Perfectionism is a trans-diagnostic process that causes, maintains, and exacerbates a wide range of mental health disorders including generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder (Egan, Wade and Shafran 2012) and suicide (Smith, et al. 2018). Perfectionism has been increasing in prevalence in western society in recent decades (Curran and Hill 2019) and both client and therapist can struggle with unhelpful perfectionistic behaviour patterns such as setting extremely high and rigid standards, fear of failure, self-criticism, procrastination, and avoidance. These behaviours can also directly undermine the effectiveness of therapy.
Viewing perfectionism as patterns of behaviour rather than a part of your personality, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) provides an opportunity to transform problematic perfectionistic behaviours into more helpful behaviour patterns and in doing so, support valued living. This workshop offers an innovative and evidence-based approach to treating perfectionism by integrating ACT with mindfulness, and self-compassion.
The presenter will start by exploring perfectionism as a trans-diagnostic process and how it is related to many common mental health disorders. Participants will be given a concise formulation that outlines the key processes that define unhelpful perfectionism and explains how perfectionistic behaviours develop and persist despite negative consequences in the long-term.
The remainder of the workshop will then be focused on skills development using practical exercises, demonstrations, self-reflection and small-group discussion. Participants will learn specific treatment strategies to target the core processes of unhelpful perfectionism. These will include how to:
Throughout, participants will also have opportunities to reflect on their own unhelpful perfectionistic habits and how these can interfere with their therapeutic practice and contribute to anxiety, stress, and burnout.
At the end of the workshop, participants will have the skills needed to help clients unhook from unhelpful perfectionistic behaviours, build psychological flexibility, and develop the skills of self-compassion, and in doing so live their best (yet ‘imperfect’) lives. They will leave the workshop with templates, scripts, and handouts that they can use immediately with their clients.
This workshop will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of unhelpful perfectionism and give you the specific skills you need to treat this problem in your clients, improving their ability to achieve their goals and live a meaningful and valued life. - Jennifer Kemp
Disclaimer:
Many psychologists and helping professionals struggle with perfectionism, fear of failure and self-criticism. Some participants may therefore find that the content of this workshop triggers self-reflection and analysis of their own difficulties with perfectionism and unhelpful habits. Participants will have opportunities to explore their own unhelpful habits throughout the program and may like to seek out additional professional support should they need additional support in implementing changes as a result of the workshop.
There are no known risks to adding this information and methodology to client work. The approach is simple, empowering and respectful, as well as evidence-based for a wide range of client presentations and mental health problems.
This content of this program is designed primarily for work with older adolescents and adults. The information provided will be relevant to children, but the program will not provide specific strategies to adapt the approach to work with children (e.g. play-based approaches).
Jennifer Kemp is a privately practicing Clinical Psychologist based in Adelaide, Australia. She sees adults struggling with perfectionism, eating disorders, body image problems, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), weight management, and chronic illness, seamlessly applying acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), behaviour therapy and compassion-focused therapy approaches. Jennifer balances this with writing, presenting, and providing consultations to professionals seeking to deepen their therapeutic practice and application of ACT.
Jennifer is the author of “The ACT Workbook for Perfectionism: Build Your Best (Imperfect) Life Using Powerful Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Self-Compassion Skills”, launched by New Harbinger in December 2021, as well as and several e-books including “The Perfectionistic Therapist: Striving to Help and Never Fail”. Jennifer is a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, and podcast guest, regularly presenting to local and international audiences on the topic of perfectionism, self-criticism, and self-compassion as a therapist. She is delivered several professional workshops for the Clinical College of the Australian Psychological Society, Association for Contextual Behavioural Science (ACBS) World Conference, and International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Online World Conference.
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ACT FOR PERFECTIONISM: Addressing perfectionistic patterns, fear of failure, and self-criticism with acceptance and self-compassion. (Sydney)
Tue, Nov 08, 2022 - 09:00am to 04:30pm AEDT - Product Code AUL22186 Chatswood, NSW |
Face-to-Face registration
Fee: $249
$29 to purchase and keep the recording of this event.
N.B. Face to face participants are required to comply with COVID safety measures as outlined by the venue and PDP.
Details of the measures current at the time and in line with public health orders will be advised in your pre-event reminder/information emails.
