This workshop moves beyond simply identifying emotions to cultivating a powerful willingness to experience discomfort. Clinicians will learn practical, evidence-based techniques from ACT to help clients drop the internal struggle with anxiety, doubt, and panic. We will focus on how to teach clients the difference between pain and suffering, and use metaphors and experiential exercises to increase psychological flexibility—the essential prerequisite for effective exposure work.
Master how to conceptualize and teach clients the difference between inherent emotional pain (e.g., anxiety) and the self-inflicted suffering created by attempting to avoid or control that pain.
Learn to use powerful ACT metaphors (e.g., "Tug-of-War with a Monster," "The Two Rules") to experientially demonstrate to clients the unworkability of the struggle.
Practice hands-on techniques for helping clients create physical and emotional space for difficult internal experiences rather than fighting them, which reduces fusion and rigidity.
Clearly understand how increasing willingness is the direct path to lowering avoidance and strengthening commitment to values-driven behaviors like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).