Bolstering Acceptance and Commitment Therapy interventions in the area of health by incorporating cutting-edge RFT research

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is gaining increasing support in the area of Health. This workshop aims to train people to use ACT in health domains and introduce the basics of Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and the implications of “cutting-edge” RFT research to support more flexible ACT process work. We will present evidence-based ACT techniques for working in various health related areas (cancer, asthma, cardiovascular problems) and with various health related behaviors (medication adherence, eating and body image issues, sleep, smoking, craving management). We will provide a basic understanding of RFT concepts that can be challenging for clinicians (e.g., derived relational responding, transformation of stimulus function) and explore how the basic concepts of RFT can facilitate more flexible ACT interventions in these areas. Multiple experiential exercises and role-plays will be presented across the workshop to develop skills in applied RFT bolstering ACT practices. Aspects of digitizing RFT informed ACT practice in the area of health will also be presented. Latest cutting-edge developments and research will be intertwined within the presentations.

About Maria Karekla, Ph.D.: 

Maria Karekla, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist, peer-reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy trainer, and Associate Professor, University of Cyprus. She is heading the “ACTHealthy: Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Medicine” laboratory. She received her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the University at Albany, SUNY. She completed her residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Veterans Administration Hospital. Her research focuses on areas of health promotion and the investigation of individual difference factors (especially psychological flexibility parameters) as they relate to the development and maintenance of various behavioural difficulties (especially anxiety, eating, and health related problems). Additionally, she examines the treatment of these difficulties utilizing Acceptance and Commitment-based principles and innovative delivery methods (e.g., digital interventions, virtual reality). Her research (>90 scientific peer reviewed publications) received numerous local, European and international grants, and awards by (among others) the European Council and Pompidou’s group, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy. She is currently the chair of the Clinical Psychology Doctorate committee, University of Cyprus. She is also the convenor of the European Federation of Psychology Associations’ Psychology and Health committee and a member of the e-health task force. She recently completed terms in chairing the Cyprus Bioethics Committee on Biomedical Research and being a member of the Cyprus Psychologist Licensing Board. She presently serves as president-elect of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, from where she received the status of “Fellow” in 2019. In 2021 she became a fellow of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, whereas in 2018 she was nominated as Cyprus “Woman of the Year: Academic/Researcher category.” Her first psychotherapeutic childrens’ story book was nominated in 2017 for the National Literary Awards in the category Children/Adolescents and also for her illustrations for the book. She is a TEDx speaker and she has been hosted and interviewed for her work by numerous podcasts, newspapers, TV and radio stations nationally and internationally.

I have been a member of ACBS almost from its inception and have been actively involved in the organization from multiple roles and posts. Presently I serve as the President-elect of the board and I serve on the Conference Strategy Committee and as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Contextual Behavioural Science.

About Louise McHugh, Ph.D.:

Louise McHugh is a Professor of Psychology at University College Dublin. She is a world leading expert in Contextual Behavioural Science (CBS) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She has published over 100 papers and her H index is 38 (4539 citations). Her work has been funded by national and international funding bodies such as the Irish Research Council, the Health Research Board, FP7, the British Academy, the ESRC and the Leverhulme Trust. Louise has been a Fellow of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science since 2014. Prof. McHugh is the Director of the UCD CBS lab. Ongoing research projects in the CBS lab involve behavioural interventions for people experiencing homelessness (funded by the IRC), smoking cessation (funded by the IRC and the HRB) and interventions for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (in Collaboration with St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin). I am an active and participating member in the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science (ACBS); I serve on the Conference Strategy Committee (2012-present) and I was elected to the board of directors (2014-2016). Since 2015 I have been an Associate Editor for the Journal of Contextual Behavioural Science. Presently I serve as the president-elect of the UK and Ireland ACBS chapter.

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