What is the CBS Superlab?
With the release of the ACBS Task Force Report on the Strategies and Tactics of Contextual Behavioral Science Research, high-level discussion around how to roll out the proposed recommendations is necessary. The CBS Superlab is an international research lab meeting held once a quarter via Zoom. CBS SuperLab Meetings are typically held at 3pm EST. These hour-long quarterly meetings will involve:

• A research presentation delivered by a CBS lab that showcases ongoing advances, developments, and innovations in the field of CBS. Each presenter will be invited to share resources relating to their presentation (e.g., PowerPoint slides, handouts, software packages) that will be made available to all attendees.
• A group discussion among all attendees that focuses on both the presentation and means of addressing the Task Force’s recommendations.
• All CBS research labs are invited to participate. To be considered a CBS lab, your lab details must be included on the ACBS website. Research labs may submit to present here.

All ACBS members are invited to attend. To attend a Superlab, please register here. After registering, we encourage you to join the Superlab listserv to continue the conversation.

Superlab with David Gillanders & Anne Finucane, University of Edinburgh - was held October 22, 2024 and you will find the recording here.

Title: “My Grief, My Way – An intervention development study”

Abstract: In this CBS Superlab seminar, David Gillanders of the University of Edinburgh will outline the process and outcomes of an intervention development study that was designed to increase access to bereavement support, and to adapt psychological flexibility principles to working with stuck grief. The talk will describe stake holder engagement including people with lived experience of grief, organisations that provide bereavement support, clinicians who provide bereavement support, an interdisciplinary group of experts in the study of grief, experts in psychological flexibility as applied to end of life, and multi-media production creatives. The talk will also outline and show the logic model and the intervention that was created from the synthesis of these perspectives, bereavement support volunteer training, and the mixed method evaluation of My Grief My Way using qualitative and quantitative analyses.

This is an initiative from the Centering Science Strategic Pillar aimed at supporting early career CBS researchers in securing research-focused faculty positions in research universities/academic medical centers. 

Applicants must be a current ACBS member who is early career - defined as within five years post PhD graduation date (including individuals in current postdoctoral and faculty positions). Graduate students who have defended their dissertation and are currently on their predoctoral clinical internship are also eligible. If an applicant does not have a PhD or equivalent degree and is planning to apply for positions in a country that does not offer PhD level training, they may still apply, but should include information on their research training and their eligibility for a research-focused faculty position in that country. In some unique cases applicants may be considered that do not meet all of these eligibility criteria. If you are considering applying and do not meet all of the eligibility criteria, but have a strong case to make for why you would be a good fit for this program, please contact the committee chair, Aki Masuda at amasuda4@hawaii.edu.

The 2025 Application period will open March 1, 2025. 

Apply here until May 1st 2025

Applicants will be notified of selections prior to the ACBS World Conference.

This is a competitive award and selections are made by our review panel including Drs. Aki Masuda, Ian Tyndall, and Ethan Moitra. This committee will subsequently work to match selected mentees to relevant mentors within the ACBS community. As part of the equity, diversity, and inclusivity goals of ACBS, this program also aims to help promote junior faculty from underrepresented backgrounds and, when applicable, connect them with established ACBS researchers that share professional and personal cultural lived experiences.

Mentorship will occur over a two year period and include regular (e.g., monthly) meetings with a senior CBS academic, providing mentorship on topics such as applying to positions, job talk prep, interview prep, strategies for writing successful grants, collaboration/team science within ACBS, and how to build a CV to be attractive to research-focused universities. Even if a job is secured before the two year timeframe is completed the process will continue and support can be provided for setting up a CBS lab and obtaining tenure.

Lists of awardees will be published on the ACBS website and shared on social media. During second year of the award, mentees will receive a waiver for ACBS conference registration so that they can present on professional development or related content in a panel or symposium (e.g., how to secure research postdoc and faculty positions). This discount may be used in the second year of mentorship or for the World Conference in the following year. Mentees will also be required to serve as a mentor at least once in the future when requested.

Selected Mentees and their Mentors:

2024 Mentees and Mentors

Jenna L Adamowicz, Ph.D. (USA): Postdoctoral Fellow in the VA Advanced Fellowship in Women’s Health at VA Connecticut Healthcare System: West Haven, CT and a Postdoctoral Affiliate at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT
*Mentored by Whitney Scott, Ph.D. (UK): Senior Lecturer in Clinical Health Psychology, King’s College London

Melody Huiyuan Li, PhD, MNurs, BMed, RN (Hong Kong): Postdoctoral Fellow, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
*Mentored by Amanda C. Rhodes, Psy.D (USA): Clinical Health Psychologist & Director, National Center for Health Psychology; Owner, The ACT Academy

Táhcita Medrado Mizael, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Brazil) - São Paulo State University (UNESP)

 *Mentored by Ian Stewart, Ph.D. (Ireland): Lecturer at University of Galway

2023 Mentees and Mentors

Inês A. Trindade, Ph.D. (Portugal): Associate Senior Lecturer– the University of Örebro, Örebro, Sweden.
*Mentored by Lance M. McCracken, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Uppsala University, Sweden

Samuel D. Spencer, Ph.D. (USA): Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, OCD and Related Disorders Program, Baylor College of Medicine, U.S.A.
*Mentored by Michael E. Levin, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Utah State University, U.S.A.

Claudia Iuliana Iacob, Ph.D. (Romania): University Lecturer, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest, Romania
*Mentored by Maria Karekla, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, Cyprus

2022 Mentees and Mentors

Orla Moran, Ph.D. (Ireland): Postdoctoral Researcher & Psychology Lecturer– NetwellCASALA, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland & City Colleges Dublin, Ireland.
*Mentored by David Gillanders, DClinPsy., Head of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Rebecca L. Schneider, Ph.D. (USA): Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, U.S.A.
*Mentored by Michael P. Twohig, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Utah State University, U.S.A.

Essi Sairanen, Ph.D. (Finland): Clinical Lecturer/ Associate Professor in Psychology, Karlstad University & County Council of Värmland, Sweden
*Mentored by Louise McHugh, Ph.D. Professor, School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Ireland

2021 Mentees and Mentors

Dr. Connie Yuen-yu CHONG (Hong Kong): The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
*Mentored by Jonathan B. Bricker, Ph.D. - Professor and Director, Health and Behavioral Innovations in Technology Lab (HABIT), Cancer Prevention Program, Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Anne Roche (USA): Graduate of the Clinical Science doctoral program at University of Iowa, Starting her Postdoctoral fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN
*Mentored by Rhonda M. Merwin, Ph.D., Duke University School of Medicine or Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Shane McLoughlin, Ph.D. (UK): The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham
*Mentored by Todd Kashdan, Ph.D., George Mason University, Professor of Psychology

Biography

Dr Connie Chong, an Assistant Professor at the Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, is a registered nurse with clinical expertise in medicine and paediatrics. Her research program centres on contextual behavioural science (CBS), with a particular focus on applying and evaluating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for family caregivers of children with special needs and chronic conditions. Dr Chong's contributions have earned her prestigious international roles, including being the first Asian Chair of the Awards Committee, the first Asian member of the Strategic Science Council of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science, and the first Asian Editorial Board member of the Journal of Contextual Behavioural Science. Her ongoing research explores the integration of machine learning and natural language processing in CBS-related psychotherapies, contributing to enhanced mental health support for caregivers globally.

ACTuwise - the First Official Website for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Training and Service in Hong Kong

This pioneering initiative (www.actuwise.org) is led by Dr Yuen Yu Chong, Connie, Assistant Professor at the Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. As the first of its kind in Hong Kong, ACTuwise stands at the forefront of promoting and advancing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the community. ACTuwise plays a pivotal role in various functions:

1. Enhancing the implementation of top-notch contextual behavioral science (CBS) evidence in practical applications locally and internationally.
2. Offering training and advisory services in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to enhance clinical efficacy and results.
3. Aiding institutions and policy creators in making well-informed choices within mental healthcare by relying on evidence-based approaches.
4. Spearheading collaborative efforts on a regional and global scale to extend the influence and impact of CBS evidence on healthcare and social practices across diverse fields and contexts.

Dr. Chong and her research team have been dedicated to close collaboration with different hospitals and non-governmental organizations in recent years, actively promoting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to various groups in Hong Kong. Her research laboratory is currently accepting applications from MPhil and PhD students who possess a keen interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) within the realm of caregiving. Prospective candidates are invited to apply and contribute to the ongoing research endeavors of the lab. Please send your applications to conniechong@cuhk.edu.hk

(This webpage was updated on December 7, 2023)

Clinical research: translational application of CBS process into rehabilitation medicine. Understanding the different profiles of behavioral plasticity and adapting and implementing the therapeutic processes into the different rehabilitation disciplines (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social worker, nurses, medical doctors, etc). Triage taxonomy and stepwise pathway of rehabilitation with modularized therapeutic processes: the ACtiveRehab model.

Courses and supervision (both clinical and research) at master level.

Contact Graciela Rovner at graciela@actinstitutet.se
https://actinstitutet.se/

(This webpage was updated September 24, 2024)

Professor Joseph Ciarrochi has published many books, including the bestselling Get out of your mind and into your life teens and the widely acclaimed Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive Psychology: the Seven Foundations of Well-Being. His research interests include identifying character strengths that promote social, emotional, physical well-being and performance, and contextual behavioural science.

http://josephciarrochi.com/

https://rpubs.com/Ozziejoe/vita

(This webpage was last update on September 24, 2024)

The fundamental mission of the Mindful Behavior Therapy and Psychophysiology (MAPLab) is to develop knowledge and methods that can be used to alleviate human suffering and enhance well-being from a non-WEIRD (Western Educated Industrial Rich Democratic cuntry) global perspective. We strive to advance this overarching goal by: (a) engaging in cross-cultural research designed to better understand the nature of biobehavioral disorders; (b) engaging in applied research focused on the development and evaluation of innovative clinical procedures; (c) sharing our learning through teaching, supervision, and scholarly writing; and (d) providing direct clinical services to persons in medical settings and outpatient mental health settings using a scientist-practitioner model of service delivery.

The MAPLab is a component of the Behavioral Medicine Concentration area in the APA-Approved Clinical Psychology Training Program at Bowling Green State University.  William H. O'Brien, Ph.D., ABPP is the director of the lab and typically 6-10 USA doctoral students are engaged in MAPLab research along with graduate students from China, Thailand, and other parts of the world. Undergraduates from the USA, China, Thailand, and Europe, are also engaged in research. The MAPLab is intimately connected to researchers who study 3rd wave therapies from Eastern perspectives at the East-West Psychological Science and Research Center at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand; Chaing Mai University in Thailand; and Duke Kunshan University in China.

Current MAPLab projects include:

1. Developing and testing enhanced ACT interventions that are more completely connected to their historical, philosophical, and technical roots in Eastern Philosophy/Buddhism.  Self- and other-compassion, loving-kindness, happiness, nonself attachment, impermanence, forgiveness, and equanimity are some of the key elements that appear to have been lost when 3rd wave WEIRD researchers acquired, secularizd, and disseminated interventions. 

2. Developing sources of references so that 3rd wave researchers and students can more properly reference the origin of concepts such as acceptance, defusion, self-as-context, and present-moment focus.    

3. A RCT evaluating the effectiveness of EPACT (Eastern Philosophy ACT) for nursing aides who experience injury, assault, and abuse in the USA and Thailand.

4. Acceptance, compassion, nonself-attachment, forgiveness, equanmity and heart rate variability reactions to stress.

5. Acceptance and medical outcomes among Latinos with HIV/AIDS

6. ACT and FAP for nursing home residents.

7. Predicting psychological reactions to the pandemc and long-covid in the USA, Thailand, and China.

Please see our webpage for additional information and updates on research findings:

https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/psychology/graduate-program/clinical/health-psychology/map-lab.html

(This webpage was updated September 24, 2024)

Dr. Gaudiano's research focuses on developing and testing mindfulness-based treatments for patients with mood and psychotic disorders. Dr. Gaudiano's innovative research areas include acceptance/mindfulness-based therapies, incorporation of mobile technology, and focus on dissemination/implementation issues. This research aims to improve the standard of care for individuals with difficult-to-treat clinical conditions, including during treatment transition periods (e.g., from inpatient to outpatient care).

Learn more about Dr. Gaudiano's lab here - https://vivo.brown.edu/display/bgaudian

(This webpage was updated on September 30, 2024)

Institutions affiliated:
Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar, São Carlos, Brazil)
Paradigma - Center of Behavioral Sciences (São Paulo, Brazil).

Research leaders
Julio C. de Rose (UFSCar / Coordinator)
William F. Perez (Paradigma - Coordinator)
João Henrique de Almeida (UFSCar)
Roberta Kovac (Paradigma)

Contact: will.f.perez@gmail.com
Website: http://www.clicsgrupodepesquisa.org/ 

(This webpage was updated on October 25, 2024

Mindfulness & Sport Lab – Carol Glass (MF; MA, Ph.D; USA)

The Mindfulness & Sport lab has been investigating mindfulness interventions for athletes and coaches since 2005, starting with the development and intial evaluations of Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE).  Our most recent research has included five outcome studies of MSPE for college student-athletes on lacrosse, track & field, field hockey, and rugby teams, as well as a randomized controlled trial of MSPE for mixed-sport collegiate athletes.  

