• CE credit for psychologists 

CE credit is only available for LIVE sessions on 10 October. CE credit is NOT available for watching any recordings or for the live IGNITE sessions.

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

• Certificate with Number of Hours Attended

As an alternative to a CE certificate, some credentialing agencies (please check with yours) may accept a certificate with the number of hours attended. The certificate will only include the hours of the sessions you attend LIVE on 10 October (any recordings you watch will not be included). The cost for this type of certificate is $20 USD.

Additional Information

Evaluations will be available, but are not required to earn CE credits.

We will email you a printable copy of your certificate by 10 November.
All certificates are sent via SimpleCert, so check your email for "[email protected]". 

Note: CE credits are only available for those registered as a professional. You may not earn CE credits with a student registration.

Fees:

A $45 USD fee will be required to earn CEs. This fee is non-refundable.

The cost for a certificate indicating only the number of contact hours (not a CE certificate) is $20 USD. This fee is non-refundable.

Refunds & Grievance Policies: Participants may direct any questions or complaints to ACBS Executive Director Emily Rodrigues, [email protected], or through the Contact Us link on this website.

Do you have an idea, insight, or project you’d love to share with our global community? Now’s your chance!

Login and Submit HERE! by 11 September.

As part of the ACBS Global CBS Exchange, we’re inviting members to give short, impactful presentations (5 minutes). Your talk can be empirical, conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological—the choice is yours. 

All ACBS members are welcome to submit their presentation. We especially encourage those who: 

• Can’t always attend in-person conferences
• Are looking to gain experience  presenting at peer-reviewed international events.

Presenters will be assigned to a presentation slot on 10 October. Possible time slots for 10 October are:

• 9:00am-10:00am GMT
• 1:00pm-2:00pm GMT
• 8:00pm-9:00pm GMT
• Or pre-recorded Ignite presentations.

Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator

All presenters will have 5 minutes for their presentation. Presenters can present “Ignite” style. For those unfamiliar, an Ignite presentation is a short, structured talk in which presenters share ideas and issues they are most passionate about using a “deck” of 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds. (Non-Ignite style presentations will be considered, but with a strict 5 minute time limit.) We hope members will take this opportunity to share their work and connect more deeply with our global community. 

For more on Ignite presentations, see:

http://igniteshow.com/

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

All submissions are due by 11 September. Login to your ACBS member account and Submit HERE!

(Notifications and scheduling will be provided by 25 September.)

What makes this event special? You. From sharing your work to uplifting others to being part of the live conversations, every member helps shape an event that belongs to all of us. Join in and make it unforgettable.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION...

Looking for even more learning opportunities? With the LIVE PLUS Recordings registration option (fee required), you’ll get access to:

• all Global CBS Exchange sessions from 10 October
• plus all pre-recorded IGNITE submissions
• plus 14 curated recordings from the 2025 ACBS World Conference (including workshops, plenaries, panels, and symposia)

—available to watch anytime through 12 November.

Scroll down to explore the World Conference recordings that are included.

(Please note: continuing education credit is not available for any recorded viewing.)
 

2025 Featured Speakers:

Michael Tomasello	Rhonda Merwin

Basic, Applied, and Conceptual Investigations into Contextual Behavioral Science and Neurodiversity - Tarbox, Chastain, Gonzalez, Szabo (Symposium)

Neurodiversity is a concept created by Autistic scholars that asserts that neurological functioning naturally comprises a vast continuum and that there is no correct or normal neurotype, anymore than there is any correct culture, gender, or race. In many respects, the concept of neurodiversity should find a natural home in contextual behavioral science (CBS) because the goals of CBS include understanding each unique person’s behavior-environment interactions, with the goal of helping humans thrive and to decrease suffering. This symposium brings together three papers that address various aspects of the intersection of neurodiversity and CBS. The first presentation sets the stage with a conceptual paper that articulates and discusses the foundational assumptions of neurodiversity and CBS, looking for points of connection and departure. The second presentation consists of a lab study looking at derived stimulus relations involved in social categorization, the likes of which constitute the behavioral foundation for stigma and othering. The third presentation consists of a randomized trial of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based neurodiversity-affirming support group for parents of newly diagnosed Autistic children.

