ACT Workshops for Professionals
The ACT Research Group organizes two workshops a year in Logan, Utah: one in the spring and one in the fall. Spring workshops are topical and may be suitable for beginner, intermediate, and advanced ACT therapists who wish to learn more about a specific content area. Fall workshops are usually an introduction to ACT for clinicians who wish to learn more about the theory and application of ACT.
Drs. Michael Levin and Michael Twohig can also be invited to present workshops at your institution. Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.
Drs. Michael Levin and Michael Twohig can also be invited to present workshops at your institution. Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.
12th Annual ACT Workshop Series
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Led by Mike Twohig, Ph.D
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an innovative type of psychotherapy that falls within the cognitive behavioral tradition. ACT is a unified treatment model that has strong support for specific disorders such as chronic pain, depression, substance use, and anxiety disorders. ACT works under the assumption that people are not broken and our thinking patterns and emotions are both logical and appropriate. The problem lies in the way we attempt to control and regulate these inner experiences. ACT assumes that most psychological disorders—or things that people struggle with—are at least partially the result of our attempts to regulate our thoughts and feelings and not the thoughts and feelings themselves. During this workshop, participants will be given an introduction to ACT and get to experience an abbreviated version of the entire ACT treatment protocol. Attendees will be asked to select a relatively minor struggle in their lives (e.g., struggles at work or school, uncertainties about careers, or struggles in friendships) and practice working through these issues using ACT techniques. All will be given opportunities to share their reactions to the exercises. All professionals interested in mental health and/or behavioral science are welcome to attend!
Instructors
Michael P. Twohig, Ph.D. is a psychologist and a Professor of Psychology at Utah State University, where he co-runs the ACT Research Group. He studied at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of British Columbia Hospital. He is past-President of the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science. He focuses on ACT for obsessive compulsive and related disorders. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers, chapters, and 9 books. His research has been funded through multiple sources including the NIMH and the IOCDF. In 2022, he and USU were rated as the leading ACT researchers.
Emily Bowers, M.S. is a fourth-year doctoral student in the combined clinical/counseling psychology program at Utah State University. She received her B.S. in biopsychology from Tufts University in 2019 and worked as a clinical research coordinator at McLean Hospital’s Behavioral Health Partial Program before beginning graduate school. Her primary research focuses on acceptance and commitment therapy to treat obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders, including perfectionism, misophonia, and body-focused repetitive behaviors.
Who should attend this workshop?
Professionals interested in mental health and/or behavioral science.
Address
Sorenson Legacy Center for Clinical Excellence, Room 150
Utah State University, Logan, UT
View on the USU Interactive Campus Map.
Learning Objectives:
Day 1
After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
Pricing Information
September 20 - 21, 2025
Professionals $325
Students $190
September 20, 2025 Only
Professionals $185
Students $100
September 21, 2025 Only
Professionals $185
Students $100
The registration fee includes a USU parking pass, snacks, drinks, and lunch for both days of the workshop.
We accept registration up to the start of the workshop as space remains available. Registration will close if our capacity is reached. Refunds will be made in full until September 07, 2025 if you cancel. Refunds cannot be made after September 07, 2025. For more information contact [email protected].
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Led by Mike Twohig, Ph.D
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an innovative type of psychotherapy that falls within the cognitive behavioral tradition. ACT is a unified treatment model that has strong support for specific disorders such as chronic pain, depression, substance use, and anxiety disorders. ACT works under the assumption that people are not broken and our thinking patterns and emotions are both logical and appropriate. The problem lies in the way we attempt to control and regulate these inner experiences. ACT assumes that most psychological disorders—or things that people struggle with—are at least partially the result of our attempts to regulate our thoughts and feelings and not the thoughts and feelings themselves. During this workshop, participants will be given an introduction to ACT and get to experience an abbreviated version of the entire ACT treatment protocol. Attendees will be asked to select a relatively minor struggle in their lives (e.g., struggles at work or school, uncertainties about careers, or struggles in friendships) and practice working through these issues using ACT techniques. All will be given opportunities to share their reactions to the exercises. All professionals interested in mental health and/or behavioral science are welcome to attend!
Instructors
Michael P. Twohig, Ph.D. is a psychologist and a Professor of Psychology at Utah State University, where he co-runs the ACT Research Group. He studied at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of British Columbia Hospital. He is past-President of the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science. He focuses on ACT for obsessive compulsive and related disorders. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers, chapters, and 9 books. His research has been funded through multiple sources including the NIMH and the IOCDF. In 2022, he and USU were rated as the leading ACT researchers.
