ACT and Autism Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2017

Click Here to Join the ACT and Autism SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

SIG Leaders

Ezaeza Gaby Sanz Galvan

Amanda Silva

Stephanie Sokolosky

SIG Mission/Objectives

To connect people who work with people on the autism spectrum and have a passion for ACT and RFT. Given how niche the area is, we often struggle to find colleagues with whom to debrief and learn. It is vital that we are able to connect with each other to network and share resources. Of course, our ultimate goal is to assist and therefore decrease unnecessary suffering for the families we see.

Description of SIG membership

Any person who works, researches or has an interest in learning more about using ACT and/or RFT with autism spectrum conditions.

SIG Activities

We really just want to connect and share ideas. The SIG created its own listserv to share resources. The SIG will maintain a webpage of resources. We will also consider creating occasional worldwide teleconferencing for peer networking. There is very little available in this area but as we amalgamate our combined knowledge and experience, it is hoped we could eventually have more clinical trials to formally support the use of ACT/RFT with autism.

ACT and Buddhism Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2024

Click Here to Join the ACT and Buddhism SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

SIG Officers

Andy Santanello - President
Brent Hogarth - Vice President 
Michael Eisen - Secretary
Robert Johansson - Member-at-Large
John Freese - Member-at-Large

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed

Areas of convergence and divergence between Buddhist practice and philosophy and the theory and practice of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as Contextual Behavioral Science in general.

Mission/Objectives

The ACT and Buddhism Special Interest Group's mission is to foster and maintain a community for anyone interested in facilitating an ongoing conversation among SIG members about the areas of convergence and divergence between Buddhist practice and philosophy and the theory and practice of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Furthermore, we aim to provide resources, support, and a platform for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners to explore how these two approaches can complement each other and contribute to the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. In addition to this, we strive to organize events, workshops, and seminars that enable direct interaction and learning opportunities for our members.

SIG Activities

We hope to explore possibilities for SIG members to interact with each other and the greater ACBS community.
● The Buddhism and ACT SIG will facilitate an ongoing discussion via the SIG's email listserv.
● Other activities might include SIG meetings, an annual meeting at the ACBS World Conference, and opportunities to engage in Buddhist practice together (e.g., meditation).

The Buddhism and ACT SIG aims to foster a deeper understanding of the common ground shared between Buddhist philosophy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). For example, we plan to host online discussion groups that delve into the theoretical and practical synergies between Buddhism and ACT, examining how principles like mindfulness, compassion, and acceptance play out in both contexts. 

Description of Membership

We welcome any ACBS member from any religious, ethnic, cultural, or racial background as well as individuals from the LGBTQIA+ and Neurodivergent communities with an interest in participating in conversations about Buddhism and ACT including:
● Non-Buddhist professionals working with Buddhism clients who wish to learn more about ways to integrate ACT into their work with these clients.
● Buddhist professionals who are interested in developing a greater sense of integrity between their personal Buddhist practice and the practice of ACT in their professional lives.
● Researchers who are curious about specific questions related to the relationships between Buddhist concepts/practices and ACT/CBS.
● CBS enthusiasts who wish to engage in in-depth conversations about the areas of philosophical compatibility between Functional Contextualism and Buddhist philosophical traditions.
● Professionals, researchers, and students with a casual interest in Buddhism who are curious and want to learn more.

ACT and Judaism SIG

Affiliated 2020

Click Here to Join the ACT and Judaism SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

Simcha Charnas
New Jersey, USA

SIG Leaders

Simcha Charnas
Jonathan Feiner

Mission/Objectives

Our mission is to create a community for anyone interested in incorporating Judaism and ACT into their professional practice including:

• Professionals working with religious clients. These clients may face unique issues. These include the congruity of ACT with traditional Judaism. Also, unique to this population is how to apply ACT to religious practices.
• Professionals working with all Jewish clients. These clients may benefit from incorporating concepts from the rich Jewish traditions. This may include the purpose of human suffering and the concept of a soul among many others.
• Professionals working with Jewish or non-Jewish clients who wish to enhance their practice from the wisdom of millennia of Jewish traditions.
• Researchers and students are also welcome.

Possible SIG Activities

• SIG Listserv
• Annual meeting at the ACBS World Conference
• Maintain a list of SIG resources

ACT for Health Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2015

Click Here to Join the ACT for Health SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Go here to join the ACT for Health SIG Facebook Group

2023 SIG Officers

Scott Charlton

SIG Mission/Objectives

The Special Interest Group (SIG) "ACT for Health" promotes the development of scientific evidence based protocols in the health context, in the oncological and in the palliative context, in the neurological setting (e.g. headache disorders, Alzheimer’s diseases), in the bariatric treatment, cardiac treatment, and in the surgical context. Moreover this approach has been successfully used for the training of the health workers.

Description of SIG membership 

Experts who are willing to share their knowledge and develop protocols in order to increase knowledge about the application in the field ACT of Health.

SIG Activities

• Annual meeting at the ACBS World Conference.
• Sponsor relevant presentations for the World Conferences.
• Maintain the ACT for Health Facebook group.
• Maintain the ACT for Health SIG listserv.
• Consider collaboration with other ACBS SIGs, to further develop research and clinical directions from this conceptual basis.

ACT for Military SIG

Affiliated 2018

Click Here to Join the ACT for Military SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

Tommy Parry

SIG Board 

Tommy Parry, President
Aaron Keating, Member-at-large
Rivka Edery, Member-at-large
Ryan Hissong, Active-Duty Military Representative
Doris Curry, Past-President

President Emeritus: Andy Santanello, Psy.D., Wyatt Evans, Clinical Psychologist; David Tubman, Clinical Health Psychologist; John Blue Star, Clinical Health Psychologist

Mission/Objectives

The ACT for Military SIG’s mission is to promote clinical practice, clinical training, and research of ACT and other CBS consistent therapies to alleviate suffering and promote wellbeing internationally among active duty military members and their families. The SIG seeks to do this through creating an open, collegial, and supportive environment for international clinicians and researchers with experience and/or interest in this area to learn, practice, and study ACT/CBS.

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed

The research and application of ACT/CBS for international active duty military members and their families.

SIG Activities

Listserv, meetings at ACBS World Conference, and a list of SIG resources.

Monthly ACT Case Consultation - 2nd Fridays of each month, from 12 - 1 PM Eastern.

Description of Membership

Anyone with experience and/or interest using ACT/CBS with this population.

ACT for the Christian Client Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2015

Click Here to Join the ACT for the Christian Client SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

SIG Leaders Contact Information:

Chris Dowdeswell
Saskatchewan, Canada

Wendy D. Shoesmith
Sabah, Malaysia

Mission/Objectives

"The purpose of the ACT for the Christian Client SIG is  to support both religious and non-religious ACT practitioners who are seeking to attend to their Christian clients' unique spiritual values; to conceptually integrate ACT with Christian teaching, and to identify ways to apply ACT in a manner that is consistent with sound scientific and theological principles."

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed

1) ACT as a means of treating clients
2) Integrating ACT with Christian teaching (e.g., identifying ways in which ACT is congruent to concepts within Christianity)
3) The clinical application of ACT in a manner that is acceptable to Christian clients and leaders
4) Supporting ACT practitioners who are working with Christian clients

SIG Activities
1) Review and discussion of literature
2) List of resources
3) Symposia, workshops, posters, etc., at ACBS world conferences

Description of Membership

Membership is open to ACBS Members, both Christian and non-Christians, who wish to learn more about how to help their clients. Researchers and academics are also welcome.

ACT in Education Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2020

Click Here to Join the ACT in Education SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

SIG Leaders

• Ben Sinclair (Researcher, University of Warwick, UK)
• Jonathan Weinstein (Clinical Psychologist, New York)

Mission/Objectives

To share and explore the ways in which CBS/ACT can service the users of the various education settings (schools, colleges, universities, adult learning providers, etc.). This encompasses a vast array of ages, institutions, stakeholders and needs, but is unified in its focus on the unique practical and ethical considerations that such educational environments present.

General interest area to be specifically addressed by the SIG:

There are two approaches in using ACT in educational settings: reactive and pro-active. Group members may be interested in the approaches that may be considered ‘reactive’ such as in the counselling of adolescents through their difficulties, or in emotional/behavioural interventions for students. Others may be concerned with ‘proactive' approaches such as continued professional development (CPD) for educators so that they may embed psychological flexibility skills and mindsets in their teaching, or in technologies that support learners. The group with regularly revisit clearer distinctions and unifications.

This SIG may be of interest for:

• Researchers or practitioners that have experience in an education setting, or those who plan to;
• Education stakeholders (learners, teachers, counselors, support staff, senior leadership, principals/governors/superintendents) who wants to learn, teach or use ACT;
• Anyone who values Education, Social Justice and Inclusivity.

SIG Activities

• SIG Listserv
• Annual meeting at the ACBS World Conference
• Maintain a list of SIG resources
• Organise and advertise opportunities for seminars and training sessions

ACT in Perinatal Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2020

Click Here to Join the ACT in Perinatal SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

Sarah Cox

SIG Leaders

Anna Barbano, Co-Chair
Shiloh ("Lola") Eastin - Co-Chair
Katie (Craft) Landrum - Member at Large
 

Mission/Objectives

The mission of the ACT in Perinatal SIG is to share and explore ways that ACT could be applied to helping individuals in the perinatal period, as well as collating/developing an evidence base for the use of ACT with perinatal disorders. Group members could consider preventative approaches (i.e. at a service level) to enhance psychological flexibility skills for staff, as well as women/birth partners. Whereas others might be interested in implementing ACT as a postpartum treatment.

