities, all presenters will need to be at the conference in New Orleans and present in-person. No virtual presentation option will be available. 

General Submission Tips and Information

Submission types: 

IGNITE

The Ignite presentation is a short, structured talk in which presenters present on ideas and issues they are most passionate about using a “deck” of 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds (no exceptions). Exactly 5 minutes total. Topics may be empirical, conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological. Presentation should be well-practiced and high energy (perhaps even... fun!). 

In addition to any topic within CBS, we are specifically soliciting research-related submissions as these are a unique opportunity for oral presentation of research.  We encourage researchers to consider this format for pilot data; what you would do differently if you could re-run your study; theoretical innovations (ideas that have not been yet tested but are either up and coming or something they want feedback on); program evaluations/ reflections on running CBS interventions with specific populations; conceptual innovations/ new models; "what if" presentations (what if research was conducted this way); methodology presentations on something very concrete (like sampling in CBS or recruitment best practices); qualitative research (focus groups, needs assessments) done with stakeholders receiving CBS services; and more!

Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum
For more on Ignite presentations, see:

http://igniteshow.com/

http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/06/how-to-give-a-great-ignite-talk/

Submit Here!

Panel Discussion

Panel discussions are 75-90 minute sessions and consist of 3 to 5 speakers selected for some shared interest or expertise in an area. Panelists respond to one or more questions or issues, with time allotted for interaction among the speakers and with the audience. A panel discussion is organized by a chairperson who serves as the session’s moderator. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Submit Here!

Symposia (chair, 3 - 5 papers and a discussant)

Organized by a chairperson who moderates the 75 or 90 minute session, symposia are a series of three to four 15-20 minute presentations focused on either empirical research or conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological issues. A discussant highlights and integrates the contributions of various speakers in the symposium and moderates questions from the audience. Chairpersons are encouraged to use symposia as an opportunity to integrate related work by: 1) bringing speakers of different affiliations together rather than showcasing the work of a single group and 2) incorporating different kinds of talks (e.g., historical, conceptual, and research-based) on the same topic into one symposium. Papers from submissions that are not accepted may be considered for a poster session. This year, we are prioritizing submissions that are research and data driven. In service of being more data aware, we encourage you to include research citations (data citations) with your proposal. The Program Committee will not split apart symposia that are submitted together. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Submit Here!

Paper (not part of a pre-arranged symposium)

Paper submissions are individual, oral presentations, usually concerned with conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological issues. A paper submission will usually report on data. All paper presentations will be 15-20 minutes long. Accepted submissions will be organized into paper sessions of 75 or 90 minutes. Submissions not accepted will be considered for a poster session. We are prioritizing submissions that are research and data driven. In service of being more data aware, we encourage you to include research citations (data citations) with your proposal. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Submit Here!

Workshop

Workshops are training sessions of 1.25/1.5 or 2.75 hours and usually focus on a combination of experiential and/or didactic exercises. Workshop submissions are highly competitive (note: based on past events, the acceptance rate for workshops is approximately 60-70%, and of workshops submitted only 20%-35% receive 2.75 hour slots). Please put your best workshop/abstract forward keeping this in mind when determining your desired length. Keep in mind as well that most workshops selected are for the 1.25/1.5 hour slots. Be sure to clearly state your goals and objectives for participant education in your submissions. Workshops should be regarded as opportunities to directly train specific skills rather than to present research findings, discuss conceptual, philosophical, or methodological issues, or share opinions. However, in service of being more data aware, we encourage you to include research and data citations supporting your topic with your proposal, and to briefly present these (1-2 slides) during your workshop. Submissions that are not clearly focused on training should be submitted for other formats. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Submit Here!

Poster

Posters usually report empirical research and will be organized into one or more sessions, during which attendees will be invited to review the research presented and discuss findings with poster presenters. Presenters must be at their poster during their assigned time of the poster session and may choose to provide handouts. (Poster size: no larger than 36 inches tall by 48 inches wide, or A0 size. Smaller is also permitted). Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Submit Here!

Plenary/ Invited Address (use only if instructed) 

Submit Here!

