Purposes of the ACT Peer Consultation Group
- To provide ongoing didactic and experiential training in the competent use of ACT with a variety of clinical problems. Certain group members may serve as the senior content experts, however given our adaptation of the model, with learning integrated in the consultation sessions, those who participate over time will be asked to present material to others, jump into the exercises more fully, and take responsibility for the direction of the group. It is also asked that group members commit to outside learning as it is impossible to cover every aspect of the model in a one and a half hour monthly meeting.
- To provide consultation to individuals who are working to apply ACT in their clinical work. This group is for people who are actively using ACT in their clinical work and want to improve their application of ACT principles. Consultation may involve case conceptualization, practicing experiential exercises, role-plays, or discussion of whether ACT is appropriate for a given patient or presenting problem.
Participant Agreements
- While not diminishing the importance of other forms of knowledge, we agree that this is an ACT-focused consultation group, not a general consultation group. Thus, we will work to focus the group on the application of ACT principles and work to come back to these principles when the focus wanders.
- Group members agree to hold the content of what others say in the consultation groups confidential out of respect to the attendees and the individuals with whom we work – this is important both with respect to the sharing of difficult clinical cases and for experiential exercises that may occur in the group.
- Group members also agree to practice radical respect for one another and to realize that they are in the “same soup” with one another – just as we strive to do with clients in therapy.
Format of Meeting
Opening Agenda (15 minutes)
Overview of the format for the session:
- Each session will start by going over the basic format for the time meaning the introduction exercise, the including the opening exercise (asking someone to prepare for the next one for the next meeting)
Opening exercise – can be read from a script or improvised. (led by Opening Exercise Leader)
○ Purpose: For the Opening Exercise Leader, to practice guiding these types of exercises. For the participants, to help them experience exercise. Typically kept to 5 min or less.
○ The group leader takes over after 12:05 asking for feedback on exercise.
Concept Skill Introduction (30 minutes)
This segment of the session will =l focus on a variety of useful terms, concepts, skills, metaphors, and practices with a focus on one process. It will be experiential and allow for each participant to then focus in on the elements/mechanics of the approach to better understand the underlying processes that make the topic work.
Experiential Skills Building (30 minutes)
Skills building exercise. Roles include:
○ Skills Builder – chooses an exercise to learn/practice in front of the group prior to the meeting
○ Assistant to Skills Builder – offers help to the Skills Builder if he/she is stuck or requests feedback during the exercise.
○ Case Presenter – person presenting the case. The details of the case unfold only within the context of the skills building exercise.
○ Hexaflex Monitor – pays attention to the core ACT processes (and Creative Hopelessness as appropriate) demonstrated during the skills building exercise.
○ The task of the remaining group members is to silently observe ACT processes at work in the exercise. This is a time to put on your “ACT goggles” and leave any other theoretical modalities at home. It may be helpful to make notes of any questions or comments for the technical discussion.
○ If there is a new attendee, these roles should be described by each person.
Meeting time is broken into 6-8 15 minute segments:
- The first segment is an introduction, and overview of the group and agenda, and a present moment exercise.
- The next 4 to six segments are dedicated to role playing
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