General interest area to be specifically addressed by the SIG:

The perinatal period is from conception to 2 years old.

Possible SIG Activities

• SIG Listserv
• Maintain a webpage of relevant resources and information
• Organize symposia or panel discussions for the ACBS World Conference, or for regional ACBS conferences.
• Meet each year at the ACBS World Conference!

ACT in Primary Care Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2014

Click Here to Join the ACT in Primary Care SIG and its Listerv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

2023 SIG Leaders
Dan Rosen

SIG Mission/Objectives

To connect professionals working or interning in primary care, and to incorporate ACT principles.

Description of SIG membership 

Professionals working or interning in primary care and incorporating ACT principles (e.g., medical providers, behavioral health specialists)

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed by SIG

ACT as it applies to health related and primary care issues in the unique context of the primary care office. Coordination of care with medical and mental health consultants. Dissemination of information to medical providers about human nature, behavior change and a values based approach to patient care.

SIG Activities

• SIG listserv
• Meeting at annual ACBS World Conference
• List of SIG Resources

ACTing with Technology Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2014

Visit our website!

Click Here to Join the ACTing with Technology SIG and its Listserv!

Where the appreciation for ACT and Tech enabled clinical interventions come together. 

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Join our Slack group to connect, share resources, and discuss

2024-2025 SIG Leaders

Dr. Erika Torres & Timothée Basson 

Dr. Erika Torres is a bilingual licensed psychologist in California who specializes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She provides clinical consultation and supervision to licensed clinicians and trainees. And, also provides clinical program and product development consulting for building digital and analog evidence-based interventions. 

Former System&Control engineer, Timothée Basson is now a clinical psychologist working in private practice in the South West of France. He has an integrative approach, rooted in Process-Based Therapy, and uses Mindfulness based interventions such as MBSR/MBCT, CBT, ACT, and EMDR.

Anyone else interested in taking an active role in the SIG can contact us, as we can surely use any expertise and input.

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed by the SIG
Technology that has an ACT component as part of improving health/wellbeing. This includes, but is not limited to internet-based interventions, mobile technology (phone, tablet and apps) and dedicated devices.

Mission/Objectives
1. Promote collaboration, discussion and sharing of ideas between researchers and practitioners with an interest in applying technological solutions in the field of contextual behavioral science (ACT, FAP, CFT).
2. Informing the ACBS community of existing technology (e.g., Internet interventions, mhealth, apps, devices), and clarifying which of those are currently supported by research.
3. Promote the use of evidence-based technology, and inspire researchers and practitioners to reach larger groups of people with ACT.

Meetings Cadence
Meetings are currently held on a variable schedule. We strive to have quarterly meetings and encourage our membership guide topics and event types. See our website to access the meeting schedule and Zoom link!

SIG Activities
- Annual meeting at the ACBS world conference.
- Email listserv
- ACTing with Technology SIG website

Description of Membership
Membership is available to all ACBS-members, and is particularly relevant to:
- professionals who would like to use technological tools within their existing ACT-informed practice.
- researchers developing technology for treatment.
- students developing/testing technology.

Aging in Context Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2017

Click Here to Join the Aging in Context SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Join us on Facebook

Contact Information

Susan McCurry
University of Washington
Research Professor
Seattle, WA, USA

SIG Leaders

Susan McCurry
Lynn Northrop

Description of Interest Area

Assessment, treatment, and advocacy for older adults in a whole person context.

SIG Mission

Our mission is to foster the use of contextual behavioral science to alleviate human suffering and promote wellbeing among older adults, including:

• Critically evaluating and challenging myths and stereotypes about aging and late life issues;

• Promoting whole-person assessments to understand aging in its historical, physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial context;

• Developing interventions and training tools linked to these assessments, grounded in scientific methodology and empirical evidence; and

• Encouraging social/political advocacy to stimulate consideration of geriatric issues in psychological research, training, and contextual science.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) study of successful/resilient aging, diversity and cultural influences on aging outcomes, efficacy of psychological treatments for elderly populations, the role of mindfulness and compassion in care and treatment of older adults, issues related to age-related psychological changes along the cognitive continuum, family and professional caregiving for older adults, late-life residential care transitions and adjustments, aging and homelessness, health equity for older persons, aging and spirituality, and death and dying. We acknowledge the broad and complex contextual factors that influence the aging process and welcome interdisciplinary perspectives and participation.

Description of SIG membership

Consistent with the interdisciplinary nature of work with older adults, we hope to attract a mix of colleagues from diverse clinical backgrounds including psychology, family counseling, nursing, and medicine. We also anticipate interest not only from persons directly working with older adults currently, but also from individuals who have aging friends and family members, who have experience with caregiving or late-life bereavement, who are concerned about social/political marginalization of older persons, or who are themselves not getting any younger and want to know more!

SIG Activities

We have a listserv and facebook page for communication with potentially interested members. Activities that have been discussed to date as being of interest for future SIG activities include: planning aging-focused presentations or symposia; facilitating aging-related workshops; participating in suggesting speakers for the annual meeting; coordinating grant efforts to sponsor a student award to reinforce interest in aging; developing on-line trainings; promoting research collaborations; sharing innovations related to assessment, training, care, or advocacy for older persons, and maintaining a webpage for research/publications.

Applying ACT to Addictions Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2013

Click here to join the Applying ACT to Addictions SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Join us on Facebook (AAA-sig) where we have a less active (but still fun) presence. 

SIG Leaders

Cordelia Kraus, President
Deirdre Waters, President-Elect
Ali Cooper, Roster Manager
Gabriella Svanberg, Facebook Manager

Contact Information

Cordelia Kraus, LPC, CADC1
Consultant, Therapist
Private Practice
Portland, OR, USA

Mission Statement

The mission of the Applying ACT to Addictions SIG is to foster the application of ACT and CBS to the understanding and treatment of harmful substance and activity addictions leading to their alleviation.

Topics of Interest

We will develop and share better skills and techniques for the application of ACT specifically to problems of abuse and dependence on substances, and compulsive engagement in harmful activities. We will certainly keep abreast of current research and trends in the field of addictions. We plan to dedicate some energy to updating the practices used in addiction rehabilitation programs (both inpatient and outpatient) and addiction therapy and support groups to include applications of contextual science as well as other science-based techniques and practices.

Description of SIG membership

We are an international group of researchers, teachers, and therapists who see a rather clear connection between having addictions and attempts to avoid private internal experiences, fusing with some very unhelpful thoughts/ideas, and a disconnect from one's values.

SIG Activities

• The SIG has met together at every ACBS World Conference since 2013. 

• The SIG holds at least one online community gathering a year, often a few weeks after World Con. 

• We have established both a Listserv and a Facebook group for community connection and support and encourage all AAA-SIG members to introduce themselves and share their thoughts! 

• The AAA-SIG maintains a webpage of protocols and research resources and encourage our members to add their resources. A recordeing of our October 2024 panel on using ACT in Groups for addiction available on this page!

• AAA SIG  provides a process for sponsorship for World Con submissions related to addictive behaviors and can offer up to three sponsorship designations per conference. 

Asian Culture and CBS SIG

Affiliated 2017

Click Here to Join the Asian Culture and CBS SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

SIG Executive Committee Members

Kenneth Fung, Ph.D., committee member
Cao Hui, Ph.D., committee member, caohui@bjie.ac.cn
Yim-wah MAK, Ph.D., committee member, Yw.mak@polyu.edu.hk

Mission/Objectives

Asia is the largest continent with the largest population in the world. There is so much going on in this land and lots of contextual behaviors to be discovered and experienced. Due to some barriers, we may have difficulty finding like-minded colleagues within the ACBS. It is vital that we are able to connect with each other to network, share resources and, ultimately, make our land a better place to live.

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed

Facilitating to connect CBS researchers and practitioners who work in Asia or with clients who have Asian cultural heritage.

SIG Activities

We want to connect and share ideas with SIG meetings and presentations. The SIG will create its own listserv and webpage to share resources. 

Membership Requirements -

Any person who works, researches, or has an interest in learning more about the integration of CBS in Asian cultural context.

CBS and Cancer Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2021

Click Here to Join the CBS and Cancer SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Join us on Facebook

Contact Information

Amanda Rhodes (amandarhodes.acr@gmail.com)

SIG Leaders

Amanda Rhodes, President
Gaby Lopez Elias, Past President
Ana B. Bautista Girona, President Elect
Caitlyn Loucas, Student Representative
Sebas Ortiz, Media & Communications Liaison
Casey Walsh, Member-at-Large,
Matthew Dwyer, Student representative

Find CBS & Cancer SIG Training and Collaboration Opprotunities Here! (Email Amanda to add or update the list)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Wm7V62QkrEjQzdOQtx31n7uJhZ-9mrh9-3cpsifWRDk/edit?usp=sharing

Mission/Objectives

The mission of the CBS for CANCER SIG is to facilitate collaboration and exploration between all professionals, researchers, and trainees interested in the area of psycho-oncology. The SIG aims to further both clinical and research agendas by sharing materials and experience in working with cancer patients and their families while also designing, collaborating, and promoting novel research in CBS and cancer. The SIG intends to aid dissemination of these evidence-based approaches in psycho-oncology to CBS as well as the global community to relieve and provide quality support to cancer patients around the world.

