Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Increasing the Reach of Contextual Behavioral Science to Novel Settings and New Populations
Dates and Location of this VIRTUAL 2-Day Workshop:
VIRTUAL LIVE online via Zoom
Friday, June 6, 2025 and Saturday, June 7, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. UTC/GMT -5 (Central Daylight Time)
CE credits available: 7.5
Workshop Leaders: 
Kirk Strosahl, Ph.D.
Patricia Robinson, Ph.D.
Workshop Description:
Clinicians in diverse practice settings all over the world are challenged to find ways to address the increasing number of people needing behavioral health services. Increasing, behavioral health clinicians are working in non-traditional mental health settings (e.g., schools, primary care clinics, jails, and nursing homes) where assessments and interventions need to be brief, targeted, and support rapid improvements in functioning. nursing homes, etc.). This workshop is for those clinicians who want to acquire knowledge and skills that help them improve access to the people they serve and deliver engaging and effective services.
This two-session virtual workshop introduces participants to Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT). Focused ACT or FACT is a psychotherapeutic approach developed for delivery to children, adults, and families in individual and group formats. This approach encourages clinicians to see people in a timely manner, often on the same day of their request. Visits are short and target the problem identified by the person and tailored to assist them with improved functioning in key roles. Many people prefer accessible, brief, practical services, so the FACT approach helps the clinician see a wider range of people, particular those that often face many barriers to healthcare.
The presenters provide an overview of the Three FACT Pillars of Psychological Flexibility and then introduce tools used in FACT practice (e.g., the Contextual Interview, the Four Square Tool, the Pillars Assessment Tool, and the Pillars Intervention Guide). Additionally, participants will view and practice a simple approach to organizing a FACT visit, known as the CARE approach. Presenters will also provide a FACT Competency Self-Assessment Tool for participants to use after the workshop in tracking progress in growing their “FACT Practice Competencies”.
About the Workshop Leaders:
- Kirk Strosahl, Ph.D.
Dr. Strosahl is a co-founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and, together with Dr. Patti Robinson and Thomas Gustavsson MsC, developed Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT). FACT is a brief therapy approach based in ACT that can be delivered in relatively few sessions,, where called for, and is an ideal approach for clinicians who are practicing in under-resourced contexts or in non-traditional healthcare settings where brief interventions are the rule rather than the exception. Dr. Strosahl is also a pioneering member of the movement to integrate FACT trained behavioral health clinicians into health care settings across the world . He has authored several books on the use of ACT as a brief intervention framework both in traditional clinical practice and in primary care. He has conducted workshops on FACT world-wide. He is known for his practical, clinician oriented approach to ACT and FACT, and has often been referred to as the "hands of ACT".
Early in his career progression, Dr. Strosahl received clinical training from the progenitors of such brief therapies as Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Problem Focused Brief Therapy, Single Session Therapy and Narrative Therapy. His contributions to the development of the ACT model include integrating brief and strategic intervention perspectives into the ACT approach. Dr. Strosahl worked as a practicing clinician in a brief therapy clinic from 1985 until 1991, at which time he began delivering brief interventions in the primary care context. For approximately 20 years, he provided brief, integrated healthcare interventions alongside primary care team members. Dr. Strosahl has conducted FACT workshops around the world, and has also authored several books, in collaboration with Dr. Robinson, on the application of FACT in clinical practice.
- Patricia Robinson, Ph.D.
Dr. Robinson, Ph.D., is currently the Director of Training and Program Evaluation for Mountainview Consulting Group (www.Mtnviewconsulting.com) (winner of an APA Presidential Innovative Practice Award). She received the Don Bloch Award for excellence in integrated care in 2023. Dr. Robinson is co-founder of the Primary Care Behavioral Health model and Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She provides consultation and training services on FACT both nationally and internationally and is committed to improving access to healthcare services and to realization of health equity. Earlier in her career, she worked as a researcher and clinician for Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, WA and as a Behavioral Health Consultant for Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic in Toppenish, WA. She has authored many articles, book chapters and books. With Jeff Reiter, she has recently completed the 3rd Edition of Behavioral Consultation and Primary Care: A G uide to Integrating Services. Dr. Robinson is the architect of a New Zealand healthcare initiative to embed FACT trained clinicians in general practice settings across the country. System level data show that her approach has eliminated long-standing healthcare disparities between Maori/Pacific Islanders and individuals of European descent. She currently lives in the Willamette Valley of Oregon with her partner and their dogs, Mac and Molly.
Following this workshop participants will be able to:
1. Describe the FACT approach to behavior change.
2. Define the FACT Pillars of Psychological Flexibility.
3. List and describe tools often used in a FACT practice (e.g., the Contextual Interview,
the Four Square Tool, the Pillars Assessment Tool, and the Pillars Intervention Guide).
4. Organize a visit in alignment with the FACT CARE approach.
5. Use the FACT Competency Self-Assessment Tool to identify skills and knowledge and
develop a post-workshop learning plan.
Target audience: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Clinical
Components: Conceptual analysis, Literature review, Original data, Experiential exercises, Didactic presentation, Case presentation, Role play
Topic Areas: Clinical, Training
Package Includes: A general certificate of attendance
CEs Available (7.5 hours): CEs for Psychologists