For more information visit the lab webpage:
https://sites.google.com/cua.edu/mindfulnessandsportlab

I am now Professor Emerita and no longer accepting new students or lab volunteers.  

The Ph.D. program in clinical psychology at The Catholic University of America includes supervision in CBT and mindfulness-based interventions as part of the second-year practicum, and ACT is included in the graduate Cognitive & Behavior Therapy course.  

(This webpage was updated on October 8, 2024)

We have developed a number of well received ACT treatment protocols for anxiety disorders and anorexia. Some of these books were written for professionals, whereas others were written for the genral public. Apart from their original English and German versions many have also been translated into other languages. 

For more information and a list of recent publications, please visit Georg Eifert's website: www.dreifert.com. Additional information is available from Georg Eifert's faculty home page.

(This webpage was updated on October 3, 2022)

Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - An interdisciplinary clinical research center which aims to develop, test and disseminate new behavioral and technological solutions to the problems of obesity, poor diet, sedentariness and disordered eating.

Contact Evan Forman or Adrienne Juarascio - https://drexel.edu/coas/academics/departments-centers/well-center/

(This webpage was updated on October 10, 2022)

ACTatDuke is a program of research, clinical services, and professional training led by Dr. Rhonda Merwin. Opportunities to participate in ACT-based research and clinical training are available to Duke students, psychiatry residents and clinical psychology interns at Duke medical center. Individuals from other universities (or post bach students) interested in clinical research experience in preparation for graduate school may also participate as paid research assistants or volunteers. ACT training includes: ACT didactic, ACT individual and group supervision, and the option for specialized training in ACT with eating disorders (includes an eating disorder seminar and case conference). Current ACTatDuke projects include more basic research on interoception among individuals with anorexia nervosa and psychophysiological antecedents to eating disorder symptomatology among individuals with type 1 diabetes (project funded by the National Institute of Diabetes, and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). Applied studies focus on ACT-based interventions for these populations.

For more information visit: www.ACTatDuke.org

or contact Rhonda Merwin.

(This webpage was updated on May 4, 2018)

The ABHA Lab (simply pronounced as "ABA") is directed by Roger Vilardaga Viera. The focus of the lab is to ideate, develop, and test digital behavioral health interventions to increase access to behavioral health among high priority populations. This includes individuals who experience persistent mental health symptoms, HIV, addiction, chronic pain, and racial and ethnic minorities at the intersection of those conditions.

The lab specializes in:

• Designing digital tools to foster behavioral health and psychological flexibility,
• Applying rigorous multi-method strategies to evaluate them, and
• Using a health equity framework to inform their real world implementation.

The lab has received funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the University of Washington Innovation Award, Pfizer, the National Cancer Institute, and Duke University.

For more information visit: https://school.wakehealth.edu/research/labs/access-to-behavorial-health-for-all-lab

(This webpage was updated on October 28, 2024)

Dr. Waltz's behavioral training formally begain at Western Michigan University (BS) and he subsequently went on to get PhDs in experimental psychology at Temple University under Phil Hineline and in clinical psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno under Bill Follette (https://neurotree.org/neurotree/tree.php?pid=115959). He completed his APA accredited internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a two-year post-doc at the Veterans Health Administration's Center for MEntal Health Outcomes Rrsearch and Mental Health Quality Enhancement Research Initiative. He has been a faculty member at Eastern Michigan University since fall of 2013.

His research interests are very broad (basic behavioral process research, treatment process research, implementation research). The best applicants for working in his lab have sound training in behavioral principles and their flexible application.

Eastern Michigan University has a large number of behavioral faculty members with provides trainees with many opportunities for cross-lab collaborations.

https://www.emich.edu/psychology/faculty/waltz.php

(This webpage was updated on July 21, 2019)

Dr. Loverich completed her PhD in clinical psychology with an emphasis in forensic psychology in 2002 at the University of Nevada, Reno. She worked as an assistant professor of clinical psychology at Central Michigan University from 2001-2006 when she moved to Eastern Michigan University. She is now a professor and the Director of Clinical Training for the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Eastern Michigan University. 

Dr. Loverich is deeply engaged in undergraduate and graduate education, research, and clinical supervision and practice.

Her research interests include emotion regulation, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance, overeating, and other excessive behaviors as emotion regulation strategies. She also focuses on modern behavior therapies that address emotion dysregulation, including acceptance and commitment therapy and the mindfulness-based therapies. A commitment to multiculturalism pervades all of these areas of study, and all are studied utilizing modern behavioral theories and methods.

She has published articles, chapters, and a workbook in the areas of behavioral assessment and treatment, sexual deviance, treatment for sexual self-control problems, and multicultural considerations in clinical practice. Her research emphasis has shifted from emotion and sexual self-control to emotion regulation, obesity, and acceptance and commitment therapy. She is no longer conducting research in human sexuality.

Dr. Loverich teaches Evidence-based Psychotherapy for Adults, Modern Behavior Therapies, Professional Issues, and Advanced Practicum courses. 

She mentors doctoral fellows, master’s students, and undergraduates, and leads the ACTWELL lab, which conducts research related to her interests. Additionally, she fulfills various responsibilities related to maintaining the clinical psychology program as Director of Clinical Training. 

Her email address is tpenix@emich.edu. More information can be found at her faculty page https://www.emich.edu/psychology/faculty/loverich.php.

(This webpage was updated on September 30, 2024)

3º wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) programs suggest that ACT and Compassion programs might be a powerful strategy to optimize performance and improve flow. The aim of this program was to examine the effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Soccer and COMP.AC Program (MBSoccerP) on elite athletes (adults and teens). We are interested in develop and test sport psychology 3º wave interventions and relate them with epigenetic variables in athletes, coaches and decision makers in sport context.

Please see the lab page for more information - https://psylab.fmh.ulisboa.pt/equipa

(This webpage was updated October 16, 2024)

Dr. Bricker takes ongoing letters of interest and CVs for potential post doctoral students to be a part of his Tobacco & Health Behavior Science Research Group. Selection is highly competitive.

Jonathan Bricker, PhD, is founder and leader of the Tobacco & Health Behavior Science Group. A licensed clinical psychologist, he is an Associate Member (equivalent to Associate Professor) in the Division of Public Health Sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is also an Associate Professor (Affiliate) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington. His expertise is in (1) developing and testing innovative interventions for health behavior change and in (2) understanding the long-term psychosocial predictors of health behaviour change. He has been applying this expertise to smoking cessation and plans to expand to other key health behaviors. He has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on a variety of NIH research projects. Among his current research grants, he has a five-year $3.2 million NIH grant for the new “Webquit” study of web-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for adult smoking cessation and he also has a $3.2 million NIH grant for the "PATH Study" comparing Acceptance & Commitment Therapy with traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He has published over 40 peer-reviewed research articles in major scientific journals. Currently, he serves as Senior Editor of the journal Addiction and Consulting Editor of Psychology of Addictive Behaviors - the highest impact substance abuse journals. Dr. Bricker received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Washington.

Email jbricker@fhcrc.org for more information.

(This webpage was update on October 29, 2024)

The work in this lab focuses on several ACT/RFT-related areas: 1. Testing the outcomes and mediators of change of ACT interventions in work organisations. 2. Examining the effects of psychological flexibility on health and productivity in the work place. 3. How to measure psychological flexibility. 4. The effects of psychological flexibility on learning and performance. 5. The effects of micro ACT interventions on analogue pain. 

Visit Frank Bond's website.

Text from Frank's website: "There are two overriding aims of my current research, which is in the area of Occupational Health Psychology. First, I am examining the organisational and psychological factors that determine work effectiveness (e.g., productivity, absenteeism) and employee health (e.g., mental/physical health). Second, I am developing and testing theory-driven interventions for improving these outcomes. These interventions are of two types. The first involves redesigning people's work, in order to create an organisation, or department, that allows people to use their knowledge, skills, and abilities most effectively and efficiently. This is accomplished by, for example, giving people more control over how they carry out tasks, changing communication patterns, or clarifying roles so that they are less ambiguous and conflicting. The second type of intervention attempts to train individuals to cope more effectively with the normal, everyday stressors that exist at work. In particular, my team is now developing and evaluating training programmes that are based on cognitive-behaviour therapies, including newer 'acceptance-based', or 'mindfulness', ones. We are currently implementing and testing all of our interventions in both public and private sector organisations."

(This webpage was updated on May 8, 2018)

The New England Center for OCD and Anxiety (NECOA) is committed to the integration of science and clinical practice. We aim to conduct and disseminate research on empirically-supported treatments for OCD and Anxiety that can have a direct impact on our clinic, the individuals we serve, and the broader field of psychology.  

Our clinical research lab is interested in the following broad areas of investigation:

1. Integration of ACT with Exposure and Response Prevention for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in children, adolescents, and adults

2. Mechanisms and processes in exposure-based treatment in diverse and minoritized populations

3. ACT for Parents

4. Effects of parental modeling of anxious behaviors on the development and maintenance of childhood anxiety and related disorders

5. The Role of Prosocial Behavior in Climate-Related Behaviors (with University of San Francisco in Quito, and Galapagos Islands, Ecuador)

Current Research Projects:

1. Examining OCD and Severe Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

2. Retrospective Analysis of Residential OCD and Anxiety Treatment in Youth

3. Verbal Behavior in Exposure Coaching: The Role of Mindfulness and Values

4. ACT for Parents: Open Trial with Parents Raising Anxious Children

5. Using ACT and Prosocial to Support Conservation and Climate-Protective Behavior 

6. Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing Measurement Based Care 

The Coalition of Behavioral Science Organizations Climate Change Task Force:

I participate in the CCTF, which is involved in research on how best to scale up behavioral change efforts to promote climate-protective behaviors. For more information, follow this link: https://www.abainternational.org/about-us/policies-and-positions/coalition.aspx 

Inquiries can be directed to Rebecca Browne, Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Coordinator: becky@newenglandocd.org 

(This webpage was updated on September 25, 2024)

I am physician, licensed staff clinical health psychologist (with a minor in Biostatistics) at Massachusetts General Hospital, and the recipient of the prestigious Kaplen and Livingston Fellowship Awards at Harvard Medical School. My research focuses on developing and testing scalable mind-body interventions for medical conditions, with a focus on transdiagnostic and process-based cognitive-affective vulnerabilities that underpin physical and mental health conditions (e.g., co-morbid emotional distress and substance use), and health disparity populations (e.g., underserved minorities). I have co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed articles and presented at several national and international scientific conferences.I am interested in providing second and third wave behavioral treatments (e.g., acceptance and commitment therapy, self-compassion therapy, process-based therapy) to address health disparities.

Clinical Expertise: ACT-based transdiagnostic and process-based therapies

Research Expertise: Disparities in medical and mental health comorbidity

Googlescholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=I7x1CB8AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Please reach out if you are interested in working in our lab or have any questions: jbakhshaie@mgh.harvard.edu

(This page was updated June 6, 2022)

This specialty clinic/lab serves the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology at Hofstra University. Doctoral stuudents interested in learning ACT do their practicum work here. It is common that students in the lab serve as therapists for dissertations of upper level graduate students. In the past, we have evaluated the efficacy of the acceptance-based approach for chronic pain, pain tolerance, anxiety, and driving anger. We have also been using acceptance-based approaches to help people with medical conditions, such a hypothyroidism, lead more fulfilling lives. Contact the ACT Clinic at 516-463-5605 or e-mail at joseph.r.scardapane@hofstra.edu

https://www.hofstra.edu/community/slzctr/slzctr_psych.html

(This webpage was updated on October 25, 2024)

Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Location: Beijing, China
Chief Psychologist: Zhuohong Zhu / Director: Jing Cao
Positions: 6 open positions for research assistants

Professor Zhuohong Zhu’s research  group at the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Science, focuses on the studies of “Psychological Flexibility”. In addition, the research group strives to promote the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy(ACT) along with Relational Frame Theory(RFT) to help children with Autism and their parents to better understand the syndrome and facilitate recovery training.

By the end of August, 2016, Professor Zhu’s research group has had 6 full-time master's students, 16 part-time master's students, and 2 Postdoctoral fellow. Right now, the group has 12 full-time master's students, and two Postdoctoral fellows. Sixteen academic articles about ACT have been published.
The Research Group is currently looking for six research assistants. They will be working on assisting research projects regarding how to apply ACT practically. For example, they will help assess the effectiveness of ACT on the psychological flexibility of elders, teachers, parents, cancer patients, and uremia patients; the influence of RFT on improving metaphorical competence for Autism and how RFT facilitates children’s linguistic capabilities and etc. Last but not least, the research assistants will be able to get involved with course development of ACT and RFT for people who are interested in becoming ACT therapists.

Welcome students who plan to apply for master’s degree to contact us.

