This award acknowledges individuals for their unique contributions to the development and dissemination of Contextual Behavioral Science.
Award Recipients:
Tom Lavin MFT, LCADC (2014)
Tom Lavin MFT, LCADC, is a Reno, Nevada psychotherapist who provides therapy to people suffering with anxiety, depression, addiction, cooccurring disorders, and chronic physical illness.
With ACBS Member Psychiatrist Dr. Nicole Pavlatos and staff, Tom is currently developing interdepartmental, interdisciplinary ACT-informed clinical services at Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services for those clients diagnosed with a serious mental illness or with a co-occurring disorder. His “Live Better” patient psychoeducation series (anxiety, depression, forgiveness, taking responsibility-making amends, healthy relationships, meditate journal-share, etc.) can be viewed here.
With a strong commitment to community health education, since 1995 Tom has produced and hosted the community health and wellness television show “New Skills for Living”, on the Reno, Nevada ABC affiliate. Seventeen (17) select interviews, with ACT co-founders and other clinical experts focusing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy may be viewed here.
Ned Carter, Kenneth Nilsson, and Psychology Partners (2012)
The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science acknowledges with appreciation the lasting contributions of Ned Carter, Kenneth Nilsson, and Psychology Partners* to the development of contextual behavioral science by helping to organize the first World Conference on ACT, RFT, and the New Behavioral Psychology.
*Psychology Partners - Håkan Wisung and Olle Wadstrom
Other partners who had a role were Gisela Wisung, Thomas Gustavsson, Johan Holmberg, Alberto Santi, Fredrik Gunnarsson, Magnus Stalby, Hanna Stalby Olofsdotter, Cecilia Gustavsson, Sara Hillbom, and Marielle Ryberg. With additional thanks to Sofia Olsson.
Barry Silverstein (2008)
The late Barry Silverstein was a philanthropist and a caring visionary who saw the promise of ACT, RFT, and CBS and became the first major donor to our Association at a critical moment in its development. Barry funded the first filming of major talks at the ACBS World Conference (in London, in 2006) which helped increase our worldwide impact, and in 2007 he provided the staff resources needed to rescue our website when it had become so degraded it was impossible to update.
His technological and media assistance allowed ACBS to survive our early years as an organization when our membership was a tenth of our current size and set us on a path for future success. ACBS offered this award to Barry Silverstein for "All you have done to further the work of ACT, RFT, and Contextual Behavioral Science on behalf of those who suffer".