General interest area to be specifically addressed by the SIG:

Psycho-oncology, contributions that we can provide from the development of writings, research, and everything that contributes to the study of this area of the clinic from CBS.

Possible SIG Activities

• SIG Listserv
• Maintain a webpage of relevant resources and information
• Meet each year at the ACBS World Conference!
• Sponsor and Promote at least one cancer related session at the ACBS World Conference
• Promote workshops/webinars open to SIG members and the larger ACBS community
• Promote spaces for writing, research, and collaboration in psycho-oncology.

Children, Adolescents & Families Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2010

Click Here to Join the Children, Adolescents & Families SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Love social media?  You can also join the CAF SIG Facebook group.

Contact Information

2023 Officers

Chris McCurry, President
Sean O’Dell, Vice-President 
Leigh Swanson, Communications Coordinator

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed by SIG

Research and clinical applications of ACT/RFT with children, adolescents, parents, at home and in school settings

Mission/Objectives

• To promote rigorous empirical investigation of both basic processes and applications of ACT- and RFT-based work to children, adolescents, and their families and teachers
• To encourage collaboration and mutual support of work with children, adolescents, and families through the development of an international community of researchers and clinicians in the ACT community
• To foster communication between researchers and clinicians who are interested in working with youths and families through an active listserv and therapy consultation groups
• To link this work to public health initiatives to foster nurturing communities for children, teens, and families

SIG Activities

• Listserv
• Annual meeting at ACBS World Conference
• Sponsor sessions at the ACBS World Conference
• Resource Toolbox for CAF SIG

Description of Membership

Researchers, clinicians, and students interested in applications of ACT and RFT to children, adolescents, parents and caregivers/teachers. 

Climate Justice and Action Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2020

Click Here to Join the Climate Justice and Action SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

Daria Suchilina
dariasuchilina@gmail.com

2024 SIG Leaders

Rationale: 

Climate change and ecological emergency, in the light of the degradation of the environment, extinction of species, and the expected mass climate migration, is one of the most important and pressing issues of our time. The contextual behavioral sciences can join the call to action by promoting theory and practice of behaviour change relevant to our climate emergency and its fallout. Our mission is to create a forum for discussion and action on the contributions CBS can make toward supporting sustainability, reduced consumption, climate justice, and action in the service of reducing climate change through individual, organizational, and public policy action. As such, the CJA will work to develop a perspective in CBS that understands global ecology as the context within which human (sapient) and sentient behaviour emerge and adapt.

 
Mission: 

1. Develop and inform our respective members of ACBS and the public about the climate crisis and its redress; performed in ways allowed by ACBS policy and emphasizing scientific research and consensus on its causes and short- and long-term harms, including climate justice concerns, and the need for immediate personal and societal action;
2. Collaborate with other organizations interested in similar work, with ACBS Board approval, working with indigenous and other marginalized communities threatened by the climate crisis, using the principles of CBS, advocating for their rights, mitigating the negative physical and mental health impacts of climate change, increase community resilience, and activate hope through action.
3. Encourage ACBS members and other mental health leaders to be vocal advocates concerning the necessary preparatory and responsive adaptations to the climate crisis and to invest more in research and practice in this area, including a focus on eco-anxiety and other mental health fallout; 
4. Advocate for universities and other entities to include the formation of CBS research and projects related to societal challenges due to climate crisis;
5. Use CBS to explore the development of public awareness campaigns to encourage individuals and communities to adopt behaviors to help prepare for, recover from, and adapt to gradual climate change and acute climate crisis events; Further, as a part of this campaign, support workshops, training, and contemplative practices related to climate change and the interrelationships of organisms and their environment (e.g., climate migration and mental health, “the ecological self,” etc.);
6. Encourage, whenever possible and through multiple avenues (including prosocial design initiatives), governmental, educational, health, and corporate leaders to use more psychological science in designing policies that promote sustainable, mitigating, and regenerative climate action. 

Forthcoming and Ongoing SIG Activities

• SIG Listserv
• SIG Facebook Group - CBS Warriors Climate Justice and Action SIG
• List of SIG resources - for SIG members contribution and dissemination
• Sub-Committee comms: subcommittees.climatejusticesig@gmail.com  proposals/participation

Clinical Behavior Analysis SIG (CBA SIG)

Affiliated 2019

Click Here to Join the Clinical Behavior Analysis SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

President: Emily Sandoz
Secretary: Troy DuFrene

SIG Mission/Objectives

Applications of CBS (e.g., ACT and FAP) have historically been referred to as specific forms of Clinical Behavior Analysis (CBA). Over time, however, they have developed as treatment packages in their own right, sometimes implemented and described in ways consistent with a behavior analytic perspectives (e.g., philosophical, theoretical, strategic) and sometimes not. The ACBS Clinical Behavior Analysis (CBA) SIG explores the ways in which behavior analysis can be applied to understanding, designing, and evaluating interventions that are primarily language-based (i.e., "talk therapies”) with limited appeal to middle-level terms or treatment packages. In short, the CBA SIG aims to support clinical work that focuses the systematic establishment of functional relations between context and behavior.

Applications of CBS (e.g., ACT and FAP) have historically been referred to as specific forms of Clinical Behavior Analysis (CBA). Over time, however, they have developed as treatment packages in their own right, sometimes implemented and described in ways consistent with a behavior analytic perspectives (e.g., philosophical, theoretical, strategic), and sometimes not. The ACBS Clinical Behavior Analysis (CBA) SIG explores the ways in which behavior analysis can be applied to understanding, designing, and evaluating interventions that are primarily language-based (i.e., "talk therapies”) with limited appeal to middle-level terms or treatment packages. In short, the CBA SIG aims to support clinical work that focuses the systematic establishment of functional relations between context and behavior.

The CBA SIG serves as a nexus for psychotherapist, counselors, behavior analysts, and other professionals (or aspiring professionals) invested in developing CBA as a basis for clinical conceptualization, intervention, and evaluation independent of particular treatment packages. The CBA SIG connects individuals with this common interest, supports the synergy of research projects in this area, and strengthens our common commitment to CBA as a progressive and important part of the behavioral health profession.

Description of SIG membership:

CBA SIG membership consists of behavior analysts, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other behavioral health professionals and students training for these fields who share a common commitment to behavior analysis as a primary clinical intervention for language-able individuals. Members will be connected through the website clinicalbehavioranalysis.com.

Describe SIG activities:

• Host the Clinical Behavior Analysis SIG email listserv.
• Hold a meeting at the annual ACBS World Conference.
• Maintain a SIG Resources webpage.
   

Coaching Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2012

Click Here to Join the Coaching SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Join us on Facebook

Contact Information

Michael Herold

Aprilia West

Mission Statement

The Coaching SIG will provide opportunities for coaches to access relevant resources and materials and to network within the ACBS community in all areas, including research, education, job opportunities, consultation, program development, and supervision. In this SIG, coaches who have integrated ACT principles and practices into their work or are interested in learning how to do so can come together to share information, ask questions, receive support, and strengthen their practice. An additional focus of this SIG will be to ensure that ACT-based coaching is addressed in symposia, panels, workshops, and trainings at ACBS world, regional, and local conferences.

Description of SIG membership

This SIG will be comprised of ACBS members in good standing who are interested in coaching and are committed to integrating ACT principles and practices in their work.

SIG Activities

• Virtual Networking Meetings
• Virtual Workshops and Masterclasses
• Coaching SIG Listserv
• Facebook group
• Hold Coaching SIG meetings at ACBS Annual World Conference
• Coaching SIG Resources webpage

Promotions via this SIG

This SIG is not in favor of promotions, especially self-promotion (aka "buy my course", "register for my workshop"), through it's platforms.
However, the SIG also recognises the need to spread information about new products, training abilities, resources, etc.
As a workable compromise, we therefore ask that any promotional posts or messages
a) be limited to Mondays
b) must be related to ACT or Coaching (preferably both)

College/University Student Mental Health Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2014

Click Here to Join the College/University Student Mental Health SIG!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

Megan Mayo, Vermont, USA

SIG Mission/Objectives

Our mission is to establish a community of professionals who share an interest in a) ACT/RFT/CBS and b) college/university student and/or college/university campus mental health for the purpose of mutual consultation on clinical, research, and educational matters.

We are working to achieve the following objectives:
a) Create a supportive, respectful, and fun international community of professionals to foster discussions and collaborations.
b) Increase our effectiveness in the delivery of ACT/mindfulness to college/university students.
c) Improve our methodology in researching college/university students/college campuses.
d) Remain abreast of new developments in the area of ACT/RFT/mindfulness with college/university students.
e) Have a deeper understanding of how ACT/RFT/CBS can contribute to preventing mental health problems and increasing resilience in college students or bettering their lives.
f) Have a deeper understanding of how ACT/RFT/CBS can be applied specifically to the developmental and cultural perspectives of college/university students in the current campus climate.