Email：zhuzh@psych.ac.cn

(This webpage was updated on September 6, 2016)

CIPCO is a private center of psychoterapy aimed  to the dissemination, training and research on contextual behavioral science in Argentina. Our main goal is to give therapeutic assistance and training from a Contextual Behavioral point of view. From this center, we perform activities of private psychotherapeutic assistance, as well as research (in coordination with the Interpersonal Behavior Laboratory, University of Córdoba) and training. In CIPCO we work from a contextual approach to psychotherapy, based on a philosophy which prioritize the therapeutic alliance as the basis for an effective and efficient therapeutic work, adapting our interventions to the specific needs and demands of each client. 

We offer different training opportunities such as Interships, Supervision, Long term and Short term courses in Contextual Behavioral Psychoterapies and Peer consultation Groups. 

Focus of Program

ACT/FAP/RFT/DBT/MF/BA/IBCT/Applied RFT/Behavioral/FC

Level of Training/Degree offered (if any)

Non Degree

Doctoral (Doctor of Psychology )

Country in which the program/lab is located:

Argentina

CONTACT

Website: http://www.cipco.com.ar

E-mail: consultacipco@gmail.com

ACADEMIC STAFF

Dr. Fabián Olaz

Dr. Adrian Fantini

Lic. Guillermo Lionel Ponce Japaze 

Lic. Emilia Schultz

Lic. Yanina Alladio

Lic. Victor Hugo Fabriss

Lic. Manuela O Connell

Lic. Juan Pablo Coletti

Mgter. Victoria Martinez

CLINICAL STAFF

Dr. Fabián Olaz

Dr. Adrian Fantini

Lic. Gabriela Cabanillas

Lic. Guillermo Lionel Ponce Japaze

Lic. Cecilia Waeldesbull

Lic. Emilia Schultz

Lic. Yanina Alladio

Lic. Paula Viglietti

Lic. Anibal Jalil

Lic. José Nicolás Bernhardt

Lic. Lorena Petrón

Lic. Anesh Vasek

Mgter. Victoria Martinez

Lic. Araceli Tavera

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS (In colaboration with LACI)

1. Development of a RFT Based Graphic adventure to develop Perspective Taking and Empathy in children (2016-2017).
2. Relationship Improvement Study. researching the processes that contribute to the improvement of social connection (2016-2017).
3. Argentinian Adaptation of the AAQ – II
4. Evaluation of the effectiveness of a Mindfulness Based program for preventing burnout in psychotherapists
5. Constructing and explanatory model of social anxiety in college students
6. Development and Evaluation of a Telepsychology software for the treatment of Social Phobia and Fear of Public Speaking in university students.

PUBLICATIONS

Journals

1. Morán, V. E., Olaz, F. O., & Del Prette, Z. A. (2015). Social Skills Questionnaire for Argentinean College Students (SSQ-U) Development and Validation. The Spanish journal of psychology, 18, E95.
2. Morán, V.E. & Olaz, F.O. (2014). Análisis Bibliométrico sobre Instrumentos de Evaluación de las Habilidades Sociales en América Latina. Revista de Psicología, 23 (1), 93-105.
3. Olaz, F., Medrano, L.A. & Cabanillas, G.A. (2014). Effectiveness of Social Skills Training experiential method to strengthening social self efficacy of university students. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 14 (3), 377-396.
    

Book Chapters

1. Olaz (in press). Obstáculos comuns na ACT (Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso) e como enfrentá-los contextualmente. Em Practical Handbook off Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Porto Alegre: Sinopsys.
2. Olaz, F. O. (in press). O uso da Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso no Tratamento dos Transtornos Alimentares. Em Da Rosa Finger (ed.), A Prática da Terapia Cognitivo Comportamental (TCC) dos Trastornos Alimentares. Porto Alegre: Sinopsys
3. Olaz (in press). Desarrollo de un programa de entrenamiento en empatía para psicoterapeutas: Aportes del contextualismo funcional. Em Benevides Soares, De Sousa Pereira Guizzo, Fortes Wagner, Barbosa Romera Leme e Del Prette (2015), Habilidades Sociais: Diálogos e intercâmbios sobre pesquisa e prática. Porto Alegre: Sinopsys.
4. Olaz (2015). “FACT: Integrando ACT e FAP. Em Lucena dos Santos P., Pinto-Gouveia, J. e Da Silva Oliveira, M. (2015) Terapias Cognitivo-Comportamentais de Terceira Geração (pp. 343-375). Porto Alegre: Sinopsys
5. Olaz, F. O. & Schoendorff, B. (in press). Aplicações da Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso em Clientes Diagnosticados com Transtorno Limite da Personalidade. Em Dornelles, V. G. (In Press).Transtorno da Personalidade Borderline: Da etiologia ao Tratamento. Brasil: Sinopsys Editora
6. Schoendorff, B. & Olaz, F. O. in press). A Matrix como estratégia motivacional no tratamento de Clientes Diagnosticados com Transtorno Limite da Personalidade. Em Dornelles, V. G. (In Press)Transtorno da Personalidade Borderline: Da etiologia ao Tratamento. Brasil: Sinopsys Editora
7. Olaz, F. O. (in press). Um programa de Intervenção baseada no modelo Matrix de Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso para profissionais de saúde mental. Em Sheila Giardini Murta, S., Leandro França, C. & Brito dos Santos, K. Prevenção e Promoção em Saúde Mental: Fundamentos, Planejamento e Estratégias de Intervenção.
8. Pérez, R., y Fabián O. Olaz (2012) Los tests Psicológicos en la Psicología Contemporánea. En Couto, G., Drummond Pires y Sancineto da Silva Nunes, C. (Orgs), Os Contornos Da Psicología Contemporânea. São Paulo: Casa do Psicologo
9. Olaz, F. O., Cabanillas, G. A. y Medrano L. (2011) Programas vivenciais versus instrucionais de habilidades sociais: Impacto sobre a auto-eficácia social de universitários. En Almir Del Prette y Zilda A.P. Del Prette (Orgs.). Programas de habilidades sociais: Evidências (experimental e quase experimental) de efetividade. Río de Janeiro: Vozes. ISBN 978-85-8040-091-5
10. Olaz (2009). Contribuições da Teoria Social-cognitiva de Bandura para o Treinamento de Habilidades Sociais. En Del Prette, A. & Del Prette, Z. A., Psicologia das Habilidades Sociais: Diversidade Teórica e suas Implicações. Rio de Janeiro: Vozes. ISBN 978-85-326-3874-8.

Books

1. Polk, K. L., Schoendorff, B., Webster, M. & Olaz, F. O. (2015). he Essential Guide to the ACT Matrix: A Step-by-Step Approach to Using the ACT Matrix Model in Clinical Practice. EEUU: New Harbinger
2. Olaz, F. O. & Morán V. E. (2014) Habilidades Sociales en la Formación y Ejercicio de la psicoterapia. Teoría e Investigación en Argentina. Saarbrücen (Alemania): Editorial Académica Española.
    

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

Clinical Especialization in Contextual Behavioral Psychoterapies: Orientation in clinical behavioral therapy (with CEFI, Centro de estudos da Familia e o individuo, Brazil).

Contextual behavioral therapy related training, courses and workshops.

CLINICAL SERVICES

Adult Psychotherapy:

Individual, Couple and Family Therapy.

Specialized Treatment for BPD and PTSD.

Children and Adolescent Psychotherapy:

Individual and Family Therapy

Parent Training

(This webpage was updated on May 16, 2018)

Dr. Zarling’s lab focuses on prevention and treatment efforts for family violence, and evaluating ACT as a treatment for domestic violence and criminal behavior. Other areas of focus are applying and evaluating ACT for hard to reach or under-served populations. Dr. Zarling accepts PhD students through the department of Human Development and Family Studies. There are opportunities for collaboration and/or supervision in the Psychology department as well.

https://hdfs.hs.iastate.edu/directory/zarling-amie/

https://hs.iastate.edu/announcement/amie-zarling-receives-2020-isu-early-achievement-in-research-award/

(This webpage was updated April 2022)

This is a combined program in school and clinical psychology. Please read more about the program at Kean University in New Jersey here.

(This webpage was updated on October 28, 2024)

The KUBELab (Kore University BEhavioral Lab) was founded in 2014 by Giovambattista (Nanni) Presti following his arrival at Kore University. The lab fosters a vibrant and collaborative environment, bringing together students, researchers, and professionals to form a nurturing community for both people and ideas. Located in the heart of Sicily, at Kore University in Enna, the lab serves as a hub for cutting-edge research and innovation.

The lab team comprises undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students, supervised by post-doctoral researchers with deep expertise in contextual behavioral sciences, including behavior analysis and applied behavior analysis. Research topics include RFT-based applications in special education, cognitive processes using the IRAP, and the effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The scope of ACT applications extends from traditional clinical settings to workplaces, covering diverse areas such as chronic pain management, sports performance, and more recently, interventions with autistic individuals. In addition, lab members are actively involved in validating ACT-related scales and other clinical tools.

A key focus of the lab is the integration of technology in clinical and educational settings. In collaboration with the School of Computer Science at Kore University of Enna, Behavioral Labs in Catania, EtnaHiTech Consortium in Catania, the Hospital “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” IRCCS, and CERN, the lab conducts research at the intersection of behavioral science and technology. Recently, the lab has expanded its scope by partnering with private companies and universities to explore the use of emerging technologies and social robots in ABA early interventions for autistic individuals.

The lab is equipped with four soundproof cubicles with computers, as well as two rooms designed for work with children, adults, and groups.

Lab Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/korebehavioral?ftref=ts

(This webpage was updated on September 27, 2024)

LeeAnn Cardaciotto's research team is comprised of Psy.D., Master's and undergraduate students interested in studying mindfulness, acceptance, defusion, and compassion (for self and others).  They have several ongoing projects related to the measurement these constructs using self-report and non-self-report measures; the differential roles of the two key components of mindfulness, awareness and acceptance, in a variety of outcomes and contexts; and examining mindfulness and self-compassion in the areas of social anxiety and disordered eating.  Visit her academic website for updated information.

(This webpage was updated on October 1, 2024)

There's something special about Lafayette.  I first entered the Psychology Department at UL Lafayette as a student 17 years ago. In August 2010, I returned as an Assistant Professor of Psychology. From the moment I stepped back onto campus, I could feel it, although it's hard to articulate. I think it's something to do with people being there by choice. People don't just reside in Lafayette, they Live here, with intention and commitment. 

Since landing back here in August 2010, I've picked up a handful of master's students, two handfuls of undergrads, some curious colleagues, a couple of cool folks from the Lafayette community, and periodic visitors from just about anywhere. On paper, we call ourselves the Louisiana Contextual Science Research Group.  In practice, we are just "the lab."

Broadly, my lab is a community of folks inspired by the idea of a world in which folks get to embrace their ongoing experiences and actively create lives that they care about AND dedicated to building a science of that. We build that science using specific theoretical perspectives grounded in behaviorism with an emphasis on Relational Frame Theory and the psychological flexibility model in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. We apply these perspectives to any places where we see folks (even folks in the mirror) getting stuck and alienated from the things that matter to them. We do projects that we care about and I say "we" because a lab member's projects are the lab's projects. So far this has included us launching projects on behaviors as diverse as parenting, disordered eating, stigma, altrusim, body image, anxiety, bystander, and sexual behavior - approaching each through the lens of contextual behavioral science.

And we adopt CBS not only in how we approach our research, but also in how we approach our process.  We are a lively group with diverse interests, and we have no idea how to accomplish supporting each other in creating lives we care about right there in the lab. And we keep trying, building, tearing down, and reinventing.  My lab is still young - growing, and changing everyday and I honestly don't know exactly how it will look in a month or a year or ten years, but I am committed to making it a community in which its members have space to grow into the folks we want to be, a little at a time, everyday.

Some of you have been coming around and have heard me say stuff like this before, and have come to sort of like it. Others are probably wondering if I'm about to ask for  your first-born or offer you participation in the chicken ritual.  Let me say this - if this sounds like something you would work for, I'd love to be able to call my lab "ours."

Click the links below to access info about our current studies or to download my CV. Feel free to contact me or any of the labbies with any questions about the work we're doing or the format of our program.

Much love,

emily

Emily K. Sandoz, Ph.D.
Associate Editor, Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
Emma Louise LeBlanc Burguieres/BORSF Endowed Professor of Social Sciences
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
emilysandoz@louisiana.edu
337.482.1479
337.371.5440
https://psychology.louisiana.edu/about-us/faculty-staff

"Trudy, the play was soup... the audience - art."

(This webpage was updated on May 8, 2018)

The research lab for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, directed by Prof. Nina Romanczuk-Seiferth, is situated at the Medical School Berlin (MSB). The lab's objective is to examine the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in a range of naturalistic contexts and to gain insight into the mechanisms of change that lead to effective psychotherapy. The objective of our research is to develop and optimize evidence-based therapeutic approaches that not only enhance individual well-being but also contribute to the advancement of psychotherapeutic practice in various everyday clinical settings.

