Improving Access to Evidence-Based ACT for Social Anxiety: In-Person and Virtual Group Approaches (and Self-Help)
Mini Workshop 11 - Improving Access to Evidence-based ACT for Social Anxiety: In-person and Virtual Group Approaches (and Self-help)
Saturday, November 19, 2022
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Location: Marquis Ballroom B, 9th Floor
Earn 1.5 CE Credit
Keywords: Social Anxiety, ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy), Telehealth/m-Health Level of Familiarity: All Recommended Readings: Kocovski , N.L., Fleming, J.E., Hawley, L.L., Ho, M.R., & Antony, M.M. (2015). Mindfulness and acceptance-based group therapy and traditional cognitive behavioral group therapy for social anxiety disorder: Mechanisms of change. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 70, 11-22. Krafft, J., Twohig, M.P. & Levin, M.E. (2020). A randomized trial of acceptance and commitment therapy and traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy self-help books for social anxiety. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 44, 954–966. Gentry, M.T., Lapid, M.I., Clark, M.M., & Rummans, T.A. (2019). Evidence for telehealth group-based treatment: A systematic review. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 25, 327-342.
Clinical Associate The Mindfulness Clinic Toronto, Ontario, Canada
This workshop will focus on training an ACT-based approach for social anxiety that was originally developed for in-person group delivery and has been adapted for self-help and virtual group delivery. Individual therapy can be difficult to access for many individuals around the world. Self-help and group-based approaches, both in-person and virtual, allow for greater accessibility. Empirical evidence for in-person, self-help, and virtual delivery of the approach will be summarized followed by presentation of the 10-week group protocol which includes mindfulness and compassion practices, metaphors and experiential exercises that get at acceptance, defusion, values and goals, as well as acceptance-based situational exposures referred to as VITAL Action exercises. Workshop attendees will learn by demonstration, experiential exercises, and role play how to use the strategies in person and how to adapt them for virtual delivery. There will be particular emphasis on practicing acceptance-based exposure. The group protocol is available for free online and is currently in use in several settings worldwide. Through this workshop our intent is to increase availability of this evidence-based approach for individuals who struggle with social anxiety.
Outline: • Evidence for ACT for Social Anxiety o In-person o Virtual o Self-help • Overview of ACT for Social Anxiety o Model o Self-Compassion o Group protocol o Virtual adaptations • VITAL Action Exercises (Acceptance-based Exposure) o Imagining VITAL Action exercise o Guidelines for conducting VITAL Action exercises o Demonstration
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:
Describe and utilize an evidence-based group protocol for social anxiety delivered in person and virtually.
Implement acceptance-based exposure in virtual and in-person groups.
Implement experiential exercises with a self-compassion focus in virtual and in-person groups.
Long-term Goal: Attendees will be able to deliver acceptance-based exposure for social anxiety as well as use self-compassion practices as part of the treatment of social anxiety disorder.