Both the mission and the objectives are reviewed on an annual basis, in order to keep the document alive and applicable to the changing context of mental health issues in higher education.

Description of SIG membership 

The SIG is composed of clinicians, researchers, and educators who:
a) work at a College/University Counseling Center or Health Center and/or
b) work with college students in other Student Affairs offices and/or
c) conduct research on the mental health of college students and/or
c) primarily work with college students in their private practice and/or
d) consult regularly with college campuses on mental health issues

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed by SIG

College/University students' mental health and/or mental health issues impacting higher education campuses across the world

SIG Activities

- Listserv
- Annual Meeting at the ACBS conference
- Maintaining a list of SIG Resources on the ACBS website.
- Organize presentations on this topic at the ACBS annual conference

Compassion Focused Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2013

Click Here to Join the Compassion Focused SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Join us on Facebook

Contact Information

Laura SIlberstein-Tirch, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, The Center for Mindfulness and Compassion Focused Therapy
New York, NY, USA

SIG Leaders

Laura Silberstein-Tirch, co-chair
Dennis Tirch, co-chair 
Russell Kolts, co-chair 

Description of Interest Area

The main focus of this SIG parallels the ACBS mission statement in that it is dedicated to the advancement of compassion focused science and practice so as to alleviate human suffering and advance human well being. It is clear that the Contextual Behavioral Science movement, functional contextualist philosophy, RFT research and ACT and FAP clinical applications all can expand and refine our science of compassion. The account of perspective taking, empathy and compassion that continues to evolve within the CBS community can allow us to understand compassion with increasing clarity, which allows us to frame scientific, testable questions. This can allow us to develop more effective ways to shape and train compassion and compassion in the context of therapy. Beyond this, the idea of applying CBS and EvoS principles to the creation of more functional and compassionate groups and societies continues to grow within the ACBS community.

SIG Mission

To promote the alleviation of human suffering through the continued scientific investigation, understanding and application of compassion via:

1. Creating an accepting, active, values based compassion focused group of “researchers, educators, and practitioners who will work in a collegial, open, self-critical, non-discriminatory, and mutually supportive way that is effective in producing valued outcomes”.
2. Helping to identify researchers and others who have a specific interest in the scientific study of compassion and its underlying processes, and facilitate communication and interchange between them, while balancing “practical application and empirical knowledge.”
3. Supporting research and teaching of the compassion focused approaches to human difficulties with the continued use and “development of basic principles, workable applied theories linked to these principles, effective applied technologies based on these theories, and successful means of training and disseminating these developments, guided by the best available scientific evidence”
4. Facilitating open discussion on how to further promote a compassionate focus in many domains of the ACBS community and further dissemination and training by conducting workshops, research and sponsored talks about compassion focused research and therapy.

Description of SIG membership 

In the interest of fostering inclusion, as a part of the values of ACBS, this is SIG open to any ACBS members, including students, researchers, clinicians, scientists and trainers.

SIG Activities

Business meeting at annual World Conference, sponsor sessions or posters at annual World Conference, listserv, Facebook group, and the SIG Resources webpage.

Contextual Philosophy of Science Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2016

Click Here to Join the Contextual Philosophy of Science SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

Conor McCloskey

SIG Leaders

President Elect - Jose Moreno

President - Conor McCloskey

President Emeritus - Hugh Simonich

Mission

The Contextual Philosophy of Science Special Interest Group (CPOS SIG) seeks to alleviate human suffering and advance human well being by actively fostering discussion and learning opportunities for the CBS community on the topic of how the processes, practices, and products of philosophy interact with and set a context for human activities – particularly those activities involved in progressive knowledge development, scientific inquiry, and evidence-based psychosocial practices.

Objectives

To promote education, dialogue, and publication regarding the role of philosophy in human inquiry and psychosocial practices, explore interpretations and implications of functional contextualism and related worldviews, build bridges with communities and scholars who share an interest in pragmatism and contextualism.

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed

Philosophy of Science, generally, and Functional Contextualism, specifically.

SIG Activities

• SIG listserv
• Sponsoring sessions at the ACBS World Conference
• Annual Meeting at the ACBS World Conference
• Contextual Philosophy of Science SIG Resources webpage

Description of Membership

Membership in the CPOS SIG is open to all interested members of the ACBS community.

Leadership Structure

SIG leadership operates on a rolling basis with a new President Elect being elected by SIG members anually each summer

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion SIG

Affiliated 2019

Click Here to Join the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Read the DEI SIG blog

Contact Information

Current SIG Leaders
Melissa Connally - Chair

Mission/Objectives:
ACBS is an international organization which values understanding human behaviour within contexts. In order to fulfill this vision, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) SIG aims to help members with different backgrounds share their perspectives within the organization through
different channels, including but not limited to access to leadership, organizing and/or attending professional activities (e.g., World Conference, regional conference, etc.), communicating with people with different backgrounds, and initiating DEI-related activities. We endorse a broad definition of different backgrounds, including but not limited to nationality, professional discipline and setting, age and generational influences, gender identity and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, religion and spiritual orientation, and disability.

Definition of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity - psychological, physical, and social differences that occur among any and all individuals. Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, encompassing the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another, including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, age, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability, veteran status, genetic information and learning styles. Our definition also includes diversity of thought: ideas, perspectives, and values. We recognize that individuals affiliate with multiple identities. A diverse group, community, or organization is one in which a variety of social and cultural characteristics exist.

https://www.uh.edu/cdi/diversity_education/resources/pdf/terms.pdf

https://independentsector.org/resource/why-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-matter/

Equity - The guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of marginalized groups. https://diversity.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/admin_strategic_planning_toolkit_final.pdf

Inclusion - Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that shares power. http://www.racialequityresourceguide.org/about/glossary

General interest area to be specifically addressed: 
We would like to create a more inclusive community that is sensitive to diverse personal and professional backgrounds and their perspectives, experiences, and insights. To do this, we will engage with as many members as possible and work together.

SIG activities:
We have created our own listserv, Youtube channel, blog, Voice & Values podcast and resources webpage to share resources and perspectives.  Some of our activities include sponsoring symposium or panel discussion at the ACBS World Conference, conducting surveys on underrepresented members, engaging with underrepresented members, and initiating DEI-related activities throughout the year, especially during the World Conference.

Describe the SIG's membership:
Any person who has an interest in facilitating diversity, equity, inclusion, and related justice concerns within ACBS. This SIG works closely with the DEI Committee and will further engage with the larger community to include more members. We expect the membership will increase steadily in the future.

Evolution Science SIG          

Affiliated 2012

Click Here to Join the Evolution Science SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

What happens in EvoSSIG?

Many things

We have worked to put EvoSci into the day to day thinking of members of ACBS.

For a recent example look at the recommendations of the the ACBS Task Force on the Strategies and Tactics of Contextual Behavioral Science Research (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.03.007) which is chock full of EvoSci linked recommendations.
 

Another is that each year for many years we have helped to recruit major speakers from the Evolutionary Sciences to present at the ACBS World Conference. 

Example include Eva Jablonka on epigenetics (Sydney, July 2013). Find some information here==>, Christine Caldwell on cultural evolution (Dublin, 2019), Peter Turchin on cultural evolution (Montreal, 2018); Paul Gilbert on compassion and evolution (Seville, 2017), Frans de Waal on the evolution of cooperation in primates (Seville, 2017), David Sloan Wilson on evolution for everyone (Seattle, 2015; Minneapolis, 2013), Susan Schneider on the evolutionary impact of operant learning (Minneapolis, 2013) and many others.

The ACBS in a partner with The mission of the Evolution Institute is to use evolutionary science to improve the human condition and solve real-world problems – bringing together experts from various fields to inform public policy with the latest research.

Contact Information:

Resources:

Please click here to access some EvoS SIG resources.

Forensic and Corrections SIG

Affiliated 2015

Click Here to Join the Forensic and Corrections SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

Amie Zarling, Ph.D.
Research/University Faculty
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa, USA 

SIG Mission/Objectives

The Forensic and Corrections SIG is a professional workgroup dedicated to using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as the core therapeutic approach to treating behavioral health problems in forensic and corrections settings. The mission of the group is to (a) generate knowledge of effective care, treatment, and services in the context of forensic and corrections settings and individuals’ characteristics, culture, and preferences; (b) apply knowledge to provide quality care, treatment, and services to help individuals achieve values-based outcomes in a supportive environment; (c) integrate knowledge of complementary care, treatment, and services to promote whole-person recovery, wellness, and growth; (d) translate knowledge into professional practices and ACT programs responsive to the needs of individuals; and (e) communicate knowledge through educational programs that provide understanding of ACT, develop and prepare human service providers to deliver ACT-informed care, treatment, or services in forensic and corrections settings.

General interest area to be specifically addressed by this SIG:

The International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS) estimates more than 10.2 million people worldwide are currently incarcerated as pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners, or sentenced prisoners. This staggering number is even more poignant when you consider half of the world’s prisoners are in the United States (2.24 million), China (1.64 million), and Russia (0.68 million). If the number of pre-trial/ “administrative” detainees in China and North Korea were included, world total would exceed 11 million (2013).