Our research lab is interested in the following research areas:

• Therapy outcomes following ACT-based interventions, including short- and long-term changes in quality of life
• Mechanisms and processes contributing to lasting improvement in mental well-being throughout the course of therapy such as changes in psychological flexibility
• Consideration of potential negative treatment effects
• Combination of mindfulness-based therapy approaches with innovative neuroscientific treatment options, like non-invasive neurostimulation
• Development of innovative care approaches to facilitate smoother transitions between different treatment settings such as pre-inpatient interventions
• Exploration of the potential of equine-assisted psychotherapy as a complementary therapeutic approach

Current research projects:

• Investigating the effectiveness of ACT in day clinics to enhance long-term quality of life for patients
• Analyzing process variables such as psychological flexibility and scope of action within the context of ACT-based therapy
• Augmenting mindfulness-based relapse prevention group therapy by neurostimulation techniques in subjects with alcohol use disorder
• Developing and implementing an ACT-based group intervention to prepare patients for inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment
• Examining equine-assisted psychotherapy as a novel therapeutic approach in patients with trauma-related mental disorders
• Promoting self-reflection in psychotherapy students by using conventional methods as well as equine-assisted interventions

Inquiries can be directed to Nina Romanczuk-Seiferth

• Email: nina.romanczuk-seiferth@medicalschool-berlin.de
• For publications see ‪‪Nina Romanczuk-Seiferth OR Nina Seiferth OR Nina Yvonne Seiferth‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬‬‬‬
• For further information see also https://www.medicalschool-berlin.de/team-3/team-fakultaet-naturwissenschaften/prof-dr-nina-romanczuk-seiferth/ (german)

(This page was last updated September 30, 2024)

Madrid Institute of Contextual Psychology (MICPSY) is a private institution integrating specialized training, research and psychological services in contextual therapies, relational frame theory and functional contextualism (ACT, FAP & RFT). It is located in Madrid (Spain) and is wide connected to several labs, institutions and universities throughtout the world.

MICPSY is directed by Carmen Luciano and founded by Bárbara Gil-Luciano, Adrián Barbero & Ángel Alonso. It is connected to the University of Almeria (Experimental and Applied Analysis of Behavior Research Group, directed by Dr. Carmen Luciano), Fundación Universitaria Konrad-Lorenz (Clinical Psychology Lab, directed by Dr. Fran Ruiz), and University of Los Angeles (Anxiety and Depression Research Center, directed by Dr. Michelle Craske), and other Spanish Universities such as University of National Education - U.N.E.D., University of Nebrija, University Complutense of Madrid, UNIR, and European University of Madrid, among others.

MADRID INSTITUTE OF CONTEXTUAL PSYCHOLOGY

• Carmen Luciano (Full Professor and Director of the Doctoral Programme in Functional Analysis in Clinical Contexts at the University of Almería, Spain; Director of MICPSY)
• Bárbara Gil-Luciano (Teaching and Research Academic Staff at University of Nebrija, University Alfonso X El Sabio & MICPSY; Clinical psychologist at MICPSY; Founder of MICPSY)
• Adrián Barbero (Teaching and Research Academic Staff at University of National Education - U.N.E.D.& MICPSY; Clinical psychologist at MICPSY; Founder of MICPSY
• Ángel Alonso (Teaching and Research Academic Staff at MICPSY; Clinical psychologist at MICPSY; Founder of MICPSY)
• Francisco Ruiz Jimenez (Associate Professor & Director of the Doctoral Programme in Psychology at Fundación Universitaria Konrad-Lorenz, Bogotá, Colombia)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL TEACHING STAFF

• Carmen Luciano - Full Professor, University of Almeria (Spain)
• Kelly Wilson - Associate Professor, University of Mississipi (EEUU)
• Niklas Törneke - Psychiatrist and psychotherapist (Sweden)
• Lisa Coyne - Harvard Medical School, (Boston, EEUU)
• Giovambattista Presti - Kore University, Enna (Italy)
• Bárbara Gil-Luciano - Teaching and Research Staff, University of Nebrija, University Alfonso X El Sabio & Madrid Institute of Contextual Psychology (Spain)
• Adrián Barbero Rubio - Teaching and Research Staff, University of National Education - U.N.E.D & Madrid Institute of Contextual Psychology (Spain)
• Ángel Alonso Sanz - Teaching and Research Staff, Madrid Institute of Contextual Psychology (Spain)
• Francisco Ruiz Jiménez - Associate Professor, Fundación Universitaria Konrad-Lorenz (Colombia)
• Marino Pérez Álvarez - Full Professor, University of Oviedo (Spain)
• Miguel Ángel Vallejo - Full Professor, University of National Education - U.N.E.D (Spain)
• Luis Jorge Ruiz Sánchez - Teaching and Research Staff, University Isabel I & Madrid Institute of Contextual Psychology (Spain)
• Francisco Javier Molina Cobos - Teaching and Research Staff, University of Almería (Spain)
• Marta Cortizas Vázquez - Teaching and Research Staff, Madrid Institute of Contextual Psychology (Spain)
• Beatriz Sebastián Sánchez - Teaching and Research Staff, Madrid Institute of Contextual Psychology (Spain)
• Verónica Mayado – Director of Instituto Comportamiento (Spain).
• Mónica Díaz – Psychologist at Hospital Puerta de Hierro (Spain).
• Jennifer Villate - Faculty of Psychiatry, University of Washington (EEUU)

* Please visit http://micpsy.com/formacion/ for updated info

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH STAFF
• Experimental and Applied Behavior Analysis Research Group (University of Almeria, Spain)
• Clinical Psychology Laboratory (Fundación Universitaria Konrad-Lorenz, Colombia)
• Anxiety and Depression Research Center ( University of Los Angeles, EEUU)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL TRAINING
• Master in Contextual Therapies (ACT, FAP & mindfulness techniques) - Spanish
• Master ACT for Children, Adolescents and Parents - Spanish
• Online Specialized Courses in Contextual Therapies - Spanish
• Clinical Supervision (online & Madrid) - Spanish
* Please visit http://micpsy.com/formacion/ for updated info

PUBLICATIONS (1983-now)
Please visit http://micpsy.com/publicaciones-terapias-contextuales/

CURRENT PUBLIC & PRIVATE RESEARCH PROJECTS
Please visit http://micpsy.com/investigacion-desarrollo/

PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
Clinical Psychology (adults, adolescents and children; individual, grupal), educational and work settings

(This webpage was updated on November 11, 2022)

I direct the Mindfulness and Acceptance Processes (MAP) Lab at Mississippi State University. The lab focuses on the evaluation and application of acceptance and mindfulness-based treatments, using self-help and tech-based approaches, with a particular focus on addressing hoarding, OCD, anxiety, and mental health stigma. Lab projects include tech-based and self-help interventions, work on measurement and ecological momentary assessment, and investigations of mindfulness and acceptance processes broadly. The overarching goal of our research program is to conduct rigorous and innovative research that results in treatments that are impactful, acceptable, and accessible. In the lab, we prioritize doing meaningful, challenging, values-driven work in an environment that is collaborative, respectful, and supportive. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me (jek299@msstate.edu) with any questions, or to express your interest!

Mississippi State Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program: Link

My faculty page: Link

Lab website: https://maplab.squarespace.com/

(This page was updated September 24, 2024).

Ann Rost's faculty page at Missouri State University. Missouri State University houses a PsyD program, with specialized tracks in ABA, Health, and Diversity, with several ACBS-affiliated faculty members. Dr. Rost’s research interests include: Acceptance and commitment therapy; Pain and cancer coping, Behavior analysis, Health psychology. In addition, she maintains a clinical practice and serves on the Psychology licensing and ethics board for the state of Missouri.  Dr. Rost is currently accepting graduate students.

(This webpage was updated on October 25, 2024)

At the Morehead State University ACT/RFT Research Lab in Morehead, Kentucky, I am currently conducting ACT process and outcome research with advanced undergraduates and Masters students. Please read more about the program here.

(This webpage was updated on May 8, 2018)

The Contextual Behavioral Science research lab at Murray State University focuses on applied research informed by the psychological flexibility model and translational work linking acceptance and mindfulness treatment components to basic behavioral processes. I mentor students in our clinical master’s program and experimental master’s program. You can learn more about my research interests here and can contact me at mbordieri@murraystate.edu.

(This page was last updated September 25, 2024).

The Health Psychology and Neurobehavioral Group takes part in a graduate training consortium with psychology programs in the area surrounding Bethesda, Maryland and accepts 1-2 students every year to work with the program. During the year long externship ACT therapy is among the many activities they can get training in. Universities that often participate include: George Washington University, American University, Gallaudet University, Catholic University, Howard University, and the University of Maryland. However, participation is not limited to those listed and students located farther from Bethesda are still eligible.

Read more about the Neurobehavioral Program here.

Please contact Dr. Staci Martin at martins@mail.nih.gov for more information.

(This webpage was updated September 24, 2024)

The Interpersonal Behavior Laboratory is one of the laboratories of the Research Center of the Faculty of Psychology,  National University of Cordoba. Argentina. In the LACI we perform training and research on contextual behavioral science, and  also develop basic and applied research on any subject related to interpersonal behavior in a broad sense.  Our mission implies contributing to scientific knowledge and to develop interventions to enhance interpersonal human potential, and to contribute to the improvement of interpersonal relationships and mental health. Our research staff collaborates with different public and private institutions (Integral Center of Contextual Psychoterapies) in all the country and receives research assistants and clinical psychology students willing to colaborate in our lines of inquiry. We are currently wortking in transcultural reserach about ACT and FAP processes  with other institutions of the world (Center for the Science of Social Connection. Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Contextual Behavioral Science and Therapy Institute, México)

Focus of Program/Lab

ACT/RFT/MF/ACT processes/Applied RFT/Behavioral/FC 

Level of Training/Degree offered (if any)

Licenced Psychologist

Doctoral (Doctor of Psychology )

Country in which the program/lab is located:

Argentina

Website: http://blogs.psyche.unc.edu.ar/laci/laci-2/

CONTACT

Dr. Fabián O. Olaz

fabidelarenta@gmail.com

RESEARCH/ACADEMIC STAFF

Senior Researchers: 

Dr. Fabián Olaz

Dr. Carlos Arias

Dra. Paula Irueste

Doctoral Students:

Lic. Valeria Morán (Doctoral Student)

Lic. Guillermo Lionel Ponce Japaze (Doctoral Student)

Undergraduate Students

Romanella Fátima Brezzo

Silvina Belén Giménez

María Antonella Gilla

Aylen D’Alessandro

Ximena Dutto

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. Development of a RFT Based Graphic adventure to develop Perspective Taking and Empathy in children (2016-2017). 
2. Relationship Improvement Study. researching the processes that contribute to the improvement of social connection  (2016-2017).
3. Argentinian Adaptation of the AAQ – II
4. Evaluation of the effectiveness of a Mindfulness Based program for preventing burnout in  psychotherapists
5. Constructing and explanatory model of social anxiety in college students
6. Development and Evaluation of a  Telepsychology software for the treatment of Social Phobia and Fear of Public Speaking in university students.