Emily Bowers, M.S. is a fourth-year doctoral student in the combined clinical/counseling psychology program at Utah State University. She received her B.S. in biopsychology from Tufts University in 2019 and worked as a clinical research coordinator at McLean Hospital’s Behavioral Health Partial Program before beginning graduate school. Her primary research focuses on acceptance and commitment therapy to treat obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders, including perfectionism, misophonia, and body-focused repetitive behaviors.
Who should attend this workshop?
Professionals interested in mental health and/or behavioral science.
Address
Sorenson Legacy Center for Clinical Excellence, Room 150
Utah State University, Logan, UT
View on the USU Interactive Campus Map.
Learning Objectives:
Day 1
After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the philosophy and theory behind ACT
- Describe the basic research that informs ACT
- Describe the most recent research on ACT
- List the psychological processes targeted in ACT
- Explain the psychological processes targeted in ACT
- Utilize at least one key ACT exercise in a therapeutic context
After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe how to be a more flexible, creative, and fluid ACT therapist
- Describe how to remain consistent with the ACT model
- Apply ACT Principles in a therapeutic context
- Describe how to optimize experiential learning
- List resources for further information on ACT
- Describe how applying ACT principles in a therapeutic context can benefit clients
Pricing Information
September 20 - 21, 2025
Professionals $325
Students $190
September 20, 2025 Only
Professionals $185
Students $100
September 21, 2025 Only
Professionals $185
Students $100
The registration fee includes a USU parking pass, snacks, drinks, and lunch for both days of the workshop.
We accept registration up to the start of the workshop as space remains available. Registration will close if our capacity is reached. Refunds will be made in full until September 07, 2025 if you cancel. Refunds cannot be made after September 07, 2025. For more information contact [email protected].
Online Training in ACT
Dr. Twohig developed a 12 credit on demand continuing education course on ACT for anxiety disorder and OCD. It covers theory, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment with an emphasis on exposure therapy. A highlight of the course are the six full therapy sessions with individuals with OCD, panic, social and specific phobia, GAD, and clinical perfectionism. You can learn more and sign up here: https://www.praxiscet.com/act-for-anxiety-signup
Previous Workshops
Spring 2025
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for children and adolescents with anxiety and OCD
Presenter: Patricia Zurita Ona, Ph.D.
Fall 2024
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
Spring 2024
1-day Values for therapist burnout: Using ACT to create a meaningful and sustainable work life
Presenter: Jenna LeJeune, PhD
Fall 2023
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D., Korena "Kory" Klimczak, M.S. & Guadalupe "Gabe" San Miguel, M.S.
Fall 2022
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Julie Petersens, M.S.
Fall 2019
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Clarissa Ong, M.S.
Spring 2019
Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Basics and Beyond
Presenter: Kirk Strosahl, Ph.D.
Fall 2018
Advanced ACT: Doing Experiential Work Without Exercises
Presenters: Matthieu Villatte, Ph.D. & Jennifer Villatte, Ph.D.
Fall 2017
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Eric Lee, M.A.
Fall 2016
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Brooke Smith, M.S.
Fall 2015
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Kate Morrison, M.S.
Fall 2014
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
Fall 2013
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
Fall 2012
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for children and adolescents with anxiety and OCD
Presenter: Patricia Zurita Ona, Ph.D.
Fall 2024
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
Spring 2024
1-day Values for therapist burnout: Using ACT to create a meaningful and sustainable work life
Presenter: Jenna LeJeune, PhD
Fall 2023
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D., Korena "Kory" Klimczak, M.S. & Guadalupe "Gabe" San Miguel, M.S.
Fall 2022
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Julie Petersens, M.S.
Fall 2019
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Clarissa Ong, M.S.
Spring 2019
Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Basics and Beyond
Presenter: Kirk Strosahl, Ph.D.
Fall 2018
Advanced ACT: Doing Experiential Work Without Exercises
Presenters: Matthieu Villatte, Ph.D. & Jennifer Villatte, Ph.D.
Fall 2017
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Eric Lee, M.A.
Fall 2016
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Brooke Smith, M.S.
Fall 2015
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenters: Michael Twohig, Ph.D. & Kate Morrison, M.S.
Fall 2014
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
Fall 2013
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
Fall 2012
Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy & Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Michael Twohig, Ph.D.
