In this practical, applied workshop, Dr. Roemer will provide an evidence-based conceptual acceptance-based behavioral model for understanding client's anxious presentations and guiding treatment. She will briefly overview how the therapeutic relationship, psychoeducation, and mindfulness-based strategies can be used to target the elements of this model. She will provide more in-depth guidance and practice in strategies for helping clients identify what matters to them (e.g., values), including addressing barriers that commonly arise in doing this work. She will then explore ways of helping clients to identify values-based actions to try during the week, including how to develop a manageable progression for clients and help them refine their plans. Finally, she will illustrate how to guide clients in using their mindfulness skills both to notice opportunities for these values-based actions and to notice the impact of these actions as they unfold.  She will address barriers to values-based actions including systemic barriers, and also discuss cultural considerations in acceptance-based behavioral therapy. Throughout the workshop there will be opportunities for participants to ask specific questions to guide discussion.

CE Learning Objectives

Following this presentation, participants will be able to:

1.) Describe an acceptance-based behavioral model for anxiety and apply it to their clients

2.) Describe how to guide clients in identifying what matters to them

3.) Describe how to work with clients to develop values-based actions to try throughout their week.

4.) Describe how to guide clients in using mindfulness skills to identify opportunities for values-based actions and to attend to the actions they engage in.

About Presenter

Lizabeth Roemer, Ph.D. obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from The Pennsylvania State  University. She serves as Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston. In collaboration with Sue Orsillo, Ph.D. she has developed an acceptance-based behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder that incorporates mindfulness strategies and valued action. Together, they have co-authored Acceptance Based Behavioral Therapies: Treating Anxiety and Related Challenges, Worry Less, Live More: The Mindful Way Through Anxiety Workbook  and several other publications. For more about her background and contributions to psychology visit https://roemerlab-umb.com/roemer/

Target Audience

This presentation is intended for licensed mental health professionals and advanced graduate student trainees seeking licensure and with some clinical experience. The instructional level of this presentation is intermediate and it is recommended that participants have some background in mindfulness.

Continuing Education

• Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists*. Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• This program provides three (3) hours of CE credits.
• PBTA is also an authorized provider of CE credits for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
• Full attendance with video display is required to obtain CE credit for this program. APA guidelines do not permit PBTA to issue partial CE credits. No refunds are provided for CE programs. No exceptions allowed.
• * PBTA does not currently offer CE to practitioners licensed in the state of New York.