Friday, 28 June
15:10-16:40
Location: Q119

Session 83

• DNA-V as an integrated framework for quality of life, psychological wellbeing and physical health outcomes for children and young people with heath conditions  

James Lemon, DClinPsy, NHS Dumfries And Galloway (UK)

This talk is written by both young patients and staff and presents an overview of how DNA-V and we, a medical paediatric healthcare service have been co- evolving over several years. We have ‘co-learnt’ DNA-V with patients and then ‘co-developed’ a training package to share with other patients, and parents. We now asses levels of DNA-V skills periodically, such as at the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) annual medical reviews, which occur every six months, at screening sessions, and when patients with particular health conditions are beginning to transition to secondary school. If appropriate we can then offer a range of DNA-V approaches. We are now co-developing a group programme. We have taught multi-disciplinary staff DNA-V, which they can use within the context of their own speciality. The data we have collected shows that our scores for overall psychological wellbeing are above what would be expected, our treatment adherence levels are higher than expected and our complaints levels have reduced. Objective physical outcomes for particular patient groups have improved significantly.

• "I'd Rather Feel the Thorn than to Never See the Rose!" An Anthology of ACT Congruent Music.  

Victoria Samuel, South Wales Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Wales, UK.
Dale Thomas, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, S.Wales Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Wales, UK

Background ACT terms and processes can be ambiguous and hard to conceptualise for clients or students unfamiliar with the approach. Music can be emotive and memorable and can be powerful in influencing our affective state; music can soothe, inspire, empower, motivate, validate and affirm our experiences. Methods Over a period of 3 years the first author collated songs depicting key ACT processes and concepts. An exercise used during her teaching on local doctoral programmes in clinical psychology, in which students were encouraged to identify ACT congruent songs, provided a wealth of extra additions for the ACT playlist. The first author worked with the second author, a doctoral student, to shortlist the diverse songs into an ACT anthology of 5 minutes in duration. Results In this engaging, emotive, fun and high-energy ACT presentation, the music will ‘speak for itself’ taking us through a varied journey of ACT processes through ACT congruent lyrics. Conclusion Music can be a powerful resource; facilitating and solidifying awareness and use of ACT concepts and processes for professionals, clients and students alike.

• Health values: Exactly what they say on the tin (Except not always and quite rarely)  

Alison Stapleton, University College Dublin
Martin O'Connor, University College Dublin
Emmet Feerick, University College Dublin
John Kerr, University College Dublin
Louise McHugh, Ph.D., University College Dublin

Empirical research has shown that participants’ levels of health values directedness are not related to their reported engagement in certain important health behaviors (such as physical activity, dietary quality, and alcohol consumption). Suggesting that, although topographically congruent with health values, the aforementioned health-related behaviors are not functionally congruent with participants’ health values. Based on this research, the proposed Ignite presentation will elaborate on the apparent disconnect between health values and health behaviors. Attendees will be introduced to different health values frequently endorsed by participants and asked to pair these values with seemingly congruent behaviors. The proposed Ignite presentation seeks to highlight that functional congruence tops topographical congruence, or rather that health values are exactly what they say on the tin (except not always and quite rarely).

• A Beginners Guide to ACT Process Measures: Quantitative and Case-Study Insights into Picking an Effective Assessment System to Track Progress in Treatment  

Ronald Rogge, Ph.D., University of Rochester
Jennifer Daks, M.A., University of Rochester
Brooke Dubler, Ph.D., University of Rochester
Katherine Saint, M.A., The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

With the recent proliferation of process measures in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy literature, we sought to examine the various strengths and weaknesses of the AAQ-II, CompACT, OESQ, and MPFI scales: (1) in a sample of 2,385 online respondents and (2) in a case study of a client receiving ACT for a depressive disorder. Quantitative results revealed that all of the flexibility scales were strongly linked to both psychological distress and individual wellbeing. However, the results further highlighted that newer multidimensional scales (the 3-dimension CompACT, the 12-dimension MPFI) offered greater insights into current functioning, often doubling the amount of variance explained by the AAQ-II alone. Both the quantitative analyses and the clinical case study vividly demonstrate the more nuanced and clinically meaningful patterns that emerge when multiple dimensions of flexibility and inflexibility are tracked. In particular, the results suggested the MPFI (and the MindFlex Assessment System that makes the MPFI easily usable online) offers researchers and clinicians the most conceptually comprehensive scale to represent the Hexaflex model. Concrete guidelines for selecting scales will be provided.