• How Neurodiversity Challenges Contextual Behavioral Scientists to be the Best Versions of Ourselves
Jonathan Tarbox, Ph.D., University of Southern California and FirstSteps for Kids
Neurodiversity is a concept created by Autistic scholars that asserts that neurological f unctioning naturally comprises a vast continuum and that there is no correct or normal neurotype, anymore than there is any correct culture, gender, or race. Furthermore, the concept of neurodiversity was created in the context of the larger disability rights movement and acknowledges neurodivergent people as a group who have been historically and currently oppressed. This conceptual paper will discuss founding assumptions of neurodiversity and the neurodiversity movement, articulate and discuss criticisms of applied behavior analysis and psychology from the neurodiversity perspective, and discuss points of connection and departure between these issues and the foundational assumptions and goals of contextual behavioral science. We will make the case that the principles of neurodiversity are completely consistent with the foundational philosophical assumptions of behavior analysis and contemporary contextual behavioral science, although not necessarily how these fields have actually been practiced. We will conclude with discussing how the neurodiversity movement is influencing ABA and contextual behavioral science to be better and more consistent versions of themselves.

• Exploring Social Categorization: Stigma, Equivalence, and Implicit Attitudes
Amanda N. Chastain, BCBA, University of Illinois, Chicago
Mark R. Dixon, University of Illinois, Chicago
Grady McDonnell, University of Illinois, Chicago
The equivalence model of social categorization provides a framework for studying social stereotyping (Watt et al., 1991). Research has shown resistance to equivalence class formation between culturally opposing stimuli, with little progress in identifying the mechanisms driving this resistance. Prior learning history is of ten cited but remains underexplored in maintaining stereotype -consistent relational networks. Across three experiments with adults aged 18 to 65 years, we use the Implicit Association Test (IAT), a measure of implicit attitudes linked to derived relational responding (Cummins et al., 2018), to assess the strength and valence of pre-existing relational networks and their impact on equivalence performance in stereotype-consistent and stereotype-inconsistent categorizations of neurotypical and neurodivergent social categories. We also examine how prior learning history influence relational network expansion using a stimulus blocking procedure. Preliminary data suggest that pre-existing biases contribute to both resistance to equivalence class formation and relational network expansion via stimulus blocking. This research enhances understanding of how prior relational histories shape social categorization and may inform behavior analytic strategies f or reducing implicit bias.

• Support and Training on Autism for Newly Diagnosed Families (STAND): Development and Testing of a rapid response, ACT-based parent intervention
Cassin Gonzales, University of Southern California
Alexandra Raport, University of Southern California
Jonathan Tarbox, University of Southern California
The months following a child’s new autism diagnosis are characterized as a high stress period in which parents struggle to f eel assured on how to best support their child and family. The Support and Training on Autism for Newly Diagnosed Families (STAND) ACT-Based, neurodiversity-affirming, virtual parent group was developed to support families with psychological adjustment to the diagnosis, navigation of the autism care system, and understanding and responding to child behavior. The STAND randomized control trial recruited 27 parents of children (age 2.5 – 6 years) who were diagnosed with autism in the previous 12 months. Participants completed qualitative interviews and standardized measures at three timepoints over 22 weeks. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to complete the 8-week STAND program and the other half completed the program following the last data collection. Discussion will include, a) a multi-method informed description of parent experiences in the post diagnostic transition period, b) a description of the community-engaged development of the STAND program, and c) the results of efficacy and acceptability testing of the STAND program. 

Discussant: Thomas G. Szabo, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

How ACT/RFT/FAP Make a Difference for Psychiatrists During Brief, Medication Focused Interactions - Törneke, Pavlatos-Delavoye, Sha, Ryst, Kohlenberg, Fitzgerald (Panel)

ACT/RFT and FAP are part of the didactic and supervision experiences of many psychiatry residents, who ultimately work in settings that are primarily medication based.
This panel will consider the following questions:

• How do you navigate managing symptoms with medications and the ill effects of emotional avoidance? How do you balance this with valued living?
• When is symptom reduction a valued outcome in and of itself?
• How do you navigate the patient’s agenda to feel less pain with issues of living well in life?
• How has learning about ACT/RFT/FAP changed how you personally manage discomfort in session and perhaps help you be more courageous in session and with clinical consultation or supervision?
• How has ACT/FAP impacted you, personally, and has that impacted your practice?

