Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has a robust evidence base for a range of diagnoses, yet clinicians frequently encounter patients whose presentations do not map neatly onto diagnostic categories. A process-based approach to CBT—or process-based therapy (PBT) more broadly—offers a flexible alternative to protocol-driven treatment, by shifting the focus from disorder-specific symptoms to core psychological processes that keep clients stuck in their struggles, allowing for more individualized and responsive treatment. This presentation will introduce a practical process-based framework for delivering personalized CBT in clinical settings. Attendees will be guided through the key principles of a process-based framework, including how to identify clinically relevant processes, select interventions that target those processes, and monitor treatment progress across sessions. A case study serves as the backbone of the presentation. Participants will follow the full arc of a clinical case—from initial assessment and case conceptualization through session-by-session decision-making—to see how a process-based lens shapes treatment in real time. Emphasis is placed on practical application: how to think flexibly within a CBT framework without abandoning structure or evidence-based practice.

CE Learning Objectives

Following this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Describe at least one principle underlying process-based therapy.
2. Identify clinically relevant processes for case conceptualization, including sociocultural factors.
3. Select evidence-based interventions matched to client needs.

About Presenter

Clarissa Ong, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. Her research focuses on developing, evaluating, and disseminating personalized interventions guided by behavioral and process-based principles. Specific topics of interest include process-based therapy (PBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), OCRDs, and perfectionism. 

Target Audience

This workshop is designed for licensed professionals & advanced graduate students with clinical experience who anticipate seeking licensure as mental health professionals. The instructional level of this presentation is INTERMEDIATE.

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 one (1) hour of CE credits.
• * PBTA offers CE to licensed psychologists licensed in the state of New York. Attestation of full attendance and provision of license number post-event required to obtain certificate that meets NY criteria for CE.
  
• 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. Non-psychologist licensees in other states should confirm with their respective boards if this meets criteria for CE in their specific non-PA states.
  
• 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. Registrants have the option to log in and cancel up to 48 hours before event when registration closes.
  

Zoom video link will be sent to participants 48 hours before the event contingent upon membership being paid in full if membership rate was selected. NOTE: New membership period begins 2/1 of each calendar year. Enrollment for non-members is automatically cancelled if registration fee is not paid within 15 minutes of registration. Past members who have not renewed membership will not be eligible for no-cost CE credits.

Recommended Readings

Ciarrochi, J., Hernández, C., Hill, D., Ong, C., Gloster, A. T., Levin, M. E., Yap, K., Fraser, M. I., Sahdra, B. K., Hofmann, S. G., & Hayes, S. C. (2024). Process-based therapy: A common ground for understanding and utilizing therapeutic practices. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 34(3), 265–290. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000348 (LO1)

Hayes, S. C., Ciarrochi, J., Hofmann, S. G., Chin, F., & Sahdra, B. (2022). Evolving an idionomic approach to processes of change: Towards a unified personalized science of human improvement. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 156, 104155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2022.104155 (LO2)

Ong, C. W., Sheehan, K., Mann, A. J. D., & Fox, E. (2025). Examining the effects of process-based therapy: A multiple baseline study. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 35, 100875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100875 (LO2, LO3)