• Investigating the Psychometric Properties of the Values Wheel with a Clinical Cohort  

Kate Barrett, University College Dublin
Martin O'Connor, University College Dublin
Louise McHugh, University College Dublin

Background: Previous research demonstrated the psychometric properties of a novel, idiographic values-measure: the Values Wheel (VW). This study reports on the psychometric properties of the VW with a clinical cohort. Method: Fifty-one adult clients who were engaged with the mental health services attended an assessment session comprising a battery of questionnaires measuring mental health, well-being, life satisfaction, ACT processes, as well as a values card sort task and the VW. Results: The VW demonstrated partial evidence of structural validity, such that scores were positively related to well-being and life satisfaction outcomes, and negatively related to depression. Significant positive correlations were observed with alternative values-measures, suggesting the VW demonstrates good convergent validity. The discriminant validity of the VW was partially supported, as no significant correlations with two unrelated constructs were found. Evidence for the incremental validity of the VW was also indicated, as scores accounted for unique proportions of variance in well-being and life satisfaction outcomes, beyond psychological flexibility alone. Conclusions: Outcomes provide preliminary support for the psychometric properties of the VW with a clinical population.

• Should I give this talk?  

Kori Schagunn, University College Dublin

The aim of the proposed ignite presentation will be to examine the speaker’s new research idea: how improv comedy could be used in teaching psychological flexibility through improvisation. Psychological flexibility is an imperative skill that affects an individual’s quality of life. It is the ability to persist in values based actions whilst experiencing unwanted internal events such as thoughts and emotions which in turn enable behavioural adaptability. Improv comedy is an unscripted performance that is made up “on the spot” and is usually performed by a group or team. There are exercises within improv comedy that the speaker argues may teach and/or increase psychological flexibility. The exercise ‘new choice’ will be examined as an example of how improv could potentially assist in the learning of psychological flexibility. All of this will be examined while the speaker grapples with their “unwanted, away-moving” thought process that began with one sticky question: ”should I give this talk?”.

• Comfort Zone Challenges - a "fun" way to practice ACT skills  

Michael Herold, The Art of Charm

Comfort Zone Challenges are exercises that are designed to push participants out of their comfort zone in social settings. They are provoking anxiety, particularly in regards to embarrassment and rejection. They are most commonly exercised in group settings, to facilitate mutual support and motivation. Common Exercises: Lie down in a public area as if you were taking a sunbath. Walk down a busy street and high-five as many people as you can. Tell a joke to a stranger (preferably a joke that isn't even funny). And many more. As participants become intimately aware of unhelpful private experiences leading up to their "challenge", they are then able to practice psychological flexibility. The ACT processes are something that we cover in the theoretical part of our workshops - before and after the practical exercises. The biggest impact happens the moment a participant realizes that these exact same skills he or she practiced to perform one of those challenges can be used in anxiety-provoking real-life situations: in their social life, professional life or anywhere else.

• !The Young Ones! #Transdiagnostical #grouptherapy #youngsters #buildingbridges #humor #changetheculture #mentalhealth  

Kim Helmus, Amsterdam UMC

In this inspiring Ignite talk you will hear about and experience how, a practice based initiative for Young people with different kinds of symptoms and struggles WORKS. Initiative-taker and researcher Kim Helmus shares how she and her colleagues implemented this initiative five years ago within the biggest mental health organization in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Young Ones is an initiative that helps to change the organization from within towards more flexibility, defusion around ‘mental health diagnoses’, spreads humor, increases the joy within the departments and helps young people to cope with life differently. We hope to inspire you to take initiative! #cooperation with INTERACT Belgium/Netherlands #Phd_research #Act

• How to Arrive: engaging your psychological flexibility before the consultation begins  