Chapter/SIG/Committee Meeting

This gives Chapters/SIGs (or forming chapters and sigs) the opportunity to reserve a space and time to get together to network with others who share the same area of interest or geographic setting. This form allows SIGs and Chapters to request a time in the program for this purpose. Deadline: May 1, 2025

Submit Here!

Tips for Submissions

• Questions about the submission website? Check out some FAQs here.
• Are you wondering how to increase the chance of acceptance for your submission? Click here for tips.
• Unsure about writing Educational Objectives? Click here to learn more about them. 
• Are you submitting a poster? Check out the poster guidelines here. 

ACBS Junior Investigator Poster Award: 

The purpose of this award is to recognize and help develop junior investigators conducting research in contextual behavioral science and who are presenting the results of this research at the Association's annual meeting.

ACBS Student Spotlight Program: (Accepted November 1-November 30)

The Student Spotlight Program highlights students who are doing important work in the CBS community whether for research, clinical, and/or volunteer-humanitarian efforts. It is a way to highlight their achievements, let the ACBS community know important work students are doing, and provides a platform for mentoring/collaboration/professional development/conversations around highlighted areas.

Developing Nations World Conference Scholars: (Application closes February 1)

ACBS is an international society but in many corners of the world it is difficult for professionals to attend ACBS conferences and trainings due simply to cost. The Developing Nations Fund helps disseminate CBS in the developing world and provides scholarships for attendees and presenters from developing nations to attend the world conference.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion World Conference Scholars: (Application closes February 1)

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is aiming to bring increased diversity to our annual conferences by providing funds for individuals who come from diverse backgrounds and who would not be able to attend an ACBS conference without this added financial support. Both trainees and professionals are eligible for this competitive award.

Early Career Research Paper Award: (Accepted papers will be emailed regarding eligibility)

The Award recognizes an outstanding empirical research abstract from an early career researcher, with the goal of stimulating that person’s long term participation in the ACBS conference as an outlet for presenting empirical science within the broad domain of CBS.

Michael J. Asher Student Dissertation Award: (Application closes February 1)

This award is given to students based on their doctoral dissertation proposal related to the use of Contextual Behavioral Science with children/adolescents. Michael J. Asher, Ph.D., ABPP passed away in 2016 and was a clinical psychologist at Behavior Therapy Associates, P.A. since 1988. He was passionate about his work, loved psychology, cognitive behavior therapy, and especially enjoyed learning about and practicing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

ACBS Foundation Student Scholarship: (Application closes February 15)

The goal of the ACBS Foundation is to support existing activities within ACBS and explore areas for future development. The ACBS Foundation Student Scholarship that will cover the full student registration fee for attending the annual ACBS World Conference.

Student World Conference Scholars: (Application closes February 15)

The mission of the ACBS Student Special Interest Group is to work to support students of contextual behavioral science by advocating for their professional and personal development and facilitating their contribution to ACBS and the larger community. One step in moving towards this mission has been to create a Student World Conference Scholarship that will help subsidize the costs of attending the annual ACBS World Conference.

2025 Plenary Speakers

Lisa Feldman Barrett, Ph.D. 

Lisa Feldman Barrett, Ph.D., is among the top 0.1% most cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University. She also holds appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior. Dr. Barrett has published over 275 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals in psychology and cognitive neuroscience, as well as six academic volumes published by Guilford Press. She writes regularly about science in the popular press, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Scientific American, BBC Science Focus, Popular Science, Nautilus, BigThink, Cosmopolitan,  Time magazine, MIT Technology Review, and more (see full list). Her popular TED talk has been viewed over 7 million times.

Dr. Barrett received a National Institutes of Health Director’s Pioneer Award for her revolutionary research on emotion in the brain. These highly competitive, multimillion dollar awards are given to scientists of exceptional creativity who are expected to transform biomedical and behavioral research. She also received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2019, the APS Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, and the APA Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award in Psychology in 2021.

Rick Hanson, Ph.D. 

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture – with over a million copies in English alone. He's the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the co-host of the Being Well podcast – which has been downloaded over 16 million times. His free newsletters have 260,000 subscribers, and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial needs. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.