PUBLICATIONS

Journals

1. Morán, V. E., Olaz, F. O., & Del Prette, Z. A. (2015). Social Skills Questionnaire for Argentinean College Students (SSQ-U) Development and Validation. The Spanish journal of psychology, 18, E95.
2. Roldan, F., Sorbellini, D., Olaz, F., y Petit, C. (2015). “Difusión social de modelos de comportamiento interpersonal de jóvenes, en diarios de la ciudad de Córdoba”. Anuario de Investigaciones de la Facultad de Psicología de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 2 (1). Disponible en http://revistas.unc.edu.ar/index.php/aifp
3. García Terán, , Cabanillas, G.A., Morán, V.E. & Olaz, F.O. (2014). Diferencias de género en habilidades sociales en estudiantes universitarios de Argentina. Anuario Electrónico de Estudios en Comunicación Social “Disertaciones”, 7(2), pp. 114-135. Disponible en: http://erevistas.saber.ula.ve/index.php/Disertaciones/
4. Morán, V.E. & Olaz, F.O. (2014). Análisis Bibliométrico sobre Instrumentos de Evaluación de las Habilidades Sociales en América Latina. Revista de Psicología, 23 (1), 93-105.
5. Olaz, F., Medrano, L.A. & Cabanillas, G.A. (2014). Effectiveness of Social Skills Training experiential method to strengthening social self efficacy of university students. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 14 (3), 377-396.
6. Dascanio, D., Olaz, F. O., Fontaine, A. M. G., Rolim Rodrigues, O. M. P., Del Prette, A. & Del Prette, Z.A.P. (2012) The intellectual and academic performance of adolescents contaminated by lead: relation with social skills. Temas em Psicologia, 20 (1), pp. 45-59.
7. Herrera Lestussi A., Freytes M. V., López G. E. & Olaz, F. O. (2012).Habilidades Sociales en Estudiantes Universitarios de Psicología. Un Estudio Comparativo. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 12 (2). , 277-287.
8. Olaz, y Pérez, E. (2012). Creencias de Autoeficacia: desarrollo de escalas y líneas de investigación. Revista Tesis, 1, 157-170.
9. Carot J., Carranza, E., Olaz F. O., y Ponce, L. F. (2012) Autoeficacia para la Investigación en Estudiantes Universitarios. Revista Tesis, 1, 61-77.
10. Morán, V., Prytz Nilsson, N. S., Suarez, A. B. y Olaz F.O. (2011) Estado de la investigación en Habilidades Sociales en el Laboratorio de Comportamiento Interpersonal (LACI) Córdoba – Argentina. Revista Estudos e Pesquisas em Psicologia, 11 (2), pp. 507-527.
11. Azpilicueta, , Olaz., F.O., Cupani. M. (2011) Adaptación del Skills Confidence Inventory (SCI) de Betz, Harmon y Borgen (1996) en una muestra de adolescentes argentinos. Revista Electrónica de Motivación y Emoción, 14 (37). Disponible en: http://reme.uji.es/reme/numero37/indexsp.html.
12. Zoni, M. P. y Olaz, F.O. (2011). Adaptación Argentina de la escala Cisneros para evaluar Mobbing. Revista Electrónica de Motivación y Emoción, 14 (37). Disponible en: http://reme.uji.es/reme/numero37/indexsp.html.
13. Medrano, L, Olaz, O. & Pérez E. R (2009).Modelo social cognitivo del rendimiento académico en ingresantes universitarios. La contribución de la autoeficacia social académica. Revista Tesis, 1 (1), pp. 87-106.
14. Olaz, O., Medrano, L, Greco, M. E. y Del Prette, Z. A. (2009). Adaptación Argentina del Inventario de Habilidades Sociales IHS – Del-Prette. Spanish Journal of Psychology, 12 (2), pp. 756-766.
15. Medrano, L. A. y Olaz, O. (2008) Autoeficacia Social en Ingresantes Universitarios: su relación con el Rendimiento y la Deserción Académica. Revista de Psicología General y Aplicada, 61 (4), pp. 369-389.
16. Echavarri, M., Godoy, J.C. & Olaz, F. O. (2007) Diferencias de género en habilidades cognitivas y rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios. Universitas Psicológicas, 6 (2), 319-329.
17. Olaz, F. (2003). Modelo Social Cognitivo de desarrollo vocacional. Revista Evaluar, 3 (Online). Facultad de Psicología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Disponible en: http:// revistaevaluar.com.ar. Olaz, F. (2003). Autoeficacia y variables vocacionales. Revista Psicología Educativa. 9, (1), pp. 5-14.
18. Olaz, F. (2003). Autoeficacia, Diferencias de género, y Comportamiento vocacional. Revista Electrónica de Motivación y Emoción [Online], 6 (13). Disponible en: http://reme.uji.es/articulos/aolazf5731104103/texto.html.
19. Olaz, F. (2003). Aportes del Meta-Análisis a la Teoría de la Autoeficacia para el Desarrollo de Carrera. Revista Estudios de Psicología 25 (1). pp. 57-72.
20. Olaz, F. (2003) Autoeficacia y Diferencias de Género. Aportes a la explicación del Comportamiento Vocacional. Revista de Psicología General y Aplicada, 56, (3), pp. 353-370. España.
21. Fogliatto, H; Pérez, E; Olaz, F; Parodi, L. (2003) Cuestionario de intereses profesionales revisado (CIP-R). Análisis de sus propiedades psicométricas. Revista Evaluar, 3 (Online). Facultad de Psicología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Disponible en: http:// revistaevaluar.com.ar.

Book Chapters

1. Olaz (in press). Obstáculos comuns na ACT (Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso) e como enfrentá-los contextualmente. Em Practical Handbook off Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Porto Alegre: Sinopsys.
2. Olaz, F. O. (in press). O uso da Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso no Tratamento dos Transtornos Alimentares. Em Da Rosa Finger (ed.), A Prática da Terapia Cognitivo Comportamental (TCC) dos Trastornos Alimentares. Porto Alegre: Sinopsys
3. Olaz (in press). Desarrollo de un programa de entrenamiento en empatía para psicoterapeutas: Aportes del contextualismo funcional. Em Benevides Soares, De Sousa Pereira Guizzo, Fortes Wagner, Barbosa Romera Leme e Del Prette (2015), Habilidades Sociais: Diálogos e intercâmbios sobre pesquisa e prática. Porto Alegre: Sinopsys.
4. Olaz (2015). “FACT: Integrando ACT e FAP. Em Lucena dos Santos P., Pinto-Gouveia, J. e Da Silva Oliveira, M. (2015) Terapias Cognitivo-Comportamentais de Terceira Geração (pp. 343-375). Porto Alegre: Sinopsys
5. Olaz, F. O. & Schoendorff, B. (in press). Aplicações da Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso em Clientes Diagnosticados com Transtorno Limite da Personalidade. Em Dornelles, V. G. (In Press).Transtorno da Personalidade Borderline: Da etiologia ao Tratamento. Brasil: Sinopsys Editora
6. Schoendorff, B. & Olaz, F. O. in press). A Matrix como estratégia motivacional no tratamento de Clientes Diagnosticados com Transtorno Limite da Personalidade. Em Dornelles, V. G. (In Press)Transtorno da Personalidade Borderline: Da etiologia ao Tratamento. Brasil: Sinopsys Editora
7. Olaz, F. O. (in press). Um programa de Intervenção baseada no modelo Matrix de Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso para profissionais de saúde mental. Em Sheila Giardini Murta, S., Leandro França, C. & Brito dos Santos, K. Prevenção e Promoção em Saúde Mental: Fundamentos, Planejamento e Estratégias de Intervenção.
8. Pérez, R., y Fabián O. Olaz (2012) Los tests Psicológicos en la Psicología Contemporánea. En Couto, G., Drummond Pires y Sancineto da Silva Nunes, C. (Orgs), Os Contornos Da Psicología Contemporânea. São Paulo: Casa do Psicologo
9. Olaz, F. O., Cabanillas, G. A. y Medrano L. (2011) Programas vivenciais versus instrucionais de habilidades sociais: Impacto sobre a auto-eficácia social de universitários. En Almir Del Prette y Zilda A.P. Del Prette (Orgs.). Programas de habilidades sociais: Evidências (experimental e quase experimental) de efetividade. Río de Janeiro: Vozes. ISBN 978-85-8040-091-5
10. Olaz (2009). Contribuições da Teoria Social-cognitiva de Bandura para o Treinamento de Habilidades Sociais. En Del Prette, A. & Del Prette, Z. A., Psicologia das Habilidades Sociais: Diversidade Teórica e suas Implicações. Rio de Janeiro: Vozes. ISBN 978-85-326-3874-8.
11. Pajares, F y Olaz, F. (2008) Teoría Social Cognitiva e auto-eficácia: uma visão geral. En Bandura, , Azzi, G. R., Polydoro, S., Teoria Social Cognitiva Conceitos Básicos. São Paulo: ARTMED. ISBN: 8536311177.
12. Olaz, F. (2008). La medición y la evaluación en Psicología: concepciones y modelos. En Marino, y Murillo, P. Manual del ciclo de Nivelación 2009 (4ta edición). Asociación cooperadora de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. ISBN 978-987-1436-12-5.
13. Olaz, F. (2006). La medición y la evaluación en Psicología: concepciones y modelos. En Marino, y Murillo, P. Manual del ciclo de Nivelación 2007 (2da edición). Asociación cooperadora de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. ISBN-10 987-22736-7-7, ISBN-13978-987-22736-7-5.
14. Olaz, F. (2005). La medición y la evaluación en Psicología: concepciones y modelos. En Marino, J. Pautassi, R. y Murillo, P. Manual del ciclo de Nivelación 2006. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. ISBN 950-33-0532-2.
15. Olaz, F. (2000) Interpretación de los resultados de una prueba. Pruebas referidas a normas. En Tornimbeni, S.; Pérez, E.; Baldo, M. (compiladores), Introducción a los Tests Psicológicos. Córdoba: Ed ISBN: 987-9452-07-0.

Books

1. Polk, K. L., Schoendorff, B., Webster, M. & Olaz, F. O. (2015). he Essential Guide to the ACT Matrix: A Step-by-Step Approach to Using the ACT Matrix Model in Clinical Practice. EEUU: New Harbinger
2. Olaz, F. O. & Morán V. E. (2014) Habilidades Sociales en la Formación y Ejercicio de la psicoterapia. Teoría e Investigación en Argentina. Saarbrücen (Alemania): Editorial Académica Española.
3. Olaz, F. O. & Medrano L. A. (2013). Metodología de la Investigación para Estudiantes de Psicología. Manual de entrenamiento y práctica. Córdoba: Brujas
4. Olaz, F. O. (2012) Escala de Autoeficacia Social para Universitarios (EAS- U) Estudios Psicométricos y Bases Conceptuales. Saarbrücen (Alemania): Editorial Académica Española. ISBN: 978-3659038112
5. Tornimbeni, S., Pérez, E., Olaz, F. (2008) Introducción a la Psicometría. Buenos Aires: Paidós. ISBN: 978-950-12-6085-4.
6. Pérez, E., Passera, , Olaz, F., y Osuna, M. (2005) Orientación, Información y Educación para la Carrera. Buenos Aires: Paidós. ISBN 950-12-6077-1.
7. Tornimbeni, S., Pérez, E., Olaz, F. & Fernández, A. (2004) Introducción a los tests psicológicos (Tercera edición). Córdoba: Brujas. ISBN: 987-1142-24-2.
8. Tornimbeni, S., Pérez, E., Baldo, M., Fernández, A. & Olaz, F. (2003). Introducción a los tests psicológicos (Segunda edición). Córdoba: Brujas. ISBN: 987-9452-93-3.

(This webpage was update on May 8, 2018)

https://www.niu.edu/horcutt/research-lab/index.shtml

(This page was updated September 24, 2024).

ACT/Prosocial/Applied RFT Lab

tomszabo@tomszabo.com (best email for now)

USA

(This webpage was last updated on October 28, 2024)

Directors: Kim L. Gratz, Ph.D., and Matthew T. Tull, Ph.D.

The Personality and Emotion Research and Treatment (PERT) Laboratory within the Department of Psychology at the University of Toledo is a translational research laboratory combining basic experimental research on the mechanisms underlying personality pathology, posttraumatic stress disorder, and addictive and risky behaviors with treatment outcome research focused on the development of novel interventions to target these difficulties.

The PERT Laboratory was founded in 2008 by Drs. Gratz and Tull in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Since its inception, the PERT Laboratory has received funding from numerous state and federal institutions, including the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Mississippi State Department of Health. Research in the PERT Laboratory has been continuously funded since 2008.

http://www.utoledo.edu/al/psychology/research/pertlab/

(This webpage was updated on November 28, 2022)

The Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center is a research and training clinic that focuses on promoting the role of science in guiding psychotherapy practice. Portland Psychotherapy uses an innovative social enterprise model to support ongoing research at the center. Training opportunities for students include a postdoctoral fellowship program and a clinical practicum.

The center was founded by two peer-reviewed ACT trainers who, along with other staff and outside presenters, regularly provide classes and workshops in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other evidence-based therapies. We also have a specialty clinic focused on anxiety disorders. Here are some of our publications and a bit about our business model.

Past research projects have included (see here for current projects):

• MDMA-Assisted Therapy for social anxiety disorder
• Developing interventions for chronic shame using self-compassion and perspective taking
• Experimental studies of the interpersonal behavior of high self-critics
• Longitudinal research on the course of shame and self-compassion in therapy
• Stigma toward addiction, particularly in the context of addictions treatment systems
• Interventions for stigma toward "mental illness"
• A randomzied effectiveness trial of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention
• Development of an Implicit Measure of Experiential Avoidance
• Daily diary and multimodal assessment of emotion in predicting drinking behavior
• Memory and false memory from the perspective of relational frame theory
• Training spatial diectics

We regularly offer trainings online and in the Pacific Northwest area.

(This webpage was updated on Nov 8, 2022)

Institution
Paradigma - Center of Behavioral Sciences (São Paulo, Brazil)

Research leaders
William F. Perez
Roberta Kovac

Contact: will.f.perez@gmail.com
Page: http://www.clicsgrupodepesquisa.org/ 

(This webpage was updated on October 25, 2024)

Currently a virtual lab composed mainly of students from Marquette University and UW-Milwaukee, under the supervision of the Chad Wetterneck Ph.D., Clinical Director of Trauma Recovery Services at Rogers Behavioral Health's nation-wide system of trauma treatment programs.  Any are welcome to apply to the lab regardless of location, as long as you have an interest in ACT, FAP, CFT, or other contextual behavioral approaches and the treatment of PTSD and trauma.

Current or recent projects from the lab include:

1. Developing a scale for interpersonal functioning and targets in those with trauma based on the FAP model of Awareness, Courage, and Responding.

2. Predictors of treatment outcome in PTSD and related trauma treatment with an interest in awareness, courage, and responding, valued living, and self-compassion.

Dr. Wetterneck has excellent training in ACT including multiple training workshops, serving as the lead therapist in a randomized controlled trial of acceptance-enhanced behavioral treatment of trichotillomania, and co-leading an ACT supervision groups. He also is a certified trainer in Functional Analytic Psychotherapy. He received his doctorate from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has over 90 peer-reviewed publications and a book.  Dr. Wetterneck has specific interests and experience with PTSD, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders,substance use disorders, intimacy, diversity, and both ACT & FAP  If interested in working in his lab, please email him at chad.wetterneck@rogerbh.org.

