(801) 251-6688
Juniper Mental Health Presents
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Children and Adolescents
With Julie Petersen, M.S. and Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an emergent treatment approach for children and adolescents. While a large portion of the current evidence focuses on adults, there is nascent research on implementing ACT and ACT-enhanced treatments in children and adolescents across a range of presenting problems. In this workshop, the use of an ACT approach with children and adolescents will be introduced. The workshop will begin with a basic introduction to relevant developmental factors to consider when utilizing ACT for youth. The ACT model adapted to youth will be explained and applied in case conceptualizations/examples. Each of the ACT processes, in addition to self-compassion, will be presented with a developmentally appropriate metaphors and experiential exercises. Comparisons between ACT with adults and youth will be drawn. The workshop will also discuss tips and strategies for optimizing delivery of ACT with youth, including familial and cultural considerations. Suggestions for treatment engagement and motivation will also be reviewed.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe developmental factors important to adapting ACT for children and adolescents
- Explain the ACT model in the conceptualization of mental health concerns in children and adolescents
- Identify differences between the use of ACT with youth and adults
- Role-play metaphors and experiential exercises adapted for children and adolescents for each ACT process
- Apply knowledge from training to target common barriers in working with children and adolescents
- Strategize methods for working with parents and family members using an ACT model
This training is designed for those who provide clinical services. It is designed for participants with beginner and intermediate knowledge and skills in the topic areas.
Julie Petersen, M.S.
Julie Petersen is a fifth-year doctoral student in the combined clinical/counseling psychology program at Utah State University. She received her B.S. in psychology from Haverford College in 2016 and her M.S. from Utah State University in 2021. Her research is centralized around the treatment of obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders, particularly for children and adolescents, using acceptance and commitment therapy. She has published 30 book chapters and peer-reviewed papers and is a co-editor for the Oxford Handbook of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (in press). Her work has been recognized by the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS).
Financial Disclosure: Julie Petersen receives a portion of the proceeds from this event.
Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
Michael P. Twohig, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and a Professor of Psychology at Utah State University, where he co-runs the ACT Research Group. He received his B.A. and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, his Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Reno, and completed his clinical internship at the University of British Columbia Hospital. He is past-President of the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science, the organization most associated with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). His research focuses on the use of ACT across a variety of clinical presentations with an emphasis on obsessive compulsive and related disorders. He has published over 200 scholarly works including 5 books, with the most recent being Innovations in ACT and ACT in Steps. His research has been funded through multiple sources, including the National Institute of Mental Health.
Financial Disclosure: Michael Twohig receives a portion of the proceeds from this event.