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| Enhancing the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Autistic Persons by Utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| Tuesday, November 11, 2025 |
| 11:00 AM–2:00 PM |
| Altis Grand Hotel; Level 0; Bruxelas |
| Area: AUT/VBC; Domain: Applied Research |
| CE Instructor: Mark Dixon, Ph.D. |
| MARK R. DIXON (University of Illinois at Chicago) |
| Description: Over the past 30 years a wide range of conceptual and empirical advances have occurred in behavior analysis to better understand the roots and applications of human language abilities. Relational Frame Theory (RFT) proposed that the behavior of relating should be considered a generalized operant, and with such, speaking with meaning and listening with understanding is made possible. At the same time, language abilities can have unintended side-effects. People get hung up on thoughts, prior experiences, and have emotional responses to stimuli that are far removed from the present stimulus conditions of the current environment. Treatment for such distress has fallen under the technology of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - however such tools have been greatly adopted by non-behaviorists more so than from those within our home discipline. Part of the update is likely due to the confusing terminology and linkage to behavior analytic principles. This workshop hopes to change all that. A brief walkthrough of the linkage between RFT and ACT will be presented, along with methods by which behavior analysts can begin to incorporate this material into their daily practices which serve persons with autism and other related conditions. |
| Learning Objectives: 1. obtain a foundational understanding of how the concepts of RFT and ACT sit within a behavior analytic framework for understanding human behavior | 2. Understand the 6 basic ACT processes and how to apply them to the clients served. | 3. Deliver basic ACT lessons to peers and clients with competency. |
| Activities: This workshop will include: 1. One hour of overview of the ACT model and its relevance for the practicing behavior analyst. 2. One hour of interactive experiences in which the presenter will deliver elements of the ACT model to the participants themselves. 3. One hour of the participants breaking into small groups, designing ACT interventions, and delivering such back to the full group with feedback on performance. |
| Audience: Everyone is welcome. |
| Content Area: Practice |
| Instruction Level: Basic |
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