Ray Owen, DClinPsy, Wye Valley NHS, Herefordshire, UK

Any health or social-care professional finds some consultations more anxiety-provoking than others. This is true for the counsellor about to see a client after a therapeutic rupture, the oncologist about to break unexpectedly bad news or the social worker having to explain to angry parents why safeguarding measures have been started. According to CBS approaches, dealing with complex situations will be helped by the professional responding in a psychologically flexible manner to the external and internal events of the consultation, even if the content of the interaction is not explicitly ACT-related (e.g. the doctor breaking bad news above). Unfortunately, anticipatory anxiety can prompt psychological inflexibility in professionals as well as anyone else, potentially leading to difficult consultations being handled less well right from the start. This IGNITE presentation will demonstrate a brief (maximum 20 seconds), easily-taught ACT-based procedure, which was originally developed for hospice nurses and doctors to help them enter a difficult consultation in an Aware, Engaged, Open stance. It can also be applied in psychotherapy, or other human interactions (formal or informal).

Saturday, 29 June 
15:10-16:40
Location: Q122

Session 133

• CBS Writ Large: Committed Actions and Opportunities  

Tiffany Rochester, Charles Street Clinic

ACBS has at its core a tenet to create and use Contextual Behavioural research to reduce human suffering and improve well-being. We do this in CBS labs, therapy rooms and other settings across the world, but in the current political, social and environmental climate we live in, is this enough? How do we do more, and should we? We are small, but we could be mighty! In this Ignite, I will share with you dreams and plans for how we can use the strength of our community to infuse CBS into the areas that matter to us most - from actions that take less than two minutes, through to incredible opportunities for growth as a whole organisation. We have the science - are we willing to take it to the world?

• Growing up in war- the impact on children and how CBS can help  

Felicity L. Brown, Ph.D., War Child Holland

Globally, 1 in 10 children live in an area affected by armed-conflict, and we are currently experiencing unprecedented numbers of refugees and internally displaced people, of which the majority are youth. Most armed-conflicts occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), and these LMICs also host almost 90% of the world’s refugees. Unfortunately, we know that tremendous care gaps exist in access to mental health and other services- particularly in LMICs. This can be further exacerbated by the destruction of essential infrastructure during armed-conflict. Thus the damaging effects of war and displacement frequently lead to dramatically increased youth risk factors at all ecological levels, and high mental health needs, in the very contexts where health and support systems are least equipped to cope with the burden. How can we take evidence-based practices from CBS and develop innovative solutions to tackle this immense need, and cruel disparity?

• Where is the service user voice in our research?  

Christine E. Ramsey-Wade, University of the West of England

Health intervention research has been criticised for a lack of focus on investigating acceptability, before examining efficacy and effectiveness. There are clear moral and ethical arguments for giving voice to service users’ experiences of helpful and unhelpful factors in health interventions, thereby ensuring that our research is relevant to their needs. While such work is now usually a requirement of funding bodies, it may still be viewed as simply a hurdle to be mounted before the real research begins. A lack of investment in this stage of the research process can weaken later quantitative evaluations, and is arguably symptomatic of a wider under-valuing of qualitative research in psychology. Qualitative research is vital to understand mechanisms of change, identify target populations, and inform intervention development. This presentation will seek to provoke debate around the place of accessibility research. It will review different ways in which this work can be undertaken, by for example contrasting patient participation with patient involvement. It will then describe a recent study exploring the accessibility of an 8-week mindful eating programme.

• From outside in to inside out: getting loose and letting yourSELF in the therapy room: Brazil Chapter Sponsored  

Raul Vaz Manzione, Centro Paradigma; Private Practice

Beginner ACT therapists can often get attached to rules on how to "behave appropriately" as an ACT therapist. Sometimes this might entail the message: "Being who I am it's not okay" which can lead to patterns of experiential avoidance in session. This IGNITE session aims to talk about on how by bringing your own self to the room can be helpful to the therapist and clients itself and empower your therapeutic work.