(This page was last updated October 11, 2022).

Jennifer Gregg's research focuses on the application of acceptance and commitment therapy to chronic medical conditions. Click here to read more about the master's program.

(This webpage was updated September 24, 2024)

Hello! Our Personalized Mental Health Lab at Southern Illinois University focuses on process-based therapy (such as ACT, FAP, modern CBT). I have specific specialization and interest in anxiety and OCD and related concerns as well as open-science. This includes interest in obsessive thinking, compulsive and habitual behavior, perfectionism, anxiety sensitivity, and exposure and response prevention. Beyond that, we are interested in better understanding what makes treatment work for people at an individual level and how to actually get good help to people who need it.

Please reach out if you are interested in working in our lab or have any questions: eric.lee@hey.com

See our lab page to get a feel for our work and the lab culture: Personalized Mental Health Lab

My Google Scholar page: Google Scholar

My ResearchGate page: ResearchGate

SIU faculty page: SIU

(This webpage was updated September 24, 2024)

Darren J Edwards, Ph.D., is a researcher exploring intersections between philosophy, behavioral/cognitive science, mathematics, and evolution. In the field of human behavior, Darren has created unique evolutionary game theoretical, and quantum mechanical accounts of consciousness, that help explain AI evolution and prosocial behavior. This approach can help allow morality, empathy, trust, and social norms to evolve which promotes social cohesion in both people as well as artificial life. Darren recently developed ACTing Minds (an ACT-based computer game). Darren also regularly blogs in Psychology Today.

Darren's lab fosters research in acceptance and commitment therapy, drawing in on multi-disciplinary approaches. Darren's lab also explores hypergraph networks and mathematical modeling. 

http://darrenedwards.info/

https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/d.j.edwards/#journal-articles=is-expanded&publications=is-expanded

(This page was updated September 24, 2024).

The Dymond Lab at Swansea University is home to two interrelated labs:

1. The Experimental Psychopathology Lab.
The Experimental Psychopathology Lab investigates human learning and emotion systems underpinning adaptive behaviour. A psychophysiology and cognitive neuroscience perspective is adopted in which the underlying neurobehavioural mechanisms of clinically relevant behaviours are identified. We design tasks to examine learning, generalization and extinction of fear and avoidance, amongst other topics, in healthy and patient populations.

2. The Swansea Gambling (SwanGam) Lab. Part of the Gambling Research, Education, and Treatment Network (GREAT), SwanGam aims to drive research, education, and treatment for all forms of gambling-related harm in individuals, families, and communities. A translational perspective is adopted in which gambling harms fall along a continuum and we use lab- and neuroscience-based tasks to illuminate underlying learning processes. Part of what we do involves identifying those at heightened vulnerablility to harm, such as military veterans, and capturing their harm pathways to better design and evaluate evidence-based treatment and intervention.

(This webpage was updated on September 25, 2024)

Click on the link below to learn more about the Well-Being Lab directed by Dr. Todd B. Kashdan

https://toddkashdan.com/well-being-lab/

https://toddkashdan.com/

Publications: https://toddkashdan.com/publications/

(This webpage was updated on September 25, 2024)

The Master of Research Programme (MRes) offered by the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, provides a one year training in research suitable for those who wish to proceed to enrol for a PhD programme, but at the same time is a research degree recognised in its own right.

The overall educational aim of the MRes programme is to provide graduate students with knowledge and understanding of research methods, training in appropriate technical skills and scholarship skills, such as critical thinking and the capacity to write in the style of their discipline, along with advanced study in areas of their discipline. Importantly, students apply for and enrol to complete a specified research project, and the rest of the course is tailored to support conducting that research.

The function of this programme is to provide students with a range of research-related skills and the capacity to proceed to PhD programmes. Undergraduate programmes do not necessarily provide enough of these skills, and there is a national and an international trend towards requiring completion of a Master’s degree prior to entry to PhD programmes.

• Website
• BALC-I Project

(This webpage was updated on April 25, 2022)

Co-coordinated by Louise McHugh, research conducted in the UCD CBS lab has begun to provide new insights into the development of understanding the self and others. The UCD CBS lab is internationally recognized for its translational research that bridges the gap between basic behavioural science and applied clinical work.

On going research projects in her CBS lab involve developing CBS interventions for self stigma, chronic conditions and farmer mental health. The long term research goal of the UCD CBS lab is to continue to develop the theoretical basis of CBS. CBS provides a transdiagnostic approach to clinical and educational psychology that ultimately could change international practice in human well-being and remedial learning.

Link to the lab webpage:

https://www.ucd.ie/psychology/research/researchcentresandlaboratories/contextualbehaviouralsciencelaboratory/

(This webpage was updated on October 28, 2024)

Our lab -- the Anxiety Disorders Research Program (ADRP) -- focuses on the science and practical application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and related mindfulness-based traditions to understand, prevent, and alleviate anxiety disorders and related forms of human suffering; applications of self-help and telehealth to expand the reach and impact of psychosocial interventions; using experimental psychopathology to unpack ACT processes [i.e., acceptance/experiential avoidance] that may potentiate human suffering and point to its successful alleviation. 

More broadly, we aim to understand processes that transform normal human thoughts and painful emotions into life shattering problems associated with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and even problem anger. We focus on these problems to understand human suffering, not as ends in themselves.

The ADRP laboratory has an explicit process-oriented translational focus. Everyone in the lab is involved in basic and applied treatment-oriented research with subclinical and clinical populations.

We struggle intensely with philosophical and conceptual issues and make efforts to integrate this activity with our basic and applied work.

Students are treated as junior colleagues. This is the model. This is the model that paved the way for the early success of behavior therapy. It is a model that is reflected in the collective lab values statement (see attached below) that we, as a group, have developed.

To date, we have focused on understanding the role of excessive thought and emotion regulation in the development, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders. Included here are studies on how emotion regulation transforms normal fear learning and other experiential processes into clinical problems, the measurement of experiential avoidance, acceptance, and defusion. We have assisted with a multisite collaborative project (the UCLA-Albany Study; see Arch et al., Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology) testing our unified treatment protocol -- ACT for Anxiety Disorders -- vs. standard CBT for persons suffering from anxiety disorders.  We have completed two large clinical trials evaluating The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety when used in a pure self-help context (writing up the papers now).  We have also contributed to measurement development (e.g., The Believability of Anxious Feels and Thoughts Questionnaire -- a measure of cognitive fusion; see Herzberg et al., Psychological Assessment).  There are many other current projects underway, specifically evaluating problematic cell phone use, mental health stigma, self-compassion, improving the utility of mindfulness-based practices, values work, and more.

Our lab also routinely provides ACT consultation and both brief and intensive ACT professional training workshops for professionals interested in learning more about ACT. For additional information please contact Dr. John P. Forsyth (via his website) or at the following address:

John P. Forsyth, Ph.D.  Professor of Psychology,  University at Albany, SUNY Department of Psychology, SS399 1400 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12222 U.S.A. Ph: (518) 442-4862 Fax: (518) 442-4867 Email: forsyth@albany.edu

Relevant Links:

Dr. Forsyth's Offical Website

Dr. Forsyth's Research Lab - The Anxiety Disorders Research Program 

University at Albany, Psychology Department

(This webpage was updated September 26, 2024)

We examine treatments for common mental health problems, such as anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and depression. We are particularly interested in what makes interventions work and believe that we could develop more efficient psychological interventions if we better understood the nature of mental illness. We also have a specialty research line in sexual health, compulsive sexual behavior, and sexual/gender minority mental health disparities. We are particularly interested in conducting lab based clinical trials for various psychological issues, meta-analyses of extant interventions, and large data secondary analyses. There is a strong third-wave behaviorist element to our lab.

Learn more about Dr. Borgogna's lab here - https://sites.uab.edu/nickslab/

(This webpage was updated on October 24, 2024)

 View the Spanish presentation of the lab. The research group with the name of Experimental and Applied Behavior Analysis began in the University of Granada in 1985 and continued in the University of Almería since 1994 under the direction of Carmen Luciano Soriano, professor in the University of Almería, Spain.

The research conducted has been focused in the functional analysis of verbal behavior with special interest in the basic-applied dimension. The research conducted has involved children, parents and adults as well as some research was done with non-human organisms. In the last ten years, the research has been –and it is- tracking the functional analysis of Language and Cognition in the context of the Relational Frame Theory and the analysis of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

The basic-applied dimension research projects concerns:

1. the conditions to establish relational frames, the analysis of the verbal regulation and the analysis of the transformation of functions,
2. analyzing the verbal contexts defining the unflexible verbal regulation involved in problematic Experiencial Avoidance,
3. the transformation of functions in the ACT clinical methods,
4. the extension of ACT brief protocols to several domains, and
5. the extension of the analysis of relational frames to establish verbal behavior in children with delayed psychological development.

ACTUAL RESEARCHERS working in the projects:

Dr. Carmen Luciano Soriano, Univ. Almería (mluciano@ual.es)

Dr. Inmaculada Gómez Becerra, Univ. Almería (igomez@ual.es)

Dr. Francisco Molina Cobos, Univ. Almería (fjcobos@ual.es)

Dr. Olga Gutiérrez Martínez, Univ. Granada (olgaguti@ugr.es)

Dr. Marisa Páez Blarrina, Spanish Assoc. Cancer (marisa.paez@aecc.es)

Dr. Carmelo Visdómine, (jcvisdomine@hotmail.com)

Dr. Francisco Cabello, Univ. La Rioja (francisco.cabello@dcst.unirioja.es)

Dr. Francisco Montesinos, Spanish Association Cancer (francisco.montesinos@aecc.es)

Dr. Sonsoles Valdivia Salas, Univ. Almería (sonvaldivia28@hotmail.com)

Dr. Miguel Rodríguez Valverde, Univ. Almería (mvalver@ual.es)

Dr. Mónica Hernández, Univ. Valladolid (mohernan@ual.es)

Laura Carmen Sánchez, Univ. Almería (lss250@ual.es)

Israel Mañas Mañas, Univ. Almería (imanas@ual.es)

Francisco Ruiz Jiménez, Univ. Almería (frj939@ual.es)

Javier Hilinger Sánchez, Univ. Almería (jhilinger@hotmail.com)

Also, Dr. Dermot Barnes-Holmes, Dr. Ivonne Barnes-Holmes (Ghent), and Dr. Michael Dougher (Albuquerque, New Mexico) are colloborating in several of the main projects.

ACTUAL FUNDING:

Actual funding projects directly connected to RFT and ACT are:

• “Derivation of Functions: Analysis of verbal contexts in Experiential Avoidance and in ACT clinical methods”. Financed as Excelent Projects Program by the Andalusian Govertment, 2006-2008.
• “Analysis of Experiencial Avoidance and defusion methods in ACT”. Financed as I+D+I Ministry of Education Program. (2006-2008).
• “Addictive behaviors and altering functions in young people” by Andalusian Govertment”, (Grant to Javier Hilinger), 2004-2006.
• “Development of a telehealth resource for young people engaging in problematic Cybersex on the Internet” by European Comission (Project coordinated by E. Quayle, Cork, Ireland) (Grants to Francisco Ruiz Jiménez and Sonsoles Valdivia Salas)
• “Transformation of Functions according to several relational frames” financed by Ministry of Science and Education (Grant to Miguel Rodríguez Valverde, 2003-2006).
• “Analyzing equivalence” financed by Andalusian Govertment (Grant to Israel Mañas Mañas, 2004-2006).
• “Multiple Esclerosis and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” by University of Almería (Grant to Laura del Carmen Sánchez Sánchez).

THESES

The following theses to achieve the doctor degree (Pre-doc theses are not included here) that have been done under the umbrella of the research group are:

1. Miguel Ángel Delgado Noguera: Influence of a educational training in Sports Education. University of Granada, Ph.D. in 1989.
2. Luis Valero Aguayo: Experimental analysis of new behaviors through equivalence relations. University of Granada, Ph.D. in 1990.
3. Antonio Fernández Parra: Experimental analysis of the formation of phobic behaviors. University of Granada, Ph. D.. in 1990.
4. Javier Herruzo Cabrera: "Say-do" correspondence training. University of Granada, Ph.D., in 1992.
5. Mercedes Vernetta: Diferential effect of two methods in gymnastic skills. University of Granada, Ph. D. 1995.
6. Inmaculada Gómez Becerra: (In)sensitivity to contingencies and verbal behavior. University of Almería, Ph. D. 1996.
7. Francisco Javier Molina Cobos: Learning behaviors through imitation. Implications of verbal behavior. University of Almería, Ph.D. 1997.
8. Serafín Gómez García: Rupture of equivalence relations (co-directed with Dermot Barnes-Holmes). University of Almería, Ph. D. 1998.
9. Mª Carmen Vives: Vocal articulation deficits and generalization. University of Almería, Ph. D. 1999.
10. Carmen Berrocal: Functional analysis in obesity (co-directed with Flor Zaldívar). University of Málaga, Ph. D. 2000
11. Olga Gutiérrez Martínez: Comparison between acceptance and control strategies in a paradigm of self-control. University of Almería, Ph. D. 2003.
12. Carmelo Visdómine: Locus of control and transference of functions. Univesity of Almería, Ph. D. 2004.
13. Marisa Páez: Avoidance and control strategies in patients with breast cancer. University of Almería, Ph. D. 2005.
14. Francisco Cabello Luque: Equivalent relations and protocol analysis by the silent dog method (co-directed with Dermot Barnes-Holmesd). University of Almería, Ph. D. 2005.
15. Francisco Montesinos: Psychological impact of "cancer" and defusion strategies. University of Almería, Ph. D. 2005.
16. Sonsoles Valdivia: Motivational analysis and transfer of functions (co-directed with Michael Dougher). University of Almería, Ph. D. 2005.
17. Mónica Hernández: Quitting smoking and control versus acceptance strategies (co-directed with Jesús Gil Roales-Nieto). University of Almería, 2006 (next presentation).