Discussant: Niklas Törneke, M.D., NT Psykiatri
Nicole Pavlatos-Delavoye, M.D., Inspire Sierra
Steven Sha, DO, Providence Portland Medical Center
Erika Ryst, M.D., Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, College of Education and Human Development, University of Nevada-Reno
Barbara S. Kohlenberg, Ph.D., University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
Joshua B Fitzgerald, M.D., University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine

The Idionomics Revolution: Rethinking Evidence in Evidence-Based Psychological Care - Sahdra (Plenary)

On average, ACT-related processes like acceptance and valued action promote well-being. However, the "normal” effect offers limited insight, and viewing individual differences merely as statistical "error" around a group mean diminishes the rich diversity of human experience. Despite this, our evidence-based "best practices" still rely primarily on group means from randomized controlled trials to guide clinical practice. How can we move away from deficit-focused models of mental "disorders" and beyond methods that measure diverse people against statistical norms? How can we develop evidence that honors human diversity and gives equal weight to individual experiences alongside group-level findings to advance personalized psychological care? This talk will showcase pioneering research in idionomics that bridges the gap between group-level findings and individual experiences, offering fresh perspectives on ACT processes and inviting us to reconsider what constitutes "evidence" in evidence-based psychological care.

Presenter: Baljinder K Sahdra, Ph.D., Australian Catholic University

Interbehaving about Interbehaviorism - Andersland, Sandoz, Fryling, Kellum, Parrott Hayes (Panel)

A renewal and expansion of interest in interbehaviorism and interbehavioral psychology has been observed within recent years. Interbehavioral philosophy and psychology are pertinent to the evolution of Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS) across investigative, interpretive, and applied domains (Finn & Barnes-Holmes, 2021; Hayes & Fryling, 2021; Sandoz, 2021). Pertinence does not, however, guarantee accessibility or actionability. CBS researchers and clinicians may find themselves
interested in interbehavioral ideas, but limited by questions about how to apply these ideas to their work. Question asking and answering is a process which can evolve how particular instances of language function, both as aspects of context and currents of behavior, bridging interpretive systems and promoting the emergence of understanding. In other words, asking questions and hearing answers can expand our behavioral repertoires. We’ve solicited questions about interbehavioral psychology from our communities to promote this continued evolution. And - maybe you have questions and curiosities of your own! In this panel, the speakers will discuss and respond to questions about interbehaviorism and interbehavioral psychology, and their relationship to CBS

Chair: Matt D Andersland, M.S., The University of Memphis
Emily K Sandoz, Ph.D., BCBA, Louisiana Contextual Science Research Group, UL Lafayette
Mitch Fryling, Ph.D., California State University, Los Angeles
Kate Kellum, Ph.D., University of Mississippi
Linda J Parrott Hayes, Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno

Mastering 'Creative Hopelessness': Compassionately Undermining Clients' Unworkable Control Strategies in ACT - Kjelgaard (Workshop)

Many clinicians encounter challenges when implementing the process and practice of creative
hopelessness in ACT. They may struggle with their own reactions to clients' responses, worry about its
impact on clients, or become entangled in control agendas, leading to discussions that undermine the
intervention's effectiveness. Creative hopelessness is designed to help clients recognize the futility of
their current control strategies and open up to new, value-driven behaviors. However, if not delivered
with clarity and compassion, its function can be lost, shifting the focus to content rather than process.
This highly practical and experiential workshop will guide clinicians through the nuanced
application of creative hopelessness, emphasizing compassionate undermining of clients' unworkable
control strategies. Through roleplays and demonstrations, participants will learn flexible and fluent
methods to incorporate this process into sessions. Additionally, clinicians will be encouraged to reflect
on their own processes and how these influence therapeutic outcomes. By engaging in these
experiential activities, attendees will enhance their skills in delivering creative hopelessness
interventions, ultimately fostering more effective client engagement and progress in therapy.

Presenter: Rikke Kjelgaard, M.Sc.,  

Three Lessons about the Brain - Feldman Barrett (Plenary)

This address will describe three unintuitive insights about brain architecture and the corresponding computational affordances from the science of emotion: (1) Your brain’s most important job is efficiently coordinating and regulating the systems of your body (2) predictively (3) to construct signal ensembles that create guide your action and create lived experience. This research approach offers an unintuitive but principled approach that unifies a variety of psychological phenomena into a common explanatory framework with a shared vocabulary for theory building and treatment.

