Carolina Monteiro da Silva
Could you please tell us a little about you and your background?
I’m Carol, a Brazilian psychologist from Rio Grande do Sul with 7 years of clinical experience, working with adolescents and adults through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Since 2023, I’ve been a member of the SIG ACT Brazil, where I co-coordinate a Study Group project for the community alongside other colleagues. I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Psychology, and my dissertation focused on the effects of an ACT-based program on the Psychological Flexibility of high school students. I truly enjoy working with adolescents, both in the classroom through school projects and in clinical practice! My goal is to increasingly bring ACT into the school context, moving beyond the clinic.
How did you become interested in CBS?
At the beginning of my clinical career, I studied and used third-wave approaches of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In the midst of my studies, I found ACT, which I fell in love with; I saw that it made a lot of sense for my practice and fulfilled many things I felt were missing in my sessions! That’s when I gradually discovered Contextual Behavioral Science, found the SIG ACT, and joined WhatsApp groups. I kept studying, connecting with more and more professionals in the field on social media, and meeting incredible people. At a certain point, I found myself attending SIG meetings, volunteering to be part of a Study Group project, and joining the ACBS!
Could you tell us about your research and application interests?
I am currently finalizing my Master's dissertation, which focuses on ACT with adolescents in the school context. The objective was to evaluate the effects of an ACT-based program on the Psychological Flexibility of high school students at a military school. In addition, I am conducting a complementary study for the translation and adaptation of the Self-as-context Scale into Brazilian Portuguese. Therefore, my research interests are related to ACT and, especially, its application in contexts beyond clinical practice.
Could you tell us about your experience at the World Conference this year?
It was a unique experience! I was able to attend my first conference through the scholarship, and I am so grateful for that opportunity. Without a doubt, I would summarize my experience in two words: connection and belonging. It was an honor to be with people I only knew virtually; it was an honor to listen to and learn from individuals who are so important in my journey, and to meet so many others doing incredible work in different parts of the world. I was able to connect, learn new things for my practice, and have experiences that touched me deeply. I was moved at many moments and had a lot of fun, too! But I believe what stayed with me the most throughout the entire event was the sense of belonging!
Was there anything that stood out to you about the CBS community?
What struck me the most was how welcoming the people in the community are. Speaking in another language was challenging for me, as I had never been outside of my country before. However, even during exchanges with people from different parts of the world, I felt welcomed and felt that the language was not a barrier. We truly can connect and, without a doubt, there is a shared humanity!
What did you take back from your experience that has been helpful to you?
I learned several things that I could apply in practice; from various workshops, I was able to take away important lessons to use in my sessions, and I even managed to bring some of those insights to the Study Group. But what stood out the most, without a doubt, was the reinforcement of how important it is to look at the individual beyond protocols or generalizations—to see that person as unique in their own psychological processes.
Do you have anything else that you would like to share with the community?
I believe that as our community grows, we will have more opportunities to bring Contextual Behavioral Science to different contexts and populations! I see that being part of this community makes me a better professional every day and brings me closer to being able to promote and create projects for students and professionals in the field. This has been our mission at the SIG ACT—to ensure more people know about and can strengthen our CBS! Participating in this event undoubtedly transformed my experience in the community and only reinforced the sense of belonging. I will certainly make every effort to participate in more ACBS conferences and events.