Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for people working with adults who stammer: Affirming practice

This course invites each participant to take a deep dive into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to fully meet the needs of adults who stammer. You will develop skills in delivering evidence-based assessment and intervention in ACT. An experiential approach is taken from the self-study module right through to the live sessions, and this emphasises the need for the effective practitioner to embody ACT. Living out values and committed action within a mindful context enables a richer and elevated therapeutic relationship. This strong alliance results in practice that meets the emotional and psychological needs of adults who stammer. Completing this course will allow each participant to immediately employ evidence-based ACT strategies and this in turn will increase confidence in delivering affirming and individualised practice.

The course adopts an ‘inside out’ approach to learning Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to enable the Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to fully embody the approach. The course builds on this embodied learning to enable the practitioner to incorporate ACT into their intervention with adults who stammer (AWS).

There are three modules:

• Module 1: A self-study module (half-day equivalent) accessed online, presenting the fundamental principles of ACT.  Delegates are enrolled to this content 4 weeks prior to the first virtual-live session.
• Modules 2 & 3: Two virtual-live ½ day sessions delivered on Zoom. These modules focus on the application of ACT with adults who stammer (AWS).

Attend this course if

You work with adults who stammer and are keen to learn how to blend ACT with speech and language therapy to equip the adult with the knowledge, awareness and skills to lead a vital and meaningful life, no matter what challenges they face.

You are keen to learn from a dual-qualified Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and a Clinical Behaviour Analyst (Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst- BCBA) who has direct experience of effectively working with adults who stammer.

Please book your place here or alternatively, you can contact us if you are you would like to:

• Book four or more courses (we can offer you a discount)
• Make a block booking for a group
• Book a closed course

Learning objectives

1. Understand the fundamentals of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