Presenter: Lisa Feldman-Barrett

Under Pressure: Help high-achieving clients live intentionally & flexibly, in a culture that glorifies productivity - Sorensen & Freedman-Diamond (Workshop)

Do your clients struggle with eating disorders, perfectionism, chronic stress, and/or or burnout? In a culture that glorifies hustle and insists it’s possible to look flawless while doing it all, it’s no wonder so many people are under pressure! (Freedman-Diamond, 2024; Sorensen, 2024; Grant, A., 2008; Jack & Dill, 1992) This workshop will explore the contextual effects of the dominant culture in keeping clients stuck chasing unattainable ideals, and help clinicians work effectively with these clients by integrating contextual behavioral science with the Intuitive Eating framework. Participants will learn
evidence-based strategies for helping clients to 1) identify internalized cultural narratives that are driving unhelpful behavior patterns, 2) recognize the experiential control cycle that leads to burnout and perfectionism, 3) differentiate rule-bound vs. flexible and values-driven motivations, 4) intentionally turn toward values and bodily signals (instead of external pressure) for guidance, and 5) set effective boundaries - with the outside world and their own inner critic - to protect their wellbeing
from pressure to achieve and produce.

Presenters: Debbie Sorensen, Ph.D., Private Practice, Denver Colorado &
Paula Freedman-Diamond, Psy.D., HumanKind Psychological Services

more soon! 

 

 

more soon!

 

more soon!

 

more soon!

 

more soon!

 

more soon!

 

more soon!

Accordion content.

In order to increase accessibility, this LIVE event is available to all ACBS members with an optional, values-based donation. 

LIVE access, PLUS recordings of this event AND recordings of some ACBS World Conference 2025 sessions is available for a set fee.

LIVE Access Only (Values-Based, Suggested Donation)

 

ACBS Professional Member Registration ACBS Student Member Registration

Professional Non-Member Registration* Student Non-Member Registration* 

*(consider joining ACBS and register as a member)

ACBS Member Suggested Donation Amounts for LIVE Access

LIVE Access	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
Professional Member	$90 USD	$60 USD	$15 USD
Student Member	$50 USD	$30 USD	$5 USD

LIVE Access Non-Member Registration Rates

LIVE Access	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
Professional Non-Member	$120 USD	$90 USD	$30 USD
Student or Emerging Economy Non-Member	$80 USD	$60 USD	$20 USD

Discounted rates are available for people in Emerging Economy nations (Tiers 2 & 3 here) and will automatically be applied when you register.  

Please Note:

• LIVE Access registration gives you access to live sessions on 10 October.  Recordings of 10 October content are NOT available with this registration type.  If you would like recording access, please choose the LIVE PLUS Recordings option below.
• Additional fees are required for certificates that track the number of hours you attended ($20 USD) and CEs for psychologists ($45 USD). Details here.
• All rates are in US Dollars.
• This event is for an optional, suggested donation for ACBS members. Those unable to pay should complete the event registration form, but do not select anything in the "Select Donation Amount" section.
• Registration rates apply as you register. Subsequent memberships do not qualify those already registered for a refund of the difference between the member and non-member rates. The same is true for students, or other similar status and discounts.
• Affiliate members (or non-members who are not professionals or students) may register at the professional rate. If you are currently receiving mental health care we encourage you to talk to your provider about the utility of this event for you, prior to registering.
• Student Registration/Membership is available to individuals who are enrolled in a program of study leading to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, are interns, or are postdoctoral candidates. Postdoctoral candidates qualify for Student Registration for up to 2 years, with proof of status from their employer. After this time, they need to register as a Professional. Note: Those registering for the conference as a student are ineligible to earn any kind of CE credits.
• It is the responsibility of the registrant to make sure that they have received information related to virtual access. If you are registered and do not receive an email with Zoom information on 8 October, please contact [email protected]. 

