Integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) in the treatment of OCD
About this workshop:
DATE RESCHEDULED TO 28 MAY 2024
Time: 18:00 – 20:00
The aim of this three-part workshop series is to introduce practitioners to ACT, an evidence-based treatment, which is firmly rooted in Relational Frame Theory (RFT).
Topics to be covered over the three-part series:
- What exactly are ACT, ERP and RFT.
- How to effectively diagnose OCD keeping comorbidity in mind.
- The essentials and treatment goals of ACT for OCD.
- Making decisions on whether to involve the client’s social support network in the treatment process.
- Lessons learned in constructing exposure exercises, both in and out of the session.
- Lessons learned in treating children with OCD.
- Lessons learned in dealing with experiential avoidance and defense mechanisms.
To bring the work alive, I will make use of illustrative case studies (the successes and the not so successful experiences), experiential exercises, metaphors, and offer workshop attendees opportunities to practice some of the tools used in the treatment of OCD.
There are few practitioners who treat OCD, particularly child clients, and few who use evidence-based methods. We are in desperate need to get more practitioners on board in the effective treatment of OCD.
To convey how ACT can be used as an effective treatment for OCD in clinical practice integrating Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) by means of focusing on a little bit of theory, doing experiential exercises, learning about the importance of metaphors and how to use them, tracking patient progress, lessons learned – the successful and not so successful! To bring the theory and the work alive I will make use of case studies, practical therapeutic ‘tools’, and my clinical experience.
Meet our Presenter!
Bernice du Plessis: Working in the private sector as an evidence-based therapist for well over a decade, Bernice’s treatment approach is informed by both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-CBT. Bernice had the privilege of completing her clinical training at SUN which offered an intensive CBT program. Owing to the dearth of continued training in this field Bernice joined and became a board member of the South African Chapter for the Association of Contextual and Behavioral Science (ACBS SA). The ACBS has been instrumental in providing practitioners with the opportunity to be taught ACT by top accredited international trainers including Dr. Robyn Walser, Prof. Tamar Pincus, Prof. Melanie Noel and Dr. Russel Harris to name a few!
Bernice has had the opportunity to present at various local and international conferences and workshops with the focus on using ACT in clinical practice. She has been published in the Journal of Peace and Conflict and the Journal of Child and Abuse and Neglect. Even though she holds a second masters in psychological research from UCT, she much prefers her clinical work.
Bernice’s expertise lies specifically in the treatment of OCD, anxiety related disorders, children who have experienced trauma, tic disorders, trichotillomania, Dermatillomania, ADHD, Autism and working with clients who live with chronic health conditions and persistent pain. She works with children and adults in both English and Afrikaans.
The values which inform her work are adventure, acceptance, authenticity, challenge, curiosity, collaboration, flexibility, humour, humility, independence, and innovation. Bernice is known for forward-thinking and her non-conformist approach to life and work, she is a creative, out-of-the-box thinker with an unconventional approach to both her work and life.