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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy training for clinicians: an evaluation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2011

Rachel Richards ,
Joseph E. Oliver ,
Eric Morris ,
Keith Aherne ,
Alessandra C. Iervolino  and
Janet Wingrove
Rachel Richards
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
Joseph E. Oliver*
Affiliation:
South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation, London, UK
Eric Morris
Affiliation:
South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation, London, UK
Keith Aherne
Affiliation:
Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust
Alessandra C. Iervolino
Affiliation:
South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation, London, UK
Janet Wingrove
Affiliation:
South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation, London, UK
*
*Author for correspondence: Dr J. E. Oliver, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, LEO Services, London SW9 7AA, UK. (email: joseph.oliver@slam.nhs.uk)
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Abstract

The third wave of cognitive behavioural therapies has a developing evidence base and there is an increasing demand for specialist training. However, methods for training clinicians have not yet been evaluated in terms of effectiveness and usefulness. This evaluation seeks to assess: (1) the effectiveness of one-day introductory Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshops for clinicians in a NHS setting in terms of increasing knowledge of ACT; (2) the impact of experiential techniques as a method for delivering ACT training. A total of 73 participants took part in the workshops and completed questionnaires were administered pre-workshop and post-workshop; a further 29 participants completed follow-up questionnaire after 12 months. Participants demonstrated an increase in ACT knowledge, indicated that their interest had been stimulated, viewed the workshop positively and reported that their clinical work had been influenced by the workshop. In terms of the training process, experiential techniques are integral to ACT practice and training. Participants reported that their training experiences and engagement with the training group had not been aversive. Moreover, there was no evidence that participants’ own levels of experiential avoidance had affected training outcomes.

Keywords

ACTAcceptance and Commitment Therapytraining
Type
Education and supervision
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , September 2011 , pp. 114 - 121
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2011

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References

Recommended follow-up reading

Hayes, SC, Luoma, J, Bond, F, Masuda, A, Lillis, J (2006). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: model, processes, and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy 44, 1–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hayes, SC, Strosahl, K, Wilson, KG (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Luoma, JB, Hayes, SC, Walser, RD (2007). Learning ACT: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills-training Manual for Therapists. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.Google Scholar

References

Bennett-Levy, J, Turner, F, Beaty, T, Smith, M, Paterson, B, Farmer, S (2001). The value of self-practice of cognitive therapy techniques and self-reflection in the training of cognitive therapists. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy 29, 203–220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hayes, SC, Luoma, J, Bond, F, Masuda, A, Lillis, J (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: model, processes and outcomes. Behavior Research and Therapy 44, 1–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hayes, SC, Strosahl, K, Wilson, KG (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Hofman, SG, Asmundson, GJG (2008). Acceptance and mindfulness-based therapy: new wave or old hat? Clinical Psychology Review 28, 1–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
NICE and Social Care Institute for Excellence (2009). National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines (www.nice.org.uk).Google Scholar
Rakovshik, S, McManus, F (2010). Establishing evidence-based training in cognitive behavioral therapy: a review of current empirical findings and theoretical guidance. Clinical Psychology Review 30, 496–516.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Varra, AA, Hayes, SC, Roget, N, Fisher, G (2008). A randomized control trial examining the effect of acceptance and commitment training on clinician willingness to use evidence-based pharmacotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 76, 449–458.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
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