Refunds:

• ACBS Members: Please note that refunds for event registration are not available after 6 October. CE/certificate fees are non-refundable. Refunds requested on or before 6 October are subject to a $30 USD cancellation processing fee, provided your donation exceeded $30 USD. If you chose to donate $30 USD or less, no refunds are available. Cancellation of Global CBS Exchange LIVE Access must be submitted in writing via email and must be dated on or before 11:59PM GMT on 6 October to [email protected]
• Non-Members: Please note that after 6 October, refunds are not available for event registration. CE/Certificate fees are non-refundable. Before 7 October, refunds are available with a $30 USD cancellation processing fee. Cancellation of Global CBS Exchange LIVE Access must be submitted in writing via email and must be dated on or before 11:59PM GMT on 6 October to [email protected]

LIVE PLUS Recordings Package: Includes select 2025 World Conference sessions plus all live and recorded 10 October sessions. 

 

ACBS Professional Member Registration ACBS Student Member Registration

Professional Non-Member Registration* Student Non-Member Registration* 

*(consider joining ACBS and register as a member)

LIVE PLUS Access Registration Rates

LIVE PLUS Access	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
Professional Member	$129 USD	$79 USD	$20 USD
Student Member	$69 USD	$39 USD	$10 USD
Professional Non-Member	$159 USD	$109 USD	$35 USD
Student Non-Member	$99 USD	$69 USD	$30 USD

Prices above includes 12 September - 12 November 2025 access to: 

• All live sessions on 10 October
• Recordings of all 10 October sessions
• Select recordings from World Conference 2025 in New Orleans

Please note:

• Discounted rates are available for people in Emerging Economy nations (Tiers 2 & 3 here) and will automatically be applied when you register.  
• Additional fees are required for certificates that track the number of hours you attended ($20 USD) and CEs for psychologists ($45 USD). Details here. CEs are not available for recorded viewing.
• All rates are in US Dollars.
• Registration rates apply as you register. Subsequent memberships do not qualify those already registered for a refund of the difference between the member and non-member rates. The same is true for students, or other similar status and discounts.
• Affiliate members (or non-members who are not professionals or students) may register at the professional rate. If you are currently receiving mental health care we encourage you to talk to your provider about the utility of this event for you, prior to registering.
• Student Registration/Membership is available to individuals who are enrolled in a program of study leading to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, are interns, or are postdoctoral candidates. Postdoctoral candidates qualify for Student Registration for up to 2 years, with proof of status from their employer. After this time, they need to register as a Professional. Note: Those registering for the conference as a student are ineligible to earn any kind of CE credits.
• It is the responsibility of the registrant to make sure that they have received information related to virtual access. If you are registered and do not receive an email granting you Zoom information on 8 October, please contact [email protected].
• If you are registered and do not receive an email granting you recording access, please contact [email protected]. Members, following the instructions in their registration confirmation email, should have access to recordings within 5 minutes of registration. Non-members need ACBS staff to grant them access to recordings manually, which can take up to 48 hours (excluding weekends), but may be granted sooner.
• We regret that we are unable to provide extended access to any registrant beyond 12 November 2025.

Refunds: 

Please note, that as LIVE PLUS Recording access includes immediate access to content, no refunds are available.

Register Here!

International Workshops (5:30am-1:00pm GMT): Hosted by the ACBS Board and the Conference Strategy Committee, with a concentrated effort to increase access to clinical innovations and research, in this block of workshops, speakers will explore innovative strategies for expanding the reach of contextual behavioral science and making it more accessible to people in need. These workshops aim to support learning and growth across both research and practice.

Standard Zoom text translation will be available for all live sessions.

Check the schedule in your timezone.

5:30 AM GMT | Navigating the Aftermath: Recovering from Neurodivergent Burnout and the Role of Self-Compassion - Jennifer Kemp, MPsych

5:30 AM -6:45 AM GMT (what about my timezone?)

Burnout in neurodivergent people is a state of deep physical, social, sensory and emotional exhaustion that can be misidentified as depression, anxiety, or experiential avoidance. In this workshop, Jennifer will offer a deeply personal perspective on the origins of burnout and her journey to recovery as an Autistic ADHDer. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their own experiences of burnout and how this can become intertwined with physical and mental health problems. Grounded in contextual behavioural science, participants will explore the nuanced approach required for effective recovery and the critical role of self-compassion in adjusting to a “new normal.” Participants will gain actionable insights and a deeper connection to their own lived experiences in addition to those of their clients.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify neurodivergent burnout in themselves and their clients, distinguishing it from depression, anxiety, and experiential avoidance.
• Apply key principles from contextual behavioral science and self-compassion to the process of adjusting to a "new normal" following burnout.
• Reflect on their own personal and professional experiences of burnout, fostering a deeper connection to lived experience.