In spite of the staggering number of incarcerates and the escalating costs to governments worldwide, the issue of treating mental illness in forensic and correctional settings becomes a solemn focal point. When you consider the prevalence of psychiatric disorders inherent in this population (e.g., psychosis, depression, personality disorders, and substance abuse) and increased suicide rates (Fazel & Seewald, 2010), the need to address mental illness in these settings becomes a global concern for the mental health community.

The belief that “nothing works” in treating incarcerates (Martinson, 1974) has permeated many correctional and forensics staff who feel any change efforts are pointless based on a client’s deeply rooted cognitive distortions and maladaptive coping strategies shaping criminal behavior. Consequently, incarcerates with mental illness are often under-served and the stigmatization of those with mental illness has continued costs.

Evidence is mounting that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) represents an intervention that is well suited to address the wide variety of mental health needs of individuals in forensic and correctional settings (Villagrá Lanza, P. & González Menéndez, A., 2013; Villagrá Lanza, P. et al., 2014; Brillhart, 2010).

Description of SIG membership 

This SIG will target the membership of individuals working in forensic settings such as jails, hospitals (and other forms of civil commitment), prisons, and community corrections. In addition, it will include public safety professionals (e.g., police officers, service members, veterans, firefighters, EMTs, correctional officers, paramedics, etc.). Those ACBS members simply interested in the areas above and want to learn more will be welcomed to join, as well.

SIG Activities

To begin with, a listserv will be created in order to carry-out the mission statement described above. The listerv will foster communication across individuals that share a common interest which will generate support and the dissemination of practices.  The SIG also has a SIG Resources webpage.

Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) SIG

Affiliated 2013

Click Here to Join the Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

Amanda Muñoz Martínez

Current Officers

Gender and Sexual Diversity SIG

Affiliated 2013

Click Here to Join the Gender and Sexual Diversity SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

 

SIG Leaders

Austin Burkett (SIG contact)

Charlie Giraud

Juan Ignacio Marine

Nick Mattos

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed by SIG

The Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) SIG will focus on the following areas but is not limited to, building a supportive environment for GSD providers, researchers, scholars, and students within ACBS; to better understand issues of sexual orientation, gender diversity, and sexual minority communities including queer and trans people of color; applying contextual science to increase understanding of contexts that foster acceptance and alleviate heterocentrism, cissexism, transphobia, racism, and white supremacy. The group will also work to cultivate and maintain a safe atmosphere for GSD individuals to network, meet, and discuss their work at the annual conference of ACBS. Future goals include creating spaces for education, connection, and active projects to promote social change.

Mission Statement

The GSD SIG is oriented to better understand the role of contextual behavioral science in the unique experiences of GSD people and the role it can play in fostering acceptance, self-compassion, and well-being. We are also focused on using contextual behavioral science to promote values-directed change and recognizing the discomfort of our own experiences of heterosexism, transphobia, cissexism, racism, classism, ableism, and white supremacy. We plan to work at the intersection of several identities to dismantle and challenge the structures that continue to oppress and maintain the marginalization of GSD people from all communities and nationalities.

GSD people are often exposed early in life to cisgender, heterocentric cultures that marginalize, shame, and criminalize gender diversity and sexual diversity. Successful advocacy, activism, training, and research are required to help develop cultural humility and dismantle systems of oppression against GSD people. These competencies are broad and require considerable training and resources. The function of this special interest group is to help facilitate professional growth of GSD people and their allies who are also member of ACBS. This SIG will focus on the professional development of its members as well as the use of CBS technologies in this area. Contextual behavioral science offers a unique, non-pathologizing lens to better examine the concerns and barriers for GSD people in living a full life in a valued direction, as well as training allies and GSD people in recognizing how we all are a part of and perpetuate systems, and how to dismantle and actively disrupt these systems.

In this group, GSD providers, researchers, and scholars within ACBS will interact to mutually support and cultivate cultural humility and dismantling of oppression for GSD people. 

Description of SIG membership 

Membership in this group is oriented to GSD providers, researchers, scholars, and students who are ACBS members. This SIG welcomes members of all sexual and gender identities.

SIG Activities

A SIG meeting and evening outing occur each year at the World Conference. The SIG encourages panels, symposia, and workshops related to GSD concerns; sponsors presentations; and promotes collaboration with other SIGs. Further, the SIG creates a space for socialization and connection within the community. There is also a GSD SIG Resources webpage.
 

Leadership, Organizational Behavior Management, & Public Policy SIG

Affiliated 2012

Click Here to Join the LOPP SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

If you're a LOPP-SIG member, please feel free to join us on: Facebook (COMING SOON)

SIG Leaders

Gabrielle Trapenberg Torres
Amy Serafini
Carmella Tress

Mission/Objectives

Scope:
Our social world is built on the past decisions of others trying to solve the problems of particular contexts. Some of those past decisions have had unintended and toxic effects. But everything that was built by people can be rebuilt by people. If we are to design and implement new systems of social cooperation in organizations, policies and social institutions, we need the psychological flexibility to make sure that what we build reflects and embodies our shared values. Concurrently, to work effectively at this scale, we need to address psychological toxicity in the environments we wish to influence.

Mission:
The mission of the Leadership, Organizational Behavior Management, & Public Policy SIG is to scale the psychological flexibility model up to the level of organizations, public policy, and social institutions more generally. We believe it is especially important to consider the interrelationship between environment (toxic or nurturing) and psychological flexibility in our efforts to provide something of value to the world.

SIG Activities

This group will draw upon its membership for ideas, collaboration, research design, and strategic development of new knowledge, practice, and dissemination. We will interact via a dedicated SIG listserv and have an annual meeting at the ACBS World Conference.  We will maintain a LOPP SIG Resources webpage.

Description of Membership

Our group includes but is not limited to those who are interested in basic and applied research, coaching, prevention science, public health, public policy, ACT, ACTraining, and the design of new ways to promote psychological flexibility at a societal level.

Neurodiversity-Affirming Research and Practice SIG

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Affiliated 2024. Formed via sprint group. Read more about the sprint group process here.

Click Here to Join the Neurodiversity-Affirming Research and Practice SIG! You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Mission/Objectives
The SIG aims to:

• Build a supportive and accepting community that cultivates a sense of belonging among its members
• Provide continuing education that promotes neurodiversity-affirming research and practice
• Develop/collate and disseminate resources that support neurodiversity-affirming research and practice
• Increase visibility, inclusion, and representation of neurodivergent perspectives and needs within the ACBS community
• Advocate for inclusive, affirming research on topics of importance to neurodivergent people
• Address discrimination and ableism inside and outside ACBS, and foster reconciliation

The SIG further aims to establish open avenues through which members can provide feedback on the SIG/its activities and create opportunities for members to lead SIG-supported initiatives. The SIG will collaborate with existing ACBS SIGs to ensure neurodiversity-themed content does not become split across multiple groups (i.e., to streamline content for ACBS members and reduce administrative burden on existing SIGs).

Importantly, this SIG (and indeed the sprint that formed it) can only ever be a product of its members. It is imperative to identify, acknowledge, and address the barriers people face to participating, particularly in the context of a neurodiversity-themed SIG. The Steering Committee is dedicated to increasing pathways to participation and invites ACBS members to contact them via email with any comments or requests for ways the SIG could support their involvement. Steering Committee member email addresses are listed here.

This SIG is in its infancy and there is a lot of work to be done. We ask for members’ patience and support as we work towards our shared goals.

SIG Activities
The SIG is comprised of three core pillars: 

• Advocacy and system-level pillar. Tasks include:
  • Sponsoring neurodivergence-focused and neurodiversity-affirming submissions at the annual ACBS World Conference.
  • Working alongside relevant Committees, and the Board as appropriate, to advance neurodiversity-affirming research and practice within ACBS.
  • Facilitating reconciliation, acknowledgment, and redress for harm done to neurodivergent people through CBS therapies and related approaches.
  • Improving accessibility of ACBS events.
• Community engagement pillar. Tasks include:
  • Establishing open avenues for member feedback, facilitating regular community-based events.
  • Hosting events for members’ professional development, and supporting member-led initiatives.
• Resource development and research dissemination pillar. Tasks include:
  • Producing/compiling and disseminating neurodiversity-affirming resources for clinicians/researchers/other professionals.
  • Amplifying neurodivergent perspectives and experiences in ACBS spaces.

Description of Membership
We welcome all members of ACBS with an interest in neurodiversity-affirming research and practice.

Guiding Values

Authenticity and safety – Being genuine and true to yourself. Cultivating a sense of closeness and connection through unmasking. Fostering safe, attuned disclosures of neurodivergence. Respecting and supporting personal autonomy and decisions not to disclose/not disclose.

Contribution – Striving to make a positive difference for neurodivergent people and the fields of neurodiversity-affirming practice and contextual behavioral science more broadly.

Collaboration and supportiveness – Working with community members in a mutually-supportive way. Honoring strengths and accommodating challenges associated with different neurotypes. Cultivating compassion, fairness, and an openness to others’ perspectives. Being willing to turn to others to achieve optimal outcomes for the group.

Dissemination – Promoting research, training, and practice that addresses the needs and priorities of neurodivergent people.

