Connect&restore (CORE) Professional clinical training series
About ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has emerged as a powerful and hashtag#evidencebasedapproach in hashtag#mentalhealth.
By blending mindfulness strategies, acceptance techniques, and behaviour change principles, ACT empowers individuals to cultivate psychological flexibility and resilience in facing life's challenges.
ACT offers a unique perspective on addressing psychological distress by fostering acceptance of difficult thoughts and emotions while promoting committed action aligned with one's values.
By helping clients develop a more flexible relationship with their internal experiences and take meaningful steps toward valued goals, ACT facilitates profound and lasting transformations.
What will I learn?
Through Relational Frame Theory (RFT), participants will delve into the fundamental concepts underlying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
The structure of ACT sessions, incorporating models like the Hexaflex and Triflex, is explored to provide a framework for therapeutic practice.
A pivotal aspect emphasized is the identification of choice points within therapy sessions, guiding individuals towards meaningful behavioural changes.
Through experiential exercises, participants learn to apply ACT techniques effectively across various conditions, enhancing their ability to facilitate client progress.
Additionally, mindfulness experiential sessions deepen understanding and application of mindfulnessbased interventions within the ACT framework.
About the Trainers
Sreelakshmi Edavana Santhosh
After completing MPhil Clinical psychology from the Department of Clinical Psychology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal Sreelakshmi joined her alma mater as Assistant Processor in Clinical Psychology.
During her tenure, she was involved in teaching, training, and supervision for MPhil clinical psychology trainees. With special training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy(ACT), Emotionally Focused Therapy(EFT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing(EMDR) and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) she is skilled in her work with adults and children.
She has also conducted multiple skill-building ACT workshops for mental health professionals. She is currently undergoing her training in Somatic Experiencing (SE). She is a passionate therapist who rests her theoretical base in attachment theory.
About the Trainers
Nitha Thomas
Nitha is a clinical psychologist in private practice with more than 10 years of experience. She did her MPhil training from NIMHANS (2009- 2011 batch). She did her under graduation from Prajyoti Niketan College, Calicut University and post graduation from Bharathiar University
She worked as an assistant professor in Dept. of Clinical psychology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education from 2012 to 2022. She was the course coordinator for first year MPhil trainees and clinical psychology consultant in the psychosocial rehabilitation centre of the university. She has also guided M.Sc. and M. Phil research projects.
Her areas of interests are social cognition, third wave therapies, mental health of adolescents and young adults, dialectical behaviour therapy and borderline personality disorder. She has undergone intensive training in Dialectical Behaviour therapy from Behavior Tech LLC. She is currently part of a DBT case consultation team and also runs DBT skill groups. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Christ university and is conducting a feasibility RCT of DBT skill training as part of the research. She is passionate about training mental health professionals and improving therapy experience.