Presenter: Jennifer Kemp, MPsych

Jennifer Kemp is a privately practising clinical psychologist in Adelaide, Australia. Her affirming approach is grounded in her experience of being late diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, and the latest research. In her therapeutic practice and when training other therapists, Jennifer utilises acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and compassion-focused approaches to help her clients improve their mental health and cultivate greater self-acceptance, self-compassion, and pride in their neurodivergent identity. She is the co-author of "The Neurodivergent Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate" and author of “The ACT Workbook for Perfectionism: Build Your Best (Imperfect) Life Using Powerful Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Self-Compassion Skills.”

*1.25 hours of CE credits are available for this session when attended live. 

7:00 AM GMT | Wonder Childlike - Curiosity as a Stance of Openness - Ralf Steinkopff, Dipl. Psych.

7:00 AM -8:15 AM GMT (what about my timezone?)

Openness is a central concept in ACT and other third-wave approaches. It is practiced and cultivated primarily through mindfulness and flexibility.

In the workshop, an aspect that is omnipresent in ACT and other third-wave methods but somewhat hidden will be explored: awe and curiosity. They are necessary prerequisites for us to engage with change. In therapy, this is another essential stance we convey to our clients to motivate them to take new steps in their lives—and one we ourselves need to orient ourselves in both others’ and our own life worlds.

A colorful mix of ideas and concepts, practical exercises and games, demonstrations, and therapeutic strategies is planned. Willingness to participate and experiment is encouraged. It’s actually less about astonishing others than about extending an invitation to wonder.

Learning Objectives:

• Enrich your therapeutic skills with a stance of curiosity for the client and their experiences
• Invite your client to more curiosity towards their life, opportunities and reactions they get
• Get even more flexible and open for what happens in the therapeutic process

Presenter: Ralf Steinkopff, Dipl. Psych.

Ralf Steinkopff, Dipl.-Psych. is a licensed behavior therapist, Certified FAP Trainer, and Peer-Reviewed ACT Trainer with additional training in systemic therapy and clinical hypnosis. In his private practice, he works primarily with ACT, FAP, and Clinical RFT, focusing on psychotherapy, supervision, and continuing education for psychotherapy licensure in Germany. A former president of the German-speaking Chapter of ACBS (DGKV), Ralf has co-organized international conferences, led ACL meetups in Berlin, and is part of the organizational team for the Berlin-Brandenburg affiliation.

 

 

*1.25 hours of CE credits are available for this session when attended live. 

10:00 AM GMT | An introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) - Nuno Ferreira, Ph.D.

10:00 AM -11:15 AM GMT (what about my timezone?)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an emerging transdiagnostic psychotherapeutic approach for the treatment of long-term chronic conditions, including Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI), such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD).  Using an experiential approach, this session intends to introduce practitioners to the ACT model of case conceptualization in DGBIs. Further to that a brief description of the model of intervention will also be provided, alongside some brief ACT consistent practices that can be easily incorporated into current patient management.  

Learning Objectives:

• To create ACT consistent formulations in DGBIs
• Identify the components of and ACT intervention in DGBIs
• Apply some brief ACT exercises in practice

Presenter: Nuno Ferreira, PhD

Nuno Ferreira, PhD is a Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. He holds a Licenciature in Clinical Psychology from ISPA, Portugal, and a PhD in Clinical and Health Psychology from the University of Edinburgh. After the completion of his PhD, he worked at the University of Edinburgh as a Lecturer and Senior Teaching Fellow in post-graduate programs (e.g., Doctorate in Clinical Psychology). He has been involved in several research projects and has published extensively in the areas of General Mental Health Disorders and Psychological Adjustment to Chronic Illness. Dr Ferreira’s work focuses on the use and development of Third Wave Cognitive Behavioural approaches, in particular Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), for chronic health conditions. Dr Ferreira has pioneered the use of ACT in DGBIs in the last decade and is an internationally recognized expert in the area of psychogastroenterology.  

 

*1.25 hours of CE credits are available for this workshop. Must attend live. 