The venue and PDP reserve the right to deny entry to any participant who chooses not to follow COVID safety plans.
COVID-19 AND YOUR SAFETY
This Accor hotel has a fully implemented plan attending to the health and safety of all venue attendees.
You will be required to abide by the safety measures current at the time and in line with public health orders. These will be advised in your pre-event reminder/information emails.
In the interest of everone's safety, the venue and PDP reserve the right to deny entry to any participant who chooses not to follow the current COVID safety plans.
ACCESSIBILITY
This venue offers wheelchair access from the street level.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Conveniently located right by several bus routes and a 7-minute walk to Parliament Station.
PARKING
Links to reasonable early-bird parking close to the venue:
https://www.wilsonparking.com.au/park/3215_180-Russell-St-Car-Park_180-Russell-Street-Melbourne
https://www.wilsonparking.com.au/park/3252_222-Russell-St-Car-Park_222-Russell-Street-Melbourne
NOURISHMENT
All day tea, coffee and water are provided.
If you have pre-purchased lunch, hotel staff will have you selection ready for you.
The venue has a restaurant and is surrounded by cafes and restaurants should you choose to eat out.
Please note that lunch bought from outside providers cannot be eaten in the hotel.
ACCOMODATION
The seminar venue is the Mantra on Russell Hotel which offers a discount on accommodation for the PDP community. Please quote the code RUSSELL2021
Website: https://all.accor.com/hotel/B3P4/index.en.shtml?utm_campaign=seo+maps&utm_medium=seo+maps&utm_source=google+Maps
Quest on Lonsdale is a 6 minute walk from the venue.
Website: https://www.questapartments.com.au/properties/vic/melbourne/quest-on-lonsdale/overview?utm_source=GoogleMyBusiness&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=questonlonsdale
Hotel Grand Chancellor is a 2 minute walk from the venue.
Website: https://www.grandchancellorhotels.com/hotel-grand-chancellor-Melbourne
This workshop will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of unhelpful perfectionism and give you the specific skills you need to treat this problem in your clients, improving their ability to achieve their goals and live a meaningful and valued life. - Jennifer Kemp
Morning Session (3 hours with a morning tea break)
Part 1: Understanding Perfectionism from a Contextual Behavioural Perspective (1.5 hours)
Setting up the program & learning environment
Understanding perfectionism
The five processes of unhelpful perfectionism
Identifying perfectionistic processes in clients
MORNING TEA
Part 2: Creating a foundation for change (1.5 hours)
Building a Case for Change Using Creative Hopelessness
Identifying the targets for your intervention
1. Contextual factors that keep perfectionists stuck
2. Avoidant loops that offer short-term relief
LUNCH
Afternoon Session (3 hours with a morning tea break)
Part 3: Transforming Self-Criticism Using Self-Compassion + Action (1.75 hours)
3. Self-criticism that undermines valued action
Introducing the Passengers on the Bus Metaphor
Understanding what’s important using values
Introducing the Self-Critical Passenger
How do you respond to self-criticism?
Introducing compassion for the Self-Critical Passenger
Strategies to build self-compassion
AFTERNOON TEA
Part 4: Becoming More than Perfect (1.25 hours)
4. Building a flexible self
Helping Perfectionists Achieve Lasting Change
Becoming More than Perfect
Living Your Best (Imperfect) Life
Wrap-up & time for questions
Details of assumed knowledge / experience required of potential seminar participants:
This workshop is designed for people trained in psychological science and it is expected that participants will have a basic understanding of behavioural principles. This program does not teach Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) from the ground up (please attend an introductory ACT workshop for this) rather, it explores the application of ACT principles to unhelpful perfectionism and self-criticism. If you have training in ACT this workshop will deepen your understanding and broaden your ability to apply ACT in a range of contexts. A basic knowledge of ACT and behavioural principles may be helpful but is not essential to benefit from this program. All concepts used within the workshop will be explained at the time.
Morning Session
9:00am - 12:30pm (includes 15 minute break at 10:30am)
Lunch Break
12:30pm - 1:00pm
Afternoon Session
1:00pm - 4:30pm (includes 15 minute break at 2:45pm)
The ACT Workbook for Perfectionism by Jennifer Kemp - Card Decks, Books, Resources
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