ACT interventions for anxiety-based issues: perfectionism, fear of failure, and self-criticism. (Sydney)

CPD

Handouts

Faculty

Jennifer Kemp, MPsych (Clinical) Related seminars and products

Adelaide Behaviour Therapy

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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.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jennifer Kemp has an employment relationship with Adelaide Behaviour Therapy. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jennifer Kemp is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the Association of Contextual Behavioural Science. She is a fellow of APS Clinical College of Psychologists.

Additional Info

1. You’ll be able to identify unhelpful perfectionistic patterns in your clients and understand how these patterns contribute to—and sustain—their self-criticism, emotional rigidity and other mental health problems
2. You’ll know how to customize evidence-based treatment approaches that addresses your clients’ unique challenges with perfectionism
3. You’ll be able to help clients let go of unhelpful habits, build greater psychological flexibility and develop greater self-compassion

Venue information

COVID-19 AND YOUR SAFETY
Our venue is registered with Service NSW as a 'Covid Safe' venue. 
You will be required to checkin via our QR code and 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, PDP reserves 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 Brown Street entrance.  

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
4 minute walk from Chatswood train/metro/bus interchange

PARKING
Links to reasonable early-bird parking close to the venue:
https://www.secureparking.com.au/en-au/car-parks/australia/new-south-wales/sydney/lower-north-shore-and-northern-beaches/zenith-centre-car-park

https://www.secureparking.com.au/en-au/car-parks/australia/new-south-wales/sydney/lower-north-shore-and-northern-beaches/12-help-street-car-park

NOURISHMENT 
All day tea, coffee and chilled water are provided.
If you have not ordered lunch with your registration, we have a fridge and two microwave ovens should you wish to bring your own food. 
The venue has a cafe on the ground floor and is surrounded by cafes and restaurants including an extensive food hall above the Chatswood Interchange.

ACCOMODATION
Mantra Hotel is next door to the venue: website here
Meriton Suites is a 4 minute walk from the venue: website here

Objectives

1. Diagnose unhelpful perfectionism in their clients and themselves, creating a clear and concise formulation within functional contextual behavioural framework
2. Distinguish between helpful and unhelpful perfectionistic patterns including the differences in how unhelpful patterns develop and are maintained despite long-term unwanted consequences
3. Demonstrate several treatment strategies that build psychological flexibility and self-compassion in people struggling with perfectionism, including strategies that help people:
   • Modify entrenched and unhelpful behaviour patterns such as procrastination, checking, and avoidance
   • Respond to perfectionistic self-criticism in more helpful and compassionate ways
   • Develop a more flexible sense of self that extends beyond being ‘perfect’

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

Outline

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

Target Audience

• Experienced and early career psychologists
• Social Workers
• Professional practicing counsellors/therapists
• Mental health nurses
• Executive/leadership coaches

 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.

Schedule

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)

Location

Level 1, 10 Help Street, Chatswood, NSW 2067, Australia
+61 1300 887 622
www.pdpseminars.com