11:30 AM GMT | Workshop details will be announced soon! 

TBD

*1.25 hours of CE credits are available for this session when attended live. 

.
CBS/ACT Research Forum: Finding Your Way in a Changing Research Landscape (2:00pm-8:00pm GMT): Hosted by the ACBS Scientific Strategic Council (SSC), with an emphasis on research this block of sessions aim to gather and uplift CBS researchers at a challenging time for research and to deepen knowledge and ability to use CBS research methods. 

Standard Zoom text translation will be available for all live sessions.

2:00 PM GMT | ACT and CBS Research: Where are We Going? - Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D.

2:00 PM - 3:15 PM GMT (what about my timezone?)

This talk will examine the arc of work in ACT, RFT, and CBS with a focus on its turn toward idionomics. I will argue that the research journey CBS has been on has the potential to change the conversation about mental and behavioral health world wide for the better, but that major challenges are ahead for doing so.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe why so few randomized controlled trials were done in the first 20 years of ACT development.
• Explain the unusually broad distribution of topics that have captured the attention of CBS researchers, and
• Explain why the rise of idionomic analysis could signal the arrival of the most important and disruptive era of the CBS story

Presenter: Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

Steven C. Hayes is a Foundation Professor of Psychology Emeritus at the University of Nevada, Reno and President of the Institute for Better Health, a 45 year old charitable organization that promotes quality in mental and behavioral health services. An author of 48 books and over 730 scientific articles, he is especially known for his work on "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy" or “ACT” which is one of the most widely used and researched new methods of psychological intervention over the last 20 years, Relational Frame Theory, the science of language and cognition on which ACT is based, and for Contextual Behavioral Science -- a modern face of behavioral psychology. Dr. Hayes has received several national awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and the Cattell Award from the Association for Psychological Science -- their lifetime achievement award for applied psychology. His popular book "Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life" for a time was among the best-selling self-help books in the United States, and his TEDx talks and blogs have been viewed or read by over five million people. Dr. Hayes is ranked among the most cited psychologists in the world.

*1.25 hours of CE credits are available for this session when attended live. 

3:30 PM GMT | From Clinic Revenue to Research Engine: A Social Enterprise Model for Practice-Based Science - Jason Luoma, Ph.D. & Jenna LeJeune, Ph.D.

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM GMT (what about my timezone?)

Most private mental health clinics operate in fee-for-service environments where immediate reimbursement pressures crowd out the unstructured, collaborative time required for research—leaving the scientist-practitioner ideal largely unrealized outside academia. We present a replicable “clinical-research social business” model that restructures a private practice as a social enterprise aimed at maximizing social good versus maximizing profit, where operating margins are reinvested to underwrite research infrastructure and fund salaried research time. In our implementation at Portland Psychotherapy, profits from clinical and training activities are earmarked for science; clinician-scientists receive fixed, fair salary support for their research FTE to remove monetary contingencies that otherwise bias time toward billable hours. We pair this with streamlined logistics (independent IRB access, research assistants, routine outcome monitoring) to sustain programmatic, practice-relevant studies while improving care quality and staff development. Case examples include trials such as MDMA-assisted therapy for social anxiety and a feasibility study of psilocybin-assisted therapy for chronic pelvic pain, supported by a small, but productive in-house research team (PIs, coordinators, fellows, study therapists, and trained raters) funded through the model. We will specify design principles (governance, budgeting rules, incentive design), practical steps for building capacity, and common pitfalls. Attendees will leave with a clear guidelines on how to convert portions of routine revenue into durable scientific capacity—advancing knowledge while nurturing hearts in everyday practice settings.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how a clinic can set aside a portion of earnings to support research
• Identify common obstacles to developing a productive practice-based research context
• Describe 3 methods for overcoming common barriers to practice-based research

Presenters: 
Jason Luoma, Ph.D.
Jenna LeJeune, Ph.D.