Rhonda M. Merwin, Ph.D. 

Rhonda M. Merwin, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor for the Duke University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Merwin completed her doctorate at the University of Mississippi and an NIH-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship in Behavioral Medicine at Duke University Medical Center before joining the Duke faculty in 2008. Dr. Merwin has expertise in eating disorders, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and psychological concerns in the management of Type 1 diabetes. She is 1 of 111 peer-reviewed ACT trainers worldwide, a Fellow, and current President of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. 

Baljinder Kaur Sahdra, Ph.D. 

Associate Professor Baljinder Kaur Sahdra is a researcher at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, Australia. She also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. She has made substantial scientific contributions in the areas of well-being, mindfulness, compassion, nonattachment, intensive meditation, discrimination and social identity, compulsive internet use, educational psychology, and personalizing psychology (see more here: https://bit.ly/BaljinderSahdraPhD). Her research articles are highly cited (7,000+ Google Scholar citations; 950+ media mentions). She has been awarded with several prestigious awards and competitive research grants ($7+ million). She is passionate about the role of idionomic methods, which integrate individual-level and group-level insights to advance data-driven personalized psychological care. Most relevant for this plenary talk, her recent research focuses on idionomic analyses of psychological processes of change, such as, compassion, valued-action, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility.  

Michael Tomasello, Ph.D.

Michael Tomasello, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University, has applied a comparative and developmental approach toward seeking answers. His studies on the psychological processes of social cognition, social learning, cooperation, and communication shed light on human uniqueness as well as on the cognitive abilities of our closest ape relatives. Tomasello, who is emeritus director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2017. 

2025 Invited Speakers

Maysa Akbar, Ph.D., ABPP

Maysa Akbar, Ph.D., ABPP, is a respected scientist-practitioner and APA’s chief diversity officer (CDO) and chief of psychology in the public interest, charged with infusing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into the fabric of the association’s work. Before assuming the CDO post, Akbar was the founder and chief executive officer of a clinical practice based in New Haven, Connecticut, that specialized in race-based trauma. She also created a consulting firm and educational network focused on organizational cultural transformation. Her firm delivered cutting-edge programs anchored in EDI to city governments, public schools, and court systems, among other entities.

Akbar’s areas of specialty include racial identity development, racism, urban trauma, and allyship, topics on which she has written research articles, books, and book chapters. Akbar is an experienced instructor and master trainer in EDI for both the medical and the broader community. Akbar held a faculty appointment from 2004–21 at the Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center as an assistant clinical professor with multiple roles, including conducting research, teaching, and serving as an administrator and supervisor. Akbar also completed her pre- and postdoctoral training at the Yale Child Study Center with a specialty track in early childhood development. She is certified in child and adolescent psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology.

Robert Johansson, Ph.D.

Robert Johansson is an interdisciplinary researcher with dual PhDs: one in clinical psychology (2013) and another in computer science (2024), specializing in the development of adaptive AI systems informed by learning psychology. His pioneering work in Machine Psychology integrates principles from learning psychology with the Non-Axiomatic Reasoning System (NARS) to create AI systems capable of human-like relational reasoning.

Currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden, Robert has extensive experience in emotion-focused therapies and in developing innovative psychological treatments, particularly through guided self-help delivered via the Internet. His interdisciplinary expertise allows him to bridge the gap between psychological science and artificial intelligence, contributing to the development of ethically adaptive AI systems that align with human values.

Jennifer Shepard Payne, Ph.D., LCSW

Jennifer Shepard Payne, is a Research Scientist and Clinician at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress (CCFTS) and the Center for the Neuroscience of Social Injustice. She is also an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins    University School of Medicine, with a primary appointment in the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

She received her doctorate in Social Welfare from UCLA and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with many years of experience in mental health clinical practice. For several years, Dr. Payne has been working on culturally tailoring Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for African American communities experiencing racial and systemic trauma. She developed a culturally-tailored ACT intervention called POOF™ and trains and consults on the model: www.POOF-PullingOutOfFire.com. Her book, Out Of The Fire, is a love note for Blacks and others suffering from the paralyzing effects of systemic racism. 
 