Inclusion and representation – Striving for an expansive and compassionate community that embraces all aspects of neurodiversity and intersectionality. Centering neurodivergent voices; “nothing about us without us.” Attending to equity and equality of opportunities. Finding ways to listen, support, and amplify the voices of those who have greater barriers to participation.

Justice and advocacy – Courageously challenging neuro-normative standards, ableism, and epistemic injustice. Advocating for reform and accommodations. Seeking avenues to redress harm and increase pathways to effective, neurodiversity-affirming support. Leveraging privilege in solidarity.

Learning – Acquiring knowledge, skills, and insights through an ongoing commitment to growth, self-improvement, listening to neurodivergent perspectives, and acknowledging the validity of lived experience.

Pragmatism: Seeking novel and innovative solutions while recognizing the inherent need for compromise in a neurodiverse group. Seeking practical, achievable, and incremental change. Being willing to take small, imperfect steps rather than getting stuck striving for unattainable ideals.

Transparency and integrity: Being open and honest in communication and decision-making processes. Following through on commitments and seeking help when needed.

OCD and Related Disorders Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2021

Click Here to Join the OCD and Related Disorders SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Volunteer Opportunities

We have quite a few opportunities to become involved with the OCD and related disorders SIG on all committees (Executive, Clinical Training, Communications, Diversity/Advocacy, and Research and Dissemination). The types of opportunites and time commitments (hours per month and length of commitment) vary, so you can find out more information on our volunteer opportunities page: 

https://contextualscience.org/volunteer_opportunities

Mission/Objectives

The mission of this SIG is to promote awareness and improve access to care for individuals who suffer from OCD and related disorders.

This SIG will broadly focus on obsessive compulsive disorder and related conditions, including, but not limited to, body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, perfectionism, illness anxiety disorder, body-focused repetitive disorders (e.g. trichotillomania and excoriation disorder), and common comorbid presentations. Clinical applications and research based in contextual behavioral science as related to these psychiatric illnesses will be central to this SIG. 

The OCD and Related Disorders SIG aims to:

• Build a diverse and inclusive community of professionals that fosters connection, collaboration, and growth towards shared values.
• Increase awareness of and decrease stigma related to OCD and related disorders by educating professionals and the public.
• Disseminate evidence-based treatment and training for OCD and related disorders, including the use of acceptance and commitment therapy as an independent treatment approach or integrated with exposure and response prevention or other behavioral treatments.
• Contribute to the reduction of current barriers to care for communities with health disparities due to race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, language, socioeconomic status, or region of residence, as well as mitigation of further gaps in health and healthcare for marginalized groups as a result of the ongoing climate crisis.
• Support basic and applied research related to the understanding and treatment of OCD and related disorders through the lens of contextual behavioral science. 

Current SIG Activities

• Hosting the ACT and OCD Special Topics Series featuring SIG members presenting on the topic of their choice (recordings and materials available here)
• Connecting with members via the SIG Listserv
• Maintaining a webpage of relevant resources
• Compiling and evaluating the research literature on ACT for OCD and related disorders
• Developing a training program with focus on ACT for OCD 
• Holding SIG meeting at ACBS World Conference (or virtually shortly before or after the World Conference)
• Launching a peer consultation group

Contact Information
Kristin Fitch
dr.kfitch@gmail.com
Louisiana, USA

SIG Leaders
Executive Committee Members
Kristin E Fitch 
Marla W Deibler 
Yvette Fruchter
Rebecca Schneider 
Erica Silberstein 

Clinical Training Committee Co-Chairs
Charles Galyon 
Jordan Cattie 
Jody Hoffman 

Communications Committee Co-Chairs
Alison Sagon 
Katy Rothfelder 

Diversity/Advocacy Committee Chair
Sheeva Mostoufi 

Research and Dissemination Committee Co-Chairs
Michelle Miller 
Eric Lee 

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Occupational Therapy & ACT SIG (OT-SIG)

Affiliated 2018

Click Here to Join the Occupational Therapy and ACT SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

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SIG Leaders

Tania Del Rio

Carlyn Neek 

Rachel Pecter

Mission/Objectives

The mission of the OT-SIG includes the following:
1. To promote collaboration within a growing community with an interest in how Contextual Behavioral Science informs Occupational Therapy Practice and how Occupational Therapy Practice may inform Contextual Behavioral Science.
2. Collaboration may include efforts to support clinical application, education, research, resource development, and/or publication specific to the application of Contextual Behavioral Science to Occupational Therapy.

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed

Quality of life with a focus on daily Occupation (Self-care, Productivity and Leisure) is the core of Occupational Therapy Practice. This group would focus on the performance components of Occupation which are Volition (Values, Interests, Personal causation), Performance Patterns (Habits, Roles, Routines) and Performance Capacity (Mental and physical attributes including lived experiences) and how this relates to psychological flexibility in daily practice.

SIG Activities

The group is having a great start as new members are becoming members of ACBS and OT-SIG!  The OT-SIG has a listserv and a webpage containing a list of resources.  The SIG has an annual meeting at the ACBS World Conference.

Description of Membership

All members of ACBS are welcome.

Pain Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2012

Click Here to Join the Pain SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Go here to join the Pain SIG Facebook Group

Contact Information

Skye Ochsner Margolies, Ph.D.
UNC School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
 

Pain SIG Officers

Heather Poupore-King, President
Lauren Hollrah, Secretary
Tracy Protti, Communications and Technical Director
Skye Ochsner Margolies, Past President

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed by SIG

• Research and clinical applications of ACT/RFT with patients and families struggling with physical pain.

Mission Statement

• To promote rigorous empirical investigation of both basic processes and applications of ACT- and RFT-based work patients and their families struggling with physical pain.
• To encourage collaboration and mutual support of work with patients and families through the development of an international community of researchers and clinicians in the ACT community
• To foster communication between researchers and clinicians who are interested in working with patients and families struggling with physical pain through an active listserv and therapy consultation groups
• To support public health and public policy initiatives to improve the care of patients and families struggling with physical pain
• To network with other professional and lay organizations serving patients and families struggling with physical pain

Description of SIG membership

• All membership categories in ACBS are welcome to join.

SIG Activities

• Online collaboration
• Online peer consultation group
• Maintaining a list of Pain Resources on the ACBS website
• Dedicated email listserv
• Active participation at the World Conference through formal business meetings, poster sessions, panel discussions, or workshops
 

Process-Based Therapy Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2021

Click Here to Join the Process-Based Therapy SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information
Ben Spaloss

SIG Leaders

Katie Craft

Hugh Simonich, BCBA, LBA-TX

Ben Spaloss
 

Mission/Objectives

We are dedicated to the advancement of Process-Based Therapy (PBT) research, education, and clinical practice.

The PBT SIG aims to:

• Develop a diverse, inclusive, and value-guided social network of researchers, educators, and practitioners who commit to advance PBT science and practice.
• Foster collaboration to facilitate basic and applied PBT research with the overall goal of advancing clinical practice, lowering human suffering, and supporting people to live a meaningful life.
• Support educational activities (e.g., workshop, learning collaborative) as a way to further disseminate PBT.
• Develop and disseminate tools and materials to facilitate successful implementation of PBT in clinical practice.

Possible SIG Activities

• SIG Listserv
• PBT Practice Network Diagramming Group  -  join here
• Maintain a webpage of relevant resources
• Annual SIG meeting at the ACBS World Conference
• Organize a presentation at the ACBS World Conference

Psychedelic and Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness SIG

Affiliated 2016

Click Here to Join the Psychedelic and Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness SIG and its Listserv!

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Contact Information

Temple Morris

Maura Tunney

Current SIG Leaders

Temple Morris (co-chair)
Maura Tunney (co-chair)
 

Mission/Objectives

The mission of the Psychedelic/Non-Ordinary of Consciousness SIG is to seriously engage with the accumulating body of scientific data regarding the therapeutic and human growth potential for psychedelic drugs and non-ordinary states of consciousness from a functional contextual perspective.

This will be achieved by:
1) De-stigmatizing the use of psychedelic agents for scientific and clinical purposes. This may include fearlessly promoting dialogue with other ACBS members, creating publications that examine current scientific knowledge from a functional contextual perspective, and building bridges with others doing this work.
2) Promoting scientific investigation of non-ordinary states for the purposes of basic and applied behavioral science.
3) To create a contextual conceptualization for the effects of the experience of non-ordinary states and their potential therapeutic benefits.

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed

Interest in the scientific study of psychedelic drugs and the associated non-ordinary states of consciousness that they evoke has grown tremendously in the past decade. Once considered a highly promising class of drugs for therapeutic and personal benefit, cultural taboos and legal restrictions effectively ended their study for over 30 years. As those sanctions begin to lift, many questions are left under investigated, and no form of behavioral psychology has ever attempted to study or explain the positive psychological benefits that are strongly suggested by current evidence.

SIG Activities

1. Annual meeting at the World Conferences.
2. Maintain an email listserve to promote conversation and support between SIG members.
3. Author publications examining the existing data on non-ordinary states of consciousness from a functional contextual perspective, including questions that could potentially be experimentally investigated.
4. Develop collaborations with other groups working on the scientific investigation of psychedelic states.
5. SIG Resources webpage

Description of Membership

The membership is open to all ACBS members, of all categories, interested in these issues from the perspective of contextual behavioral science.