Relevant publications are:

Related ACT/RFT books:

Luciano, M. C. (dir) (2001). Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso. Libro de Casos (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Cases book.). Promolibro: Valencia.

Wilson, K. G., & Luciano, M. C. (2002). Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso. Un tratamiento conductual orientado a los valores. (Acceptance and Commtiment Therapy. A behavioral treatment oriented to values). Pirámide: Madrid.

Carmen Luciano webpage

(This webpage was updated on May 8, 2018)

Maria Karekla received her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the University at Albany, SUNY. She completed her residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Veterans Administration Hospital. Currently holds the position of Lecturer of Clinical Psychology at the University of Cyprus and is a licensed clinical psychology. She actively and systematically participates in psychological research projects that have received awards by (among others) the European council and Pompidou’s group, and the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy. Her research focuses on areas of health promotion and the investigation of individual difference factors (especially psychological flexibility parameters) as they relate to the development and maintenance of various behavioural difficulties (especially anxiety, eating, and health related problems). Additionally, she examines the treatment of these difficulties utilizing process-based and Contextual Behavioral Science-based principles and innovative delivery methods (e.g., digital interventions, virtual reality). Her research (>100 scientific peer reviewed publications) received numerous local, European and international grants, and awards by (among others) the European Council and Pompidou’s group, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy. She is the chair of the clinical psychology and a member of the school psychology program committees at the University of Cyprus. Maria is currently the president of ACBS, from where she received the status of “Fellow” in 2019. She is also a peer-reviewed ACT trainer. Further, she is the convenor of the European Federation of Psychology Associations’ Psychology and Health committee and a member of the e-health task force. She recently completed terms in chairing the Cyprus Bioethics Committee on Biomedical Research and being a member of the Cyprus Psychologist Licensing Board. A number of her research projects have received local, EU and other funding. Dr. Karekla’s “ACTHealthy: Anxiety disorders and Behavioral Medicine” research laboratory (http://www.ucy.ac.cy/acthealthy/el/) has cooperated with other institutions, business and bodies both in Cyprus and abroad on numerous projects. In 2021 she became a fellow of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, whereas in 2018 she was nominated as Cyprus “Woman of the Year: Academic/Researcher category.” Her first psychotherapeutic children’s story book was nominated in 2017 for the National Literary Awards in the category Children/Adolescents and also for her illustrations for the book. She is a TEDx speaker and she has been hosted and interviewed for her work by numerous podcasts, newspapers, TV and radio stations nationally and internationally.

Research Interests
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Individual difference factors (e.g. Experiential Avoidance, Emotional Coping) and development of Anxiety Disorders and problems associated with medical diagnosis (e.g., Chronic Pain, Asthma, Diabetes)
- Assessment and Treatment (especially in the use of innovative methods, e.g. Internet-based interventions, use of virtual reality technology)
- Enhancement of health behaviors and promotion of self-management of health-related conditions (including addictive behaviors such as smoking)
-Processes and Mechanisms of action in treatment
-Digital assessment and interventions

Please see http://ucy.ac.cy/dir/el/component/comprofiler/userprofile/mkarekla or more information or contact here at mkarekla@ucy.ac.cy
 

(This webpage was updated on November 9, 2022)

The department of Clinical and Health Psychology is situated in the School of Health in Social Science. We offer two programmes at Doctoral level: PhD in Clinical Psychology which can be taken at distance and over 3 to 6 years, or the professional practice Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsychol). Click on the links to find out more. The DClinPsychol is fully funded by the National Health Service and students are employed by the NHS, therefore it is only open to people who already have eligibility to work in the UK. A Tier 4 visa is not sufficient. Both of these degrees require a substantial piece of original research work.

We also offer a range of taught MSc programmes, including a British Psychological Society Accredited Conversion programme: Psychology of Mental Health. We also offer a MSc level training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. In these programmes a Masters level dissertation is produced which may involve empirical research, and some of these projects could be in a field related to contextual behavioural science.

A number of staff in the subject area are pursuing research work related to contextual behavioural science, you can look on our research and staff pages to find out more.

(This webpage was updated on September 26, 2024)

• Ian Stewart

Dr. Stewart's research interests span both the experimental analysis of language and cognition and applications of RFT to education and other settings. Current RFT projects include investigation of temporal and hierarchical relational responding; analysis of relational repertoires using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) and the Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST); assessing analogical reasoning in young children; assessment and training of relational framing in young children; and investigation of the precursor skills required for arbitrarily applicable relational responding.  

• Denis O'Hora

Denis investigates the dynamics of learning and decision making and the application of psychological science to societal issues including sustainable consumption, pro-environmental behaviour and occupational safety. His RFT interests lie in understanding how affect contributes to decision making and how affective responses are related to cultural and other verbal practices.

(This webpage was updated on September 26, 2024)

I am a contextual behavioral scientist. My Research program in Aki's lab (Hawai‘i Contextual Behavioral Science Lab) has three strategic foci, which all serve my primary aim of evaluating and refining the psychological flexibility model, a contextual behavioral science (CBS) account of human conditions and behavior change. First, my research examines the applicability of psychological flexibility model to topographically diverse and relatively understudied problem areas, such as self-concealment, stigma, and disordered eating concerns. Second, I am extending the psychological flexibility model to underrepresented populations (racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S.) and to the issues of cultural sensitivity/humility. Finally, for the past 10 years, I have focused on the synthesis of wisdom across different disciplines, more specifically, the assimilation/integration of empirical clinical psychology, eastern perspectives (Zen Buddhism), and multiculturalism in the area of behavioral health. Clinically, I have exceptional training in mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral interventions, especially Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). My clinical experiences are broad with diverse clinical populations in a wide range of clinical settings, including university counseling center, outpatient clinic, residential home, and community mental health hospitals. Recently, I have been actively involved in therapist training, supervision, and consultation. Visit Akihiko Masuda's faculty page and google scholar page for updated information on my research.

(This webpage was updated on October 25, 2024)

The Latino and Behavioral Health Research Team (LABHRT) aims to conduct research and engage in community initiatives that contribute to increase health equity. LABHRT has been the hub to develop and preliminary test an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based intervention for the treatment of tobacco dependence and comorbid depression and anxiety among English-speaking Latine adults. This work, funded by the American Cancer Society, entailed the adaption of the intervention to be culturally appropriate for this population. Further, a mix-method study was conducted to evaluate the perspectives of Spanish-speaking Latine individuals on ACT-related constructs and their application to smoking and psychological distress. In addition, various projects related to psychometrics properties of mindfulness and ACT-related constructs have been published. Several LABHRT members are doctoral advisees in the PhD Counseling Psychology program at the University of Houston.

Learn more about Dr. Correa-Fernandez's lab here - https://www.labhrt.org/team-members

(This webpage was updated on October 3, 2024)

At University of Illinois Chicago the RFT and ACT lab is within the Department of Disability and Human Development. Dixon's work serves as a training and research platform for undergraduate and graduate students. The lab is heavily focused on the real-world application of both RFT and ACT to persons with disabilities, and to do so, a full time clinical service dedicated to cognition, behavior, and mindfulness (CBM) sees clients every day. Additional work on RFT and ACT includes best practices of delivery methods, ethics, exploring basic behavioral mechanisms, and theoretical advancements. We are always looking for new students at both levels and typically offer tuition waivers and funding for doctoral students.

Here is a sample of published research by Dr. Dixon and Dr. Rehfeldt pertaining to ACT and Relational Frame Theory: 

Dixon, M. R., & Hayes, S. C. (2022). On the Disruptive Effects of Behavior Analysis on Behavior Analysis: The High Cost of Keeping Out Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Training. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1-7.

Dixon, M. R., Hayes, S. C., Stanley, C., Law, S., & al-Nasser, T. (2020). Is Acceptance and Commitment Training or Therapy (ACT) a method that applied behavior analysts can and should use?. The Psychological Record, 70(4), 559-579.

Hayes, S. C., Merwin, R. M., McHugh, L., Sandoz, E. K., A-Tjak, J. G., Ruiz, F. J., ... & McCracken, L. M. (2021). Report of the ACBS Task Force on the strategies and tactics of contextual behavioral science research. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 20, 172-183.

Dixon, M. R., Paliliunas, D., Barron, B. F., Schmick, A. M., & Stanley, C. R. (2021). Randomized controlled trial evaluation of ABA content on IQ gains in children with autism. Journal of Behavioral Education, 30(3), 455-477.

Dixon, M. R., Belisle, J., Rehfeldt, R. A., & Root, W. B. (2018). Why we are still not acting to save the world: The upward challenge of a post-Skinnerian behavior science. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 41(1), 241-267.

Dixon, M. R., Dymond, S., Rehfeldt, R., Roche, B., & Zlomke, K. R. (2003). Terrorism and Relational Frame Theory. Behavior & Social Issues, 13(1), 129-147.

Dixon M., & Zlomke K. (2005). Using the precursor to the relational evaluation procedure (PREP) to establish the relational frames of sameness, opposition, and distinction. Revista Latinoamericana De Psicologia [serial online]. 2005;37(2):305-316. 

Dixon M., Zlomke K., & Rehfeldt R. (2006). Restoring Americans' Nonequivalent Frames of Terror: An Application of Relational Frame Theory. Behavior Analyst Today [serial online]. July 2006;7(3):275-289.

Dixon, M. R., & Lemke, M. M. (2007). Reducing Prejudice towards Middle Eastern Persons as Terrorists. European Journal Of Behavior Analysis, 8(1), 5-12.

Ninness, C., Dixon, M., Barnes-Holmes, D., Rehfeldt, R., Rumph, R., McCuller, G., & ... McGinty, J. (2009). Constructing and Deriving Reciprocal Trigonometric Relations: A Functional Analytic Approach. Journal Of Applied Behavior Analysis, 42(2), 191-208.

Dymond, S., Bateman, H., & Dixon, M. R. (2010). Derived Transformation of Children's Pregambling Game Playing. Journal Of The Experimental Analysis Of Behavior, 94(3), 353-363.

Wilson, A. N., & Dixon, M. R. (2010). A Mindfulness Approach to Improving Classroom Attention. Journal of Behavioral Health and Medicine, 1, 137-142, (2).

Dr. Mark R. Dixon, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Dr. Dixon is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctorate and a clinical professor at the Department of Disability and Human Development. Dr. Dixon has published 12 books, over 230 peer reviewed journal articles, and delivered 1000s of presentations around the globe. His research and/or expert opinions have been featured in Time Magazine, Newsweek, The New York Times, National Public Radio, This American Life, and Netflix’s series Bill Nye Saves the World. Dr. Dixon cares for individuals and their families impacted by autism and other developmental disabilities through his innovative research that guides practice. He has generated millions of dollars of funding to infuse behavior analysis within local schools and treatment facilities and created multiple clinics for persons diagnosed with autism and related conditions.

(This webpage was updated on October 12, 2022)

Dr. Emily Thomas (formerly Kroska) directs the THRIVE Lab at the University of Iowa. The THRIVE Lab conducts intervention science across phases of intervention from development through implementation. The lab also examines the role of ACT processes (psychological flexibility, mindfulness) in the link between traumatic life experiences and long-term outcomes -- both physical and psychological outcomes. Moreover, her work has investigated psychological flexibility amidst COVID-19-related adversity, measurement of psychological flexibility and approach-avoidance processes, and mHealth interventions. Dr. Thomas is also invested in Veteran health and perinatal health, and she has active projects in each of these areas. Her work has been funded by the VA Office of Rural Health, and she has collaborated with investigators across disciplines, being funded through NIMH and NHLBI. The lab personnel include graduate students, post-baccalaureate staff, and undergraduate students. Dr. Thomas accepts PhD students through the University of Iowa's Clinical Science PhD program within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences; she will review applications in fall of 2024 for matriculation in fall of 2025. Graduate students with research interests that fit with the lab’s will be most competitive.

http://kroska.lab.uiowa.edu

(This webpage was updated on September 25, 2024)

Visit Dr. Lappalainen's faculty page and read more about the University of Jyväskylä program here.

(This webpage was updated on May 14, 2018)

The Process-Oriented Intervention Science (POIS) lab primarily focuses on developing effective, efficient, and accessible treatments using process-based and behavioral approaches. As such, people interested in studying ACT processes, cross-cutting processes of change (e.g., perfectionism, rumination), and ways to make treatments more inclusive would be a great fit for our lab.

