ACT for Addiction

First I would like to say, thank you very much to Mr. Timothy Gordon for facilitating this incredibly well-researched, thoughtful, relevant and engaging online clinical education course on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for treating addictions. Tim’s modules are clean and interactive, he has a delightful and humourous attitude, and he utilizes video and visual diagrams very effectively. I have a practical and foundational knowledge of ACT, and have been implementing it in my clinical practice for a number of years. I enjoyed that Tim provided a broad overview of ACT as an adaptive, process- and evidence-based approach. I currently practice as a clinician in a mental health and addictions treatment centre, and I appreciated how Tim connected ACT to behavioural models/approaches, such as Motivational Interviewing and a transtheoretical model of change, which are so widely used and validated in addictions treatments to elicit behaviour change. Tim demonstrates his dedication to combing the research on ACT and relational frame theory, as well as the validity of process-based clinical work (compared to other psychotherapeutic modalities) in mediating positive therapeutic outcomes and change – this is important to grasp in our line of work! Within his modules, Tim describes each of the ACT processes in depth, ACT-focused case conceptualization, and functional analysis of psychological flexibility vs inflexibility. I truly appreciate his emphasis on noticing as a key intervention, and, with discrimination tasks, perspective-taking and present moment awareness, Tim shows how clinicians can help their stuck clients broaden their contexts and build psychological flexibility. He also presents the different concepts of ACT, metaphors, and experiential exercises, in accessible and engaging manner. In addition, he demonstrates how to apply them in a therapy session (while using helpful diagrams!). Tim is generous in offering many worksheets within his training to help clinicians build their skill in applying ACT and for the benefit of our clients. I want to highlight Tim’s videos of recorded therapy sessions: Tim approaches counselling in a wonderfully validating, friendly, collaborative and non-pathologizing way. Clinicians can learn from him (and these videos) on how to ask questions in a manner that build rapport, respect the therapeutic space, and direct sessions in a meaningful way for the client. I would definitely recommend this course to clinicians, coaches and any health care worker that is interested in this approach and is helping individuals struggling with substance abuse concerns.

I took this course as part of a Remote Learning Plan that I constructed for my MSW program. As a student and new practitioner, I loved it! Tim makes complicated sounding theory easily accessible and digestible, while doing a great job at engaging the learner over an online platform. In addition to the learning and skills that I gained through this course as a practitioner, the hands-on nature of the course also invited me to participate in ACT exercises, allowing me to really engage in the therapeutic work for myself! Highly recommended!

Tim is able to teach the ACT model in a very concrete way. Not only is it an excellent review but it was also very comprehensive. Tim is a very engaging instructor.

This course has been really insightful. From the theory to the application, you are a great therapist and teacher. Thank you.

simple and easy to follow.