Psychodynamic CBS SIG

Affiliated 2019

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Contact Information
Jill Bresler
New York, USA

SIG Leaders
Jill Bresler
Sheri Turrell

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed

This SIG includes all models of contextual behavioral science and therapy, and all models of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic research and therapy and as such, includes a broad and diverse range of therapeutic approaches. This would include, and not be limited to: CBS approaches such as: ACT, FAP, DBT, and CFT, and psychodynamic and attachment-based approaches, especially in their more recent versions, such as Relational Psychoanalysis and Mentalization-Based Treatment; we also want to include briefer forms of psychodynamic therapy, such as STDP & AEDP.

Mission/Objectives

The mission of this SIG is to provide an inclusive, open, and curious space to:
i) Build a community of clinicians interested in exploring the possibilities for integration, in the context of clinical work and/or research.
ii) Promote understanding and increased breadth and depth of knowledge in both CBS and psychodynamic ways of thinking and working.
iii) Explore ACT /RFT coherent descriptions of psychodynamic terms and concepts, and vice versa
iv) Consider points of integration / overlap, uniqueness, and complementarity between and amongst the approaches.
v) Enhance integrative clinical skills through discussion of anonymized clinical case material.
vi) Consider the role of mindfulness, relational (including transference-countertransference) dynamics, and overt behavior change across modalities.
vii) Explore infancy/developmental theory and research and implications for theory and practice
viii) To promote dialogue, collegial relations, and community amongst clinicians with diverse theoretical models, both within and beyond ACBS.
ix) Encourage exposure to, and open-minded reflection on research that arises out of contextual science and psychodynamic traditions.
x) Expand the field through support for written publications, creation of podcasts, videos and other endeavours.
xi) Consider how CBS (e.g., work done with IRAP and N=1 studies) can contribute to process- and outcome-research in psychodynamic approaches and the value of traditional psychodynamic research models for CBS.

Possible SIG Activities

We envision networking meetings at the ACBS World Conferences, and online forums for discussion and sharing of resources and reading groups with online discussion. We hope to share videos, podcasts and written material, and create such materials from within our group. We hope to engage in symposia and other forms of dialogue, sharing, and integration of thinking at the ACBS World Conferences.  We will have a reading group, in which we will read one book chapter or article per month and discuss it.  We will maintain a webpage of SIG resources.

Psychosis SIG

Affiliated 2015

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Follow us on Twitter @ACBSPsychosis

Contact Information

Mårten Tyrberg, Ph.D.
Sweden

SIG Mission/Objectives

- Facilitating contact between people from ACBS who work with psychosis
- Spreading/sharing material (protocols, stand-alone sessions, latest publications, ...) and experiences (do’s and don’t’s) on psychosis
- Linking ACT/CBS/RFT-perspectives on psychosis with other approaches

General interest area to be specifically addressed by this SIG:

Building/expanding a functional contextual approach for research on and working with psychosis/serious mental illness.

Description of SIG membership 

SIG members are ACBS members with an interest in research and practice in understanding helping people with serious mental illness.

SIG Activities

- Email listserv
- Twitter @ACBSPsychosis
- Facebook page
- SIG Resources webpage
- Sponsoring submissions to the ACBS World Conference

If there are other activities that you would like the SIG to engage in, please post on the email listserv and connect with others interested. 

Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Special Interest Group

Values and Mission: The members of this group value generous and respectful collaboration in the spirit of contributing to a diverse, inclusive community. We hope for our community to be a nurturing one, aligned with a value of kindness, and offering support, empowerment, friendship, playful fun, responsibility, and exploration. We also hope to support members of our community to take on ambitious, creative, and progressive projects that build competency, disseminate RFT, and have an impact on the field and on human affairs, all while supporting cross-cultural and international research efforts across labs.

Affiliated 2022

Click Here to Join the Relational Frame Theory (RFT) SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

And if you are not sure what RFT is, well just Click here to learn more about RFT

Activities

The RFT SIG holds regular community networking meetings as well as reading group discussions. The RFT SIG developed "Top 10" lists of research articles for beginning and advanced learning about RFT research. We are in the process of developing further projects that are aligned with our mission as well as developing the guidelines for SIG operation. SIG members are encouraged to join the RFT Listserv.

RFT SIG Steering Committee

The RFT SIG Steering Committee is comprised of three positions, ultimately each holding three-year terms. These positions are as follows:

Patrick Smith (3 year term ending August 2026): Community Engagement Lead. This role involves efforts directed toward co-creating and maintaining an inclusive and nurturing community that fosters positive growth among RFTers within and beyond ACBS. Projects aligned with this role include (i) hosting regular community-based events, (ii) establishing channels of communication between RFTers, and (iii) supporting members in exploring and extending beyond ACBS. This role exists to co-create spaces for members to discuss their work, share resources, and collaboratively problem-solve, regardless of their familiarity and fluency with RFT. Patrick will be inviting everyone in the SIG to support these efforts as best they can and shape the space into one that best serves all its members. Please feel free to reach out to Patrick at patricks@arizona.edu with ideas and feedback on community engagement activities.

Sebastian Garcia-Zambrano (3 year term ending August 2027): Resource Development and Research Dissemination Lead. This role involves engaging the community in creating and sharing resources and platforms to encourage the consumption and production of RFT research. As a foundational theory underlying third-wave behavioral therapy and training approaches, it is essential that members have the opportunity to access the historic and ongoing research in a safe space and have the resources to conduct this research if desired. Projects that will occur within this role are (i) developing a list of key papers to guide novice and advanced consumers, (ii) supporting the development of research information and protocols, and (iii) assisting members to connect with researchers in the field to support both research and practice. Each of these projects will actively involve interested SIG members. Please feel free to reach out to Sebastian at sebastiangarciaz@gmail.com with ideas and feedback on resource development and research dissemination activities.

Siri Ming (3 year term ending August 2025): Training, Mentoring and Professional Development Lead. This role is responsible for supporting members in building competency in research and application of RFT, by maintaining and increasing the accessibility and diversity of RFT training materials, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. I will be reaching out to the SIG community for assistance in projects such as increasing the accessibility of training materials, developing peer mentoring opportunities, and connecting students with potential research committee members and advisers, as well as creating an RFT track at World Conferences. Please feel free to reach out to Siri at siri@siriming.com with ideas and feedback on training, mentoring, and professional development activities.

Past RFT SIG Steering Committee Members

• Alison Stapleton, Community Engagement Lead (2022-2024)
• Jordan Belisle, Resource Development and Research Dissemination Lead (2022-2024)

Affiliated 2010

Click Here to Join the Research in Clinical Practice Collaborative SIG and its Listserv!

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SIG Leaders
Dustin Cox
Michelle Drapkin
 

Mission/Objectives

The Research in Clinical Practice Collaborative is designed to bridge the gap between clinical practice and applied science. Our mission is to help members gather data that informs clinical decision making and that contributes to research. Members of this SIG will contribute their unique expertise, clinical experience, research questions, and skills in order to

• facilitate practical implementation of research practices,
• monitor treatment progress,
• implement evidence-based-practices,
• and generate practice-based-evidence.

We plan to empower and support clinicians in utilizing research methods in their practice (through single case design, case formulation, and treatment progress monitoring), the goals of which are to improve client outcomes and contribute to treatment development efforts.

Description of Membership

Those who identify themselves as clinical practitioners, organization managers, students, and/or basic or applied scientists who value the principles and practices of contextual behavioral science. 

Members shall be in good standing with the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science, and will be included without discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation, or physical or mental disability.

Click here to join the Social Work SIG and our Listserv

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

You can also find us on Facebook

Mission Statement

The Board of the ACBS Social Work SIG commits to a grassroots approach to sharing ACT and contextual behavioral modalities with social workers in and beyond the ACBS in a way that is inclusive, accessible, generous, friendly, and warm. 

Vision Statement

We are committed to:

(1) offering professional development opportunities ranging from social work theory to macro and micro-niche social work practice;

(2) organizing in-person and virtual events for community engagement and social connection;

(3) affirming social work as a discipline within ACBS and centering social work in SIG activity and knowledge-gathering. 
 

SIG Volunteer Opportunities

Present a Webinar

Social Work SIG Webinar Series

The ACBS Social Work SIG is now accepting submissions to fill out the remainder of our 2024 webinar schedule.  Our aim is to provide a format where we can learn how other social workers from around the world are using ACT/CBS in their work. In service of expanding our range of offerings, we are hoping to fill out our 2024 schedule with webinars that focus on working with transgendered individuals, families in addiction and treating psychosis from an ACT/CBS perspective. We would also be especially interested in webinars that provide instruction on the use of a unique CBS/ACT intervention, experiential exercise, etc. that has proven to be effective for you. 

Webinars are:

• Provided via Zoom
• 1-1.5 hours in length 
• Hosted by very supportive ACBS SW SIG Board members 
• Submissions are reviewed by the SW SIG training and development committee to ensure the presentation integrates models of CBS (ACT, RFT, etc.) and is a good fit with the ACBS SW SIG platform. 