• How media helps to shape society toward psychological inflexibility  

Lori Eickleberry, Ph.D., ABPP, Institute for Life Renovation, LLC
Christina Doro, Psy.D., Institute for Life Renovation, LLC

Using humor and absurdity, this Ignite session will highlight how media portrays events and research in ways that shape society's belief toward "healthy normality." Authors will depict how this increases not only intolerance, but also associated difficulties with experiential avoidance and the conceptualized self. As society evolves, increase in distorted beliefs can shape values and interfere with acts of workability, further challenging the implementation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with patients. Authors will discuss the utility of openly discussing media and societal belief trends with patients as a way of increasing theoretical credibility and getting "unstuck" with patients.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A model for therapist self-care in the workplace  

Lori Eickleberry, Ph.D., ABPP, Institute for Life Renovation, LLC
Courtney Purdy, Psy.D., Institute for Life Renovaton, LLC

This Ignite session will apply the Hexaflex to illustrate how clinicians can apply our own ACT principles to not only reconcile, but also evolve from our work with patients. The presentation will highlight the unique—and often bizarre, funny, and frightening—situations that we encounter as clinicians, and how we can use our therapeutic skills to normalize and make sense of our interesting work with patients, and be better at what we do by behaviorally modeling the process we are teaching.

• Enough! An ACT Clinician’s Journey to Find Lagom: Women in ACBS SIG Sponsored  

Leslie A. Veach, M.S., NCC, LPCS, East Carolina University - Center for Counseling and Student Development

Early in my career, a client told me about the Swedish concept of “Lagom,” loosely translated as “enough.” Not having an exact word for this in English, we spent several sessions discussing what this meant to her. The concept spoke to me, and over the years I found myself coming back to it again and again as a way to clarify my own values and reassess how I define “enough.” For me, it has meant living in harmony with myself and others. In this brief presentation, I will humbly share my experience as a daughter, mother, wife, friend, counselor, and human how through study, reflection and committed action I have embraced diverse cultural concepts to defuse from the unworkable and embrace balance. I hope to ignite ideas for attendees on how they can do the same.

• Live better: An online ACT based self-help course in Icelandic.  

Orri Smarason, Lifdu betur
Sigurður Ólafsson, M.A., Lifdu betur
Guðný Einarsdóttir, M.Sc., Lifdu betur

Until recently no publicly available literature or information existed on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the Icelandic language. Lifdu betur (Live better), an online self help course, has now published the first publicly available ACT materials in Icelandic. The course consists of short video lectures, a small booklet, a workbook and a number of guided present moment awareness exercises. The talk will cover how the idea came about, the landscape of psychotherapy in Iceland, how the course was developed and how it has been received.

• ACT for Psychosis in Community-Based Mental Health Institutions  

Hüseyin Şehit Burhan, Karaman State Hospital, Turkey
Merve Terzioğlu, Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery
Furkan Bahadır Alptekin, Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery

The last 10 years rapidly developing community-based mental health institutions in Turkey serves particularly patients who were diagnosed with psychotic disorders. However, the application of evidence-based therapy methods is limited in these institutions. In a small city, we applied ACT-based group therapy for psychosis with the clients of the mental health institution. The results were very satisfactory. ACT-based interventions for psychosis can be implemented as an effective method in community-based mental health institutions serving thousands of customers across the country.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the End of life: from resignation to acceptance.  

Alessia Medioli, Ph.D., ASCCO, ACT ITALIA
Giuseppina Majani, Ph.D., ASCCO, ACT ITALIA

This study aims to show the usefulness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in a Geriatric Acute Care Unit by analyzing a case report which shows the approach to end of life from patient’s, caregiver’s and physician’s perspectives. The advanced stage of the disease asks to patient, family and clinicians to change their perspective, since death is no longer an antagonist to fight but becomes an event to be accepted and managed. The intervention moves from to cure to caring. Renato is an 82 years old patient whose weight loss initially considered by family and doctors as a consequence of depression was actually due to a total dysphagia. This fact required an attention shift from the possibility to manage the patient’s problems to the need to accept the situation limits from the different points of view. ACT made possible to calibrate the psychological intervention according to value priorities change connected to end of life.