2025 Program Committee Chairs

Amie Zarling, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor at Iowa State University (United States) in the Human Development and Family Studies program where she maintains an active research program focused on developing and testing evidence-based interventions for under-served and/or under-resourced populations. One of the primary areas of her work is the prevention and treatment of family violence, and evaluating programs based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for domestic violence and criminal behavior. Dr. Zarling has received over $2 million in funding for her work, including multiple grants from the Office on Violence Against Women and the Department of Justice. She is a recent recipient of the American Psychological Foundation’s Visionary Award and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science’s Early Career Award. Dr. Zarling has trained more than 500 people in the ACT programs for justice-involved individuals. She continues to be involved in ongoing training, evaluation, and improvement of these programs.

Maureen Flynn, Ph.D., is a professor in the psychological sciences department at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She mentors undergraduates in CBS research and teaches CBS and ACT in her courses. Her program of research focuses on ACT, psychological flexibility and core processes, stigma, and discrimination.

Interested in joining the Program Committee as a volunteer reviewer for the 2025 conference submissions? If so, please click here to complete the reviewer preference webform.  

Sponsorship Opportunities

Are you interested in promotion to those that are attending the 2025 ACBS World Conference this year? ACBS would love to partner with you in a meaningful way. Our sponsorship options are designed to maximize your budget and achieve your marketing goals. See attached options. 

Audience
The ACBS World Conference is made up of psychologists, social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, physicians, counselors, health researchers, language researchers, behavior analysts, teachers, organizational psychologists, students, and more.

Benefits
Access to the largest audience of CBS practitioners and researchers. Your company name will be in front of this specialty audience of professionals and students. Build and expand your brand awareness with our audience through e-communications and in-person.
 

Please reach out to Melissa Wesolek, staff@contextualscience.org with interest. 

Type of Credit Available:

CE Credit for Psychologists

The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

ACBS will be applying to offer CEs for BCBAs, social workers, and counselors. 

Certificate with Number of Hours Attended

As an alternative to a CE certificate, some credentialing agencies (please check with yours) may accept a certificate with the number of hours attended. This requires that an individual verifies their attendance by signing in and out of each session that they attend during the event. The cost for this type of certificate is $25 USD.

Information about the CE Process

• CEs or certificates with the number of hours attended are available for a one-time fee for the entire event.
• CE rules require that we only issue credits to those who attend the entire session. Those arriving more than 15 minutes late or leaving before the entire session is completed will not receive CE credits.
• Evaluations will be available, but are not required to earn CE credits.
• Please remember to scan in and out at the beginning and end of each session using our scanner system. If there is a problem and the scanners are not working, please make sure to sign in and out on the yellow attendance sheet provided. We cannot give CE credit if you do not scan/sign in and out.
• Please DO NOT SCAN in and out for coffee/tea breaks. CE credits are NOT available for IGNITE sessions, Chapter/SIG/Committee meetings, or other lunch time sessions.

Fees:

A $75 USD fee will be required to earn CEs (of any type). This fee is non-refundable (unless you cancel your registration in its entirety before the cancellation deadline). Attendance verification (sign in/out) and evaluations also may be required.

The cost for a certificate indicating only the number of contact hours (not a CE certificate) is $25 USD.

Refunds & Grievance Policies: Participants may direct any questions or complaints to ACBS Executive Director Emily Rodrigues, acbs@contextualscience.org, or through the Contact Us link on this website.

• CEs are only available for events that qualify as workshops, symposia, invited lecture, panel discussion, or plenary sessions. Poster sessions, IGNITE sessions, sessions shorter than 1 hour, Chapter/SIG/Committee meetings, and some other specialty sessions do NOT qualify for Continuing Education credit.
• Note: CE credits are only available for those registered as a professional. You may not earn CE credits with a student registration.

General Information about the ACBS World Conference

This page is currently under construction.

Welcome!