If presenting a webinar would be beneficial to you in career, practice, service, or connection to the social work community, please send your proposal our way by clicking the link below and join us as we offer a dynamic learning environment for the ACBS and social work communities at-large. https://forms.gle/vHjjsqBmuwdsLWfB7

For additional information or questions you can contact Neal Vernon at njvernon1@gmail.com or (803) 238-9417.

Previous Webinars are included on the ACT and Social Work Resources Page

JOIN THE BOARD

To express interest in volunteering your time and skill for the SWSIG as Board Member in 2025, please connect with our 2024 Board Co-Chairs:

Olga Montgomery, LCSW
olga@voyager-counseling.com 
Helen Dempsey-Henofer, LCSW, MBA
helen@divergentpathwellness.com
 

2024 Board Members

Olga Montgomery, Co-Chair
Helen Dempsey-Henofer, Co-Chair
Hannah Gold, Member at Large
Evelyn Goldstein, Member at Large
Jessica Jacoby, Member at Large
Janice Keeman, Member at Large
Anastasia Sfiroudis, Member at Large
Alexander Simmons, Member at Large
Hania Tran, Member at Large
Neal Vernon, Member at Large

SIG Founders
Matt Boone
Julie Hamilton
Paul Sorenson

Past Board Chairs
John Armando, US
Caroline Martin, Canada
Maggie Stewart, Canada
Sarah Cheney, US 

Link for Social Work Resources

Sport, Health, and Human Performance SIG

Affiliated 2014

Click Here to Join the Sport, Health, and Human Performance SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

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Contact Information

David Udelf, USA
Manabu Yoshimoto, Japan

SIG Officers

Manabu Yoshimoto: Internal operations coordinator
Kelly Dekker: Member representative and master of ceremonies
Jeffrey Krepps: Member representative and czar of resources
Nicholas Arancibia Levit: Student representative
David Udelf: Public relations and continuing education
Eugene Koh: Advisory member

SIG Mission/Objectives

The mission of the Sport, Health, and Human Performance SIG is to promote the practice and research of contextually supported interventions within populations seeking higher levels of performance. This sport, health, and human performance SIG will meet these goals by creating an open, collegial, and supportive environment for all members. This SIG seeks to contribute to the growing body of work in the area of contextual behavior sciences to human performance and healthy living. The SIG encourages its members to creatively apply contextual sciences to their work, trainings, clinical practice, and research.

Description of SIG membership 

Researchers and clinicians interested in the investigating and application of both basic and applied third wave approaches to sports, health, and performance.

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed by SIG

The general interest for this SIG is to foster a community that promotes the dissemination and collaborative evaluation of contextually based research and practice in the area of sport, health, and human performance.

SIG Activities

To accomplish this mission, this SIG will promote the utilization and research of ACT through the following activities:

• Sport, Health, and Human Performance SIG listserv
• Sport, Health, and Human Performance Monthly Network meetings 
• Sport, Health, and Human Performance SIG meetings at ACBS Annual World Conferenc
• Sport, Health, and Performance SIG Resources webpage

ACBS Student SIG

Affiliated 2009

Click Here to Join the Student SIG and its Listserv!

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Mission/Objectives

The ACBS Student SIG will work to support students of contextual behavioral science by advocating for their professional and personal development and facilitating their contribution to ACBS and the larger community.

Description of Membership

Students in fields related to contextual behavioral science.

Student SIG Activities   

• ACBS Student listserv (job openings; grant and scholarship opportunities; and Student SIG events are posted to the listserv)
• annual meeting at World Conference
• Student Spotlight Program
• Student SIG webinars
• annual Student SIG newsletter

Current Student Representative:

Sanna Turakka, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Current Student SIG Co-chair:

Sandro Voi, University of Hertfordshire (UK)

Values and Meaning-Making Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2024

Click Here to Join the Values and Meaning-Making SIG! You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Steering Committee

Casey Rosengren, Alex Buhk, Ali Flukes, Carrie Hayward, Teresa Lanza, Michael Silverman, Kyler Jackson, Xander Johns, Alyson Negreira

SIG's Mission/Objectives

The Values and Meaning-Making SIG aims to establish a community of practice within ACBS focused on integrating values at the heart of therapy, coaching, and organizational work. Additionally, we aim to create discourse and encourage new research to enhance understanding of values and meaning-making in individuals and organizations.

We are specifically interested in more deeply exploring values and meaning-making from a CBS perspective. We want to explore how to more fully embody our lives as researchers & clinicians, how to help clients move toward values in their lives, and how to understand what other academic disciplines have said about meaning-making through a CBS-lens.

Possible SIG Activities

The Values and Meaning-Making SIG will engage in a range of activities designed to further the discourse and practice around values and meaning-making within the ACBS community:

• SIG-wide meetings: Bringing together ACBS members who have an interest in values to connect with each other and share resources and ideas.
• SIG Resources: Curate a list of resources that elevate knowledge and expertise.
• Listserv: The Values and Meaning-Making SIG will facilitate an ongoing discussion via the SIG's email listserv.
• Small Group Studies: Organize small group discussions focused on values-related literature within the ACBS, such as Values in Therapy and The Art and Science of Valuing, and books from outside ACBS, like Man’s Search for Meaning.
• Research Discussions: Discuss research papers from within and outside the ACBS community on topics related to meaning-making and values.
• Peer Supervision Groups: Establish peer supervision groups to practice values-centered approaches to therapy and coaching.

Department of Veterans Affairs ACT Special Interest Group (VA ACT SIG)

Affiliated 2011

Click Here to Join the Veteran Affairs ACT (VA ACT) SIG and its Listserv!

You will be added as a member to the SIG and to the SIG's email listserv. You will receive those messages in daily digest form (by default). If you would like to change your email delivery preference, you can do so here.

Contact Information

2024/2025 Leadership

Wyatt Evans, PhD, ABPP - President

Paige Novick-Kline, PsyD - Vice-President

Carter Davis, PhD - Secretary

Levi Wampler, MS, LCPC - Member-At-Large

Ali Molaie, PhD - Early Career Professional (ECP) Representative

General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed by SIG

The general interest area is the promotion and evaluation of members' practice of ACT and the dissemination of these findings.

Mission/Objectives

The Department of Veterans Affairs ACT Special Interest Group's (VA ACT SIG) mission is to promote the clinical practice and research of ACT within the VA by creating an open, collegial, and supportive environment for all VA clinicians and researchers (interns, fellows, and full-time staff) to learn, practice, and study ACT. This SIG seeks to promote the evaluation of members' practices and dissemination of these findings. The SIG encourages its members to creatively apply ACT principles to their work environment, training programs, clinical practice, research, and VA-public sector cooperative efforts.

SIG Activities

To accomplish this mission, this SIG will promote the utilization and research of ACT through the following activities:

• VA ACT SIG listserv
• Resources on the ACBS website.

Women in ACBS Special Interest Group

Affiliated 2016

Click here to join the Women in ACBS SIG and its Listserv!

Contact Information

Sarah Pegrum

SIG Board

Maira Orive (Co-President, 2024-2026)  
Sarah Pegrum (Co-President, 2023-2025) 
Natalia De Gorgue (Co-Manager, 2024-2026) 
Francesca Brandolin (Co-Manager, 2023-2025) 
Melisa Quintero (Member at large, 2024-2026) 
Camille Summers (Member at large, 2023-2025)
Racheli Miller (Member at large, 2023-2025) 
Vicotria Leonard (Student Representative) 
Weronica Skoczylas (Student Representative)

SIG Mission

Gender disparities are reflected in the field of behavioral science, as well as in ACBS. These issues, however, are not specific to our organization, but rather, are a worldwide problem that we believe requires patient, relentless attention and engagement in order to foster prosocial change. We believe that women’s lack of a platform from which to share their perspectives diminishes us as a scientific organization, and limits our ability to represent and serve others who may become part of, or benefit from, our work as a professional body. We suggest that the best way to address this issue is to create a space in which women and allies interested in women’s issues may speak and listen to one another. In so doing, we hope that this space will reflect a more balanced and diverse perspective capable of effecting meaningful change in our organization and our world. Thus, we propose the development of a Women’s SIG.

The ACBS Women’s SIG will reflect diversity not just as a value, but also as a practical strategy for facilitating more individual, innovative approaches that include challenges to the organization to overcome disparity as well as to support meaningful growth. As well, we hope that a women's SIG will support the development of a more diverse organization by providing a safe space in which individuals may speak from or share women’s perspectives. We hope that this SIG will allow us to raise issues pertaining to women, and to create sensitivity to the context in which women live, as that context often inherently reflects discrimination and a power differential, to different degrees, across most environments. It is our hope that this SIG will enrich the conversation for all, regardless of gender. We will strive to engage in the community in prosocial ways that help ACBS identify policies and practices that need to change, and to follow those discoveries with action. We would like this group to be a powerful advocate for women of color, for women in oppressive cultures, for young women clinicians and behavioral scientists. Our goal will be to lift them up by its example, help build their strengths, and help them speak with authority and expertise as well as to feel comfortable in bringing the unique and valuable perspective of women to bear on the growth and development of ACBS.

SIG Activities

1. Conference presentation at the ACBS World Conference
2. SIG meeting at the ACBS World Conference
3. Email listserv
4. Work to further equity for women across the world through small projects

Go here to give to the Women in ACBS SIG