Jason Luoma, PhD, is a clinical scientist and CEO of Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research & Training Center. The center follows a simple idea: use part of what the clinic earns to pay for research that improves care. Instead of relying only on grants, the clinic sets aside money and time so studies can happen in the same place people receive therapy. That includes paid research time for clinicians, an independent ethics board to review projects, trained research assistants, and research infrastructure. Current work includes MDMA-assisted therapy for social anxiety disorder and psilocybin-assisted therapy for chronic pelvic pain. Dr. Luoma also directs research at the Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science, is an Associate Scientist at the Oregon Research Institute, and affiliate faculty at OHSU. His research centers on shame, self-stigma, and human connection, and often integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He co-founded the Oregon Psilocybin Evaluation Nexus (OPEN), a community effort to study how psilocybin services are unfolding in Oregon. He has authored more than 80 peer reviewed publications mostly in this practice-based context and has co-written two books: Learning ACT and Values in Therapy.

Jenna LeJeune, Ph.D. is President and co-founder of Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research and Training Center. She is also a therapist at the Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science where she is involved in various clinical trials involving psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. As a clinical psychologist trained in the scientist-practitioner model, Dr. LeJeune is primarily a clinician at heart, but deeply appreciates the bidirectional influence of the clinical work and research that she gets to be a part of in her professional life. Her deep interest in issues related to meaning, purpose, belonging, and values is a focus of both her clinical work and her research involvement. She is the co-author of the book Values in Therapy: A Clinician's Guide to Helping Clients Explore Values, Increase Psychological Flexibility, and Live a More Meaningful Life as well as numerous other book chapters, journal articles, and other publications. Dr. LeJeune is also a Fellow of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science and a peer-reviewed ACT trainer, providing trainings to mental health professionals around the world.

*1.25 hours of CE credits are available for this session when attended live. 

3:30 PM GMT | Advancing research in process-based methods: Workshop on EMA - Eiko Fried, Ph.D.

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM GMT (what about my timezone?)

This workshop introduces participants to contemporary approaches for studying mental health problems as complex biopsychosocial systems. Building on principles from network and systems thinking, we will first explore why the dimension of time is critical for understanding the dynamics of mental health—something well-recognized by clinicians but often underemphasized in research. We will then consider how advances in software and hardware have made it easier and less burdensome to collect intensive longitudinal data through ecological momentary assessment (EMA). This part—EMA research—is at the heart of the workshop. Using examples from a large-scale EMA study to build a personalized early warning system for depression, WARN-D, the workshop will highlight key practical considerations, modern developments, and major challenges in conducting EMA research. While the session will provide theoretical grounding, the emphasis will be on applied insights and hands-on discussion.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how network and systems approaches conceptualize mental health problems as biopsychosocial systems and why temporal dynamics are essential in this framework.
• Explain how advances in software and hardware have enabled the collection of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data with reduced participant burden.
• Critically evaluate key practical considerations, emerging opportunities, and major challenges in designing and conducting EMA studies.

Presenter: Eiko Fried, PhD

Eiko Fried obtained his PhD in clinical psychology at the Free University of Berlin, followed by four years of postdoctoral training in methodology in Belgium and the Netherlands. He now works as Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at Leiden University. Eiko’s research takes place at the intersection of mental health science and methodology, and his interests are how to best measure, predict, and understand mental health problems. His lab is currently focused on developing a personalized early warning system for depression (www.warn-d.com). Eiko loves burnt coffee and fast computers, and you can find his blog, publications and data online (www.eiko-fried.com).

 

*1.25 hours of CE credits are available for this session when attended live. 

5:00 PM GMT | Session details will be announced soon! 

5:00 PM - 6:15 PM GMT (what about my timezone?)

TBD

*1.25 hours of CE credits are available for this session when attended live. 

6:30 PM GMT | The Future of CBS Research: A Panel Discussion

6:30 PM - 7:45 PM GMT (what about my timezone?)

Abstract: TBD

Presenters: 
Diana Hill 
Additional Panelists Will Be Announced Soon!

Diana Hill, PhD is a clinical psychologist, international trainer, and speaker on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and compassion. Host of the Wise Effort podcast and author of several books, including "The ACT Daily Journal" and the forthcoming "Wise Effort", she helps individuals and organizations cultivate psychological flexibility to focus on what matters most. Dr. Hill has researched mindfulness-based interventions, directed ACT-based treatment programs, serves on the board of the Institute for Better Health, and contributes to outlets such as Psychology Today and Mindful.org. She has been featured in major media including the Wall Street Journal and NPR, and brings her work to life as a mom of two boys and a bee guardian.

*1.25 hours of CE credits are available for this session when attended live.