We have compiled this guide to assist first-time conference attendee’s in making their time at the ACBS World Conference as productive and stress-free as possible. There’s no “right” way to attend the conference nor is there a set number of sessions or events to attend. You should attend the conference with the plan to make connections, learn, and have fun.

Planning for the Conference

Getting there: Check here for airport transfer information to get you to the venue or accommodations.

General Conference Schedule: Please find the schedule of events which will help you plan your days here - Gen schedule

What Should I Bring?

Snacks and a water bottle: ACBS provides lunch each day along with Coffee/Tea breaks in the morning and afternoon. If you’d like to supplement that, shop at the grocery store and stock up on fruit, granola bars, or energy bars – items that are portable and filling to sustain you through the day. Your brain will thank you!

Comfortable Shoes & Clothes: This is not the time to wear new shoes, even if you look amazing in them. Bring your favorite comfortable shoes. ACBS conferences are a bit more informal that other similar conferences when it comes to dress. Most people wear slacks/shorts/jeans and a button-down shirt, blouse, or something similar. Be comfortable. (Oh, and a sweater is a good idea in case a room is chilly with air-conditioning.)

Choosing Conference Sessions (2025 Preliminary Program)

Sometimes selecting which of the approx. 120+ education sessions to attend requires some time. There is a lot of cool research, some really useful practical training, thought provoking invited speakers, and a wide variety of topics. Expand your horizons and have fun. Read through the sessions available. Keep a list of these available sessions, but don’t stress about definitively picking one over another. You will end up chatting with other attendees about pending sessions and they may lean toward one or the other or even suggest one you had not considered. Another strategy is to find (or recruit) a buddy to attend a different session in the same time slot and then meet up afterward to share information.

You will notice there are several different types of sessions available throughout the conference. We’ve included a brief explanation of each type to assist with choosing your sessions:

• Workshops are training sessions of 1.5 or 3 hours and usually focus on a combination of experiential exercises, case conceptualization, role plays, and/or didactic teaching. The workshops July 16-19 are open to all, no advanced registration is required for individual sessions.
• The Ignite presentation is a short, structured talk in which presenters present on ideas and issues they are most passionate about using a “deck” of 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds for a total of 5 minutes each.
• Symposia are a series of three to five 15-20 minute presentations focused on either empirical research or conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological issues. A discussant highlights and integrates the contributions of various speakers in the symposium and moderates questions from the audience.
• Invited Lectures are in depth, invited talks by researchers/trainers doing something especially awesome.  These presenters have been specifically invited to provide new insights or depth to the conference.  We encourage you to attend!
• Panel discussions consist of 3 to 5 speakers selected for some shared interest or expertise in an area. Panelists respond to one or more questions or issues, with time allotted for interaction among the speakers and with the audience.

Networking at the Conference

The First Timer’s Event/Rookie’s Retreat: Attending this event can help you get oriented to the conference, meet some attendees, and start your networking! TBD will facilitate The First Timer’s Event/Rookie’s Retreat again this year. The event will be held on Wednesday, July 16 - time and location to be determined.

Chapter/SIG (Special Interest Group) Meetings: You are welcome and encouraged to attend any Chapter and SIG meetings that are occurring during the conference which interest you. You do not need to be a member of these groups to attend and this is a great way to meet people who live locally to you or who have similar interests. 

Evening and Social Events: ACBS conference social events (networking receptions, mixers, follies, dance party, etc.) generally have high attendance. These events are a good opportunity to chat with others in a relaxed environment and have fun. You will find the schedule for evening and social events here: 

Quick Tips

• Clothing: New Orleans area temperatures in July are hot and humid. Daily highs are predicted to be between 87-95 degrees Fahrenheit (30-35 degrees Celsius). Dress comfortably. In general, it does rain about one third of the month of July, so you will want to be prepared for some rainy days.
• All sessions from Thursday morning through Sunday noon, are included with your conference registration. Workshops given during these times are complimentary.
• You will be meeting other therapists/researchers so be prepared to help them remember you by sharing your business card. If you don't have a business card, don't worry! ACBS is an informal conference and you can always snap a picture of someone's name tag and message them later through our membership directory.