Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Speech and Language Pathologists

Sept 12-13, 2015

Workshop leaders: Carolyn Cheasman, BSc (Hons) PgDipSLT cert. MRSCLT [right]
Rachel Everard MSc, cert. MRSCLT [left], both from City Lit, UK

Sponsored by: The Stuttering Foundation and Boston University

Conference coordinator: Diane Constantino dconstan@bu.edu

FOR REGISTRATION: http://www.bu.edu/sargent/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy

Deadline: August 29, 2015

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based approach, offering a clear and
practical way to work on developing psychological well-being which is both useful to our clients and to us
as SLPs. ACT has a large body of empirical evidence to support its effectiveness and is relevant to work
with a range of SLP client groups, both adult and pediatric.

The two major goals of ACT are acceptance of experience which is out of personal control and taking
committed action towards living a valued life. A central message is that we do not need to get rid of fears
and anxieties before starting to lead the life we want – we can get on with it right now. Many SLPs identify
increasing acceptance as fundamental to long-term change: we will describe strategies that ACT uses to
cultivate acceptance and to encourage behavioral change. The specialism of the trainers means that
examples given during the training will be stuttering-related. However, there will be the opportunity to
explore the application of ACT to a variety of clinical populations.

In this experiential course you will be able to:

 describe skills to help clients deal more effectively with negative thoughts and feelings
 describe how to help clients cultivate greater acceptance of challenging experience
 participate in a range of mindfulness practices and other exercises to gain a ‘lived’ experience of ACT
 explore ways in which ACT principles can be integrated into speech and language therapy
Time Agenda:
Sept 12, 2015 9:30 – 3:30
9:30 Introductions and ACT in a nutshell
10:15 Theory and overview
10:45 Break
11:00 Basic strategies in ACT
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Willingness is the alternative, Mindfulness and ACT
2:15 Break
2:30 Self as context, Values, and Committed action
3:20 Processing and home work

Sept 13, 2015 9:30 – 3:30

9:30 Putting ACT into practice: defusion
10:45 Break
11:00 Putting ACT into practice: acceptance, contact with present moment
12:00 Lunch
1.00 Putting ACT into practice: self as context, values, committed action, barriers to action
2:30 Break
2:45 Small group discussion on relevance and application of ACT to range of client groups
3:15 Evaluation and closing round

Intended audience:
Speech-Language Pathologists

About the Speakers:

Carolyn Cheasman has worked with adults who stutter at City Lit, London (the UK national specialist
centre in adult stuttering therapy) since 1979. She has experienced interiorized stuttering herself and so
brings both personal and professional interests to the field. Having completed post-qualification training
in personal construct psychology and person-centered counselling, she went on to train as a mindfulness
teacher and now teaches mindfulness to people who stutter, speech and language therapists and the
general public. Carolyn is also involved in student training and is a clinical tutor at City University, London.
In 2012, Carolyn was honored to receive the International Fluency Association Clinician of Distinction
award.

Rachel Everard is a specialist speech and language therapist whose decision to train as a therapist
stemmed from the fact she stutters herself and from her life-changing experience of receiving therapy at
City Lit. Since qualifying in 1996, she has worked in a variety of settings, including community clinics and
mainstream primary schools, before joining the City Lit team in 2001. Due to her own personal experience
of stuttering, she strongly believes in empowering people who stutter and in the benefits of group
therapy. She also believes in the value of self-help and has had a long-standing involvement with the
British Stammering Association. To complement her skills as a speech and language therapist, Rachel has
completed a certificate in person-centered counselling.

Together with their colleague Sam Simpson, Carolyn and Rachel co-edited the book ‘Stammering Therapy
on the Inside: New Perspectives on Working with Young People and Adults’, published in 2013.
Disclosures:
Financial – Carol Cheasman is a co-editor of the “Stammering therapy from the inside – new perspectives
on working with young people and adults” and receives royalties from J and R Press. She is paid an
honorarium from the Stuttering Foundation and Boston University for conducting this workshop.
Rachel Everard is a co-editor of the “Stammering therapy from the inside – new perspectives on working
with young people and adults” and receives royalties from J and R Press. She is paid an honorarium from
the Stuttering Foundation and Boston University for conducting this workshop.

Nonfinancial – Carol Cheasman has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Rachel Everard volunteers as a board member of the International Fluency Association.

Content – This course focuses on acceptance and commitment therapy and no other similar services will
be discussed.

This program is offered for .9 CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area).