Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Military Culture

5:00pm to 7:30pm EST

LIVE WEBINAR

Presenter: Michael Shurmatz, LMSW, US Army Veteran and Mary Jo Gibson, LCSW

NASW-NYS Members: Free

NASW Other Chapter Member: Free

Non-Members: Free

NASW-NYS Student Members: FREE

This workshop is approved for 2.5 continuing education credit hours for licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, and licensed marriage and family therapists

Workshop Description

This workshop will introduce clinicians working with Veterans to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). According to Psychologist Dr. Hayes, "(ACT) is a unique empirically based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility." The presenters will focus on applications and considerations specific to Veterans. The training will also cover the theoretical overview, ACT techniques and tools. Participants will practice the applications through role play exercises. Finally, the presenters will include cultural considerations and interactive discussion of ways therapists can employ ACT to assist Veterans in achieving their treatment goals. 

Learning Objectives

After the completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe ACT as a Group Process.
• Explain the concept of “Psychological Flexibility” as a means of behavior change (HexaFlex).
• Describe six core components of ACT and how each connects to Military culture.
• Identify therapeutic interventions from ACT that can be effective within the Veteran population, discuss cultural considerations.

This workshop is approved for 2.5 continuing education credit hours.

NASW-NYS is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (Provider ID #0014), licensed mental health counselors (Provider ID #MHC-0053), and licensed marriage and family therapists. (Provider ID #MFT-0037)

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Presenter:

Mary Jo Gibson, LCSW received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Catholic University and her Masters of Social Work from Adelphi University. Mary Jo currently provides individual, couple and (ACT) group therapy at the Albany Stratton Veterans Administration hospital in the Behavioral Health Clinic. She is an adjunct professor at SUNY Empire State College, where she currently teaches a course in "Crisis Intervention".

Michael Shurmatz, LMSW, US Army Veteran, currently works at the VA WNY Medical Center as a clinical social worker in the substance use clinic. He conducts individual and group sessions providing integrated behavioral health treatment for addictive behaviors. Michael is a trained Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Therapist who incorporates defusion, acceptance, values, and committed action work into most clinical interventions with Veterans. Additionally, Michael specializes in treatment for Moral Injury which is also heavily ACT centered.