A Taste of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

These are free events designed for members of the public clinical mental health workforce in Victoria, (staff employed at Area Mental Health Services, Forensicare or mental health staff from RCH). For example, a social worker working in mental health at Austin Health. Staff from MHCSSs, ACCHOs, AOD or other partner organisations may sometimes also attend. Please note, if you do register for an event and it is not clear you are part of the intended audience, your registration will be confirmed two weeks prior to the event start date, or earlier.

Event description

For anyone interested in an overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy this 1-day workshop provides an introduction to the core principles of ACT and their relevant application in clinical practice. In order to maximise learning, participants will complete some pre-workshop reading and practice their learning on the day through some simple experiential exercises.

The event will cover:

• An overview of the theory underlying ACT.
• An opportunity to learn and experiment with some ACT skills.
• A basis for potential extended training.

This session will combine didactic and experiential / active learning, and will be run via Zoom.

Participants will be sent a link to access the session 2 days prior.

Presenters:

Dr Carl Zabel

Dr Carl Zabel is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked in private practice as well as in the Victorian public mental health system for the past 15 years. He is the Senior Psychology Advisor for NorthWestern Mental Health (NWMH) which, through a multi-disciplinary workforce of approximately 1700 staff, provides a comprehensive, integrated range of services to people with a serious mental illness in North-Western Melbourne.

Carl has a keen interest in the delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions to consumers of public mental health services under a recovery-guided model. He supports the expansion and systemic application of mindfulness-based interventions at NWMH through supervision, training and advocacy.

Dr Lisa Soares

Registered since 2003, Lisa has over 18 years’ experience working in both public mental health and the private sector, predominantly with people over the age of 16 years who are struggling with a wide range of mental health difficulties. She draws from a range of evidence based therapy approaches tailored to recognise and respond to the individual needs and experiences of her clients and favours using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a third generation evidence based CBT approach, as well as other related mindfulness and behavioural-based interventions, when working with clients.

Lisa has served on the ANZ ACBS board as a General Member as well as President-Elect. In addition to being a Private Practitioner, Lisa has worked in a range of leadership roles as well as in the University sector and is currently the co-ordinator of the newly formed ACTivating Recovery Program at NWMH- Royal Melbourne Hospital, based in Melbourne, the first of its kind in the world. Lisa also provides professional supervision and training to psychologists and other health practitioners across a variety of sectors.​