ACT Behind Bars

Clinicians working in correctional and forensic settings understand the unique therapeutic challenge navigating their client’s deep-seated cognitive distortions and maladaptive coping strategies. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has traditionally been the treatment of choice in these settings, this therapy typically targets symptom reduction and seldom promotes long-term behavioral change to mitigate re-offense. Through mindful awareness and values-guided behavioral change strategies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful treatment alternative in helping incarcerants understand what they are capable of changing.

The ACT Behind Bars Workshop draws from Dr. Brillhart’s considerable forensic clinical experience working with a wide-range of criminal offenders using ACT. His workshop premiered at the 2013  ACBS World Conferences in Sydney, Australia, with updated workshop components featured at the 2014 ACBS World Conference in Minneapolis, MN and 2015 Southeast ACBS Chapter Conference in Lafayette, LA. These workshops featured orientation and application to Energy Buck$®, the ACT-based mindfulness tool he created bringing awareness to the way people spend energy on uncontrollable situations, experiential and role-playing exercises, and clinical application working in these challenging and demanding settings.

Click here to download the Energy Buck$^® Instructions, Templates, and Tracking Form.
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In short, the ACT Behind Bars Workshop is targeted for all clinicians seeking CBT treatment alternatives to promote life-affirming, values-guided change for their forensic and correctional-setting clients. To hear more, click on the recent radio interviews prominent ACT psychologist, JoAnne Dahl, Ph.D., conducted with Dr. Brillhart about his ACT Behind Bars and on the subject of Persistency and Commitment. You can also read Dr. Brillhart’s chapter on ACT in the recently published Individual Psychological Therapies in Forensic Settings:  Research and Practice 1^st Edition (2017) available on Amazon.com.

The ACT Behind Bars Workshop is available in three-hour, half-day, and full-day training. To find out more about training opportunities at your correctional or forensic settings, please complete the following information:

 

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