Please visit our website to learn more about the lab. You can also find our lab manual on the website, which will give you a sense of our lab values and culture.

(This page was updated September 26, 2024)

https://www.unilu.ch/fakultaeten/vpf/professuren/prof-dr-andrew-gloster/#tab=c159879

(This page was updated October 28, 2024).

Visit the link below to view Liz Roemer's current and former graduate students and examples of their recent research on experiential/emotional avoidance, emotion regulation and mindfulness as they relate to anxiety as well as recovery from traumatic exposure.

Liz Roemer's lab webpage

Liz Roemer's faculty webpage

(This webpage was updated on May 8, 2018)

I run the Psychotherapy Research or Study of Connection, Intimacy, and Loneliness (PROSOCIAL) lab. The psychotherapy component of my research emphasizes elucidation of the process of change, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and effectiveness of contemporary behavior therapies.

While my research emphasizes Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP); I am also interested in furthering the evidence base of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Behavioral Activation, and process-based therapies.

My research in the social domain emphasizes understanding the bidirectional association between our social lives, especially deep meaningful relationships, our mental or physical health, and clinical adjacent targets such as discrimination and stigma.

My research group is very active in both of these domains and is actively implementing experiments to better understand our variables of interest. I actively work with my students to incorporate their specific interests into the research of the lab. You can find more information about my research by visiting my ResearchGate page (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniel-Maitland) and my Google Scholar page (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wq9WpiIAAAAJ&hl=en)

Typically my research group is able to admit one graduate student every other year. Please contact me in advance if you're interested in applying to work with me. 

(This webpage was last updated in May 2024).

My interests in Contextual Behavior Science, Behavioral Systems Analysis, Cultural Behavior Analysis, and relational account of verbal behavior have influenced the conceptual, research, and applied work in my Performance Systems Technology Lab at the University of Nevada, Reno.  The developed expertise in these areas have also guided my pursuit of interdisciplinary collaborations throughout my academic career at UNR. 

For example, since 2010 my research team (Performance Systems Technology Lab) and I have collaborated with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) on development and implementation of an Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) curriculum (a non-therapeutic variation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) as part of the four-year undergraduate medical education curricula at UNR Med.  What started as a means of documenting and studying a major curricular reform process evolved over time. As we became more familiar with each other, we were able to utilize our relative strengths to expand into new and innovative collaborative efforts. We have provided a unique behavior scientific perspective (informed by Contextual Behavior Science, Behavioral Systems Analysis, and Cultural Behavior Analysis) to challenges that face medical education and healthcare.  This endeavor has resulted in the development of the Modified Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure for identifying implicit bias pertaining to burnout, obesity, race, gender, socio-economic status, life style (including addiction), and cooperation. The assessment process has informed our systematic integration of an empirically supported framework (i.e., Acceptance and Commitment Training; ACT) into the mandatory curriculum pertaining to burnout, and patient care in the context of healthcare.  Multiple cohorts (approximately 70 students per cohort) of medical students have completed IRAP three times throughout their curriculum experience at UNR Med over the last decade. This systematic and systemic implementation of IRAP has provided a series of longitudinal analyses that have informed the impact of ACT curriculum on measures of burnout bias, psychological flexibility, and student performance.

The current doctoral students in my lab are pursuing conceptual, basic, and applied projects that highlight the role of language and cognition in the analysis of socio-cultural phenomena. In addition, our interest in IRAP as an assessment tool has guided the basic and applied research such as the effect of differential histories with stimuli across IRAP trial types. We have also conducted a series of studies to examine the predictive utility of IRAP in our analyses of motivating operations and rule governance.

Sample Publications:
• Houmanfar, R.A, Alavosius, M. A., Ghezzi, E. L., & Olla, R. (2024). Verbal repertoires & contextual factors in cultural change. The Psychological Record. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-024-00587-z

• Assemi, K., Lombardero, A., West, D. M., Smith., G., Li., I., Houmanfar, R. A., Jacobs, N. N. (2024). Exploring the impact of acceptance and commitment based cultural humility training on standardized patient interactions: Revisiting the measurement process. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-024-10026-4

• Smith, G. S., Houmanfar, R. A., Jacobs, N. N., Froehlich, M., Szarko, A. J., Smith, B. M., Kemmelmeier, M., Baker, T. K., Piasecki, M. P., & Schwenk, T. (2022). Assessment of medical student burnout: Toward an implicit measure to address current issues. Advances in Health Sciences Education. doi.org/10.1007/s10459-021-10089-0

• Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Smith, G.S., Jacobs, N.N., Smith, B.M., Assemi, K., Piasecki, M., & Baker, T.K. (2022). Impact of Acceptance and Commitment Training on Resilience and Burnout in Medical Education. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 23, 190-199 doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2022.02.004

• Esquierdo-Leal, J. L., & Houmanfar, R. A. (2021). Creating inclusive and equitable cultural practices by linking leadership to systemic change. Behavior Analysis & Practice, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-020-00519-7

• Houmanfar, R. A., Szarko, A. (2021). Utilizing values-based governance to promote well-being in organizations and beyond. In Houmanfar R. A., Fryling M., Alavosius M. P. (Eds.) Applied Behavior Science in Organizations: Consilience of Historical and Emerging Trends in Organizational Behavior Management, (pp. 291-315). Taylor & Francis Group.

• Ghezzi, E.L., Houmanfar, R.A., & Crosswell, L (2020). The motivative augmental effects of verbal stimuli on cooperative and conformity responding under a financially competing contingency in an analog work task. The Psychological Record, 70, 411–431. https://doi-org.unr.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s40732-020-00400-7

Learn more about Dr. Houmanfar's lab here - https://www.unr.edu/psychology/people/ramona-houmanfar

(This webpage was updated on October 14, 2024)

This page is here largely for historical purposes since the lab is no longer taking students because of Steve's age (76) and his retirement from UNR. Only one student is left working in it. By early 2025 it will be no more. 

Some of the very early history of Steve's lab can be found in this JCBS article: Hayes, S. C. & King, G. (2024). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: What the history of ACT and the first 1,000 randomized controlled trials reveal. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 33, 100809. Doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100809 

Over its 48 years of existence Steve's lab was focused on creating a scientific paradigm that supports human transformation.

It sought the development of a coherent, pragmatically useful, innovative, empirical, behavioral approach to psychological science that will enable significant steps forward in our understanding of human beings, the creation of human progress, and in the alleviation of human suffering.

It consciously tried to give away its research program by supporting the development of successful research laboratories with these goals world wide.

The lab was at the forefront in the development of functional contextualism, Relational Frame Theory, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Process-Based Therapy.

Doctoral graduates from Steve Hayes's lab who also agree to a "science oath" receive the "Behavioralis Junkus degree" and learn the secret behavioral handshake.

Below are links to a list of lab graduates, the science oath, and a comprehensive list of all dissertations to come out of the lab. 

The overarching goal of the Texas Intervention Development and Behavioral Science (T-ID-BS) lab is to develop, refine, and test interventions for alleviating suffering and promoting prosperity in diverse groups of individuals with a range of mental health challenges. This work primarily focuses on evidence-based cognitive-behavioral approaches (CBT), with an emphasis on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and the emerging process-based therapy (PBT) movement. We also seek to understand processes of change and moderators underpinning interventions to more powerfully impact change and precisely tailor therapeutic principles to unique individuals.

For more information visit the lab website: https://tidbs-lab.weebly.com/

(This webpage was updated on September 26, 2024)

Dr. Pakenham is an Emeritus Professor in clinical and health psychology at The University of Queensland. His research interests are in the areas of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), positive psychology and clinical health psychology. His specific interests include: the application of ACT to building resilience and promoting mental health, and investigation into adaptation to negative or stressful life events such as trauma, chronic illness, and caregiving. Dr. Pakenham has developed and evaluated several ACT-based resilience training interventions which have been delivered in face-to-face groups and online. He is also interested in integrating self-care skills into ACT training and has developed a values-informed model of self-care. His comitment to a 'practice what you teach' approach to his work and personal development is reflected in his recently published memoir "The Trauma Banquet".

Faculty Page

Program Page

(This webpage was updated on October 12, 2022)

Read more about the program in the department of psychology here.

East Texas Contextual Behavioral Science Lab (ETX-CBS)

The ETX-CBS lab is located within the University of Texas at Tyler, which has a new Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology as well as a Master's program which prepares trainees for LPA licensure in Texas. The Ph.D. program recently received APA accreditation. 

The lab anticipates accepting a PhD student this year. 

Further information about the lab can be found at the link below:

https://sites.google.com/view/etx-cbs/home

Further information about the PhD and Master's programs can be found at the links below:

https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/programs/clinical-psychology-phd.php

https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/programs/clinical-psychology-ms.php

ETX-CBS is led by Dr. Olga V. Berkout. Dr. Berkout received her Ph.D. at the University of Mississippi and completed her internship at the University of Vermont, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is an assistant professor within the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Texas at Tyler and a list of her current publications may be found on her Google Scholar profile 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Bc0G28oAAAAJ&hl=en

(This page was updated September 26, 2024).

My lab develops and tests acceptance-based therapies delivered in digital and telehealth platforms, with a focus on addressing health disparities. The most preventable causes of premature death and human suffering are cigarette smoking and obesity. To this end, my research team focuses on designing, developing, and testing AI-based chatbot, smartphone app-delivered, and telephone coach-delivered contextual behavioral interventions for smoking cessation and for weight loss. Research aims include main outcome comparisons, mediators, moderators, intervention engagement, and therapeutic process predictors of outcome. This research is currently supported by four NIH R01-level grants. Our lab's latest grant focuses on testing a smartphone app for helping American Indians and Alaska Natives stop smoking commercial cigarettes.

Since 2008, I have provided opportunities for current UW psychology graduate students to conduct research on these topics. Currently, eligible graduate students can apply for a special NIH diversity supplement that provides up to 3 years of full salary and tuition coverage plus $4000 per year in research supplies/travel support. The Fred Hutch Cancer Center also offers another year of full financial support to eligible graduate students in my lab--thus totaling a full four years of funding. Note: I only work with current, often more advanced, graduate students. Thus, I do not admit new graduate students.

For more information on graduate student diversity supplement funding, please closely read the information below :

https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/crchd/diversity-training/cure/ds-guidelines.pdf

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-031.html

https://reporter.nih.gov/search/WV9xelxhXkeAjuihAMhmIg/project-details/10826067

(This webpage was updated on October 21, 2024)

We co-direct an ACT-focused research group at Utah State University (USU). We train graduate students in our group through the USU Clinical/Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program and interview for 1-3 new graduate students to join our lab each year. Graduate students get a wealth of opportunities to develop their research and clinical skills in ACT including through our ACT-focused practicum, courses, and our highly active research labs. Our group also offers professional training and clinical services.

To learn more about our research group and training opportunities, please visit our website: http://www.UtahACT.com/

You can also contact us by e-mail at Michael.Twohig@usu.edu or Mike.Levin@usu.edu

(This webpage was updated on September 26, 2024)

Dr. Gaynor's research interests include psychotherapy process and outcome, especially applying contemporary behavior therapy approaches. He and his laboratory are currently working on intervention studies involving children, adolescent, and young adult samples. He is also interested in the experimental analysis of human and non-human behavior.

The Behavior Research and Therapy Laboratory is committed to the scientist-practitioner model. As such, our intervention studies have two related purposes. First, for the participants involved, we hope to provide interventions that can legitimately improve their lives. Second, while providing these interventions we attempt to rigorously evaluate them, hoping to determine empirically if and why they are helpful. Currently we are working on intervention studies involving children, adolescent, and young adult samples.

Visit Dr. Gaynor's Home Page for more information or contact him at scott.gaynor@wmich.edu

The clinical psychology program at Western Michigan University is a behavioral program, and faculty there conduct research and train in modern behavioral psychotherapies such as Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation (BA).

Visit the program webpage for further information.

(This webpage was updated on October 12, 2022)

Dr. Zettle is a tenured professor in the clinical psychology program at Wichita State University. Dr. Zettle was Steven Hayes' first doctoral student and thus has had extensive training in ACT (>20 years). Students who enter the clinical psychology doctoral program at Wichita State University and work with Dr. Zettle can receive training in ACT. The common thread running through Dr. Zettle's research is an attempt to better understand the roles that languaging and verbal behavior play in the initiation, maintenance, and alleviation of human suffering from a functional contextualistic perspective. Some of the research projects are more basic in nature, while others are more explicitly applied and clinical in their focus. More basic research projects focus on the development of both self-report and behavioral ways of assessing processes that contribute to psychological flexibility/rigidity as well as experimentally manipulating these same processes in impacting analogues of clinical forms of human suffering, such as anxiety and mood disorders. More applied research projects compare the clinical outcomes and related processes associated with traditional cognitive-behavioral interventions in treatment of depression versus ACT and related acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches.

If you are interested in joining/working with Dr. Zettle's lab, more information about his lab and his contact information can be found at http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=psychology&p=/labs/zettlelab/.

(This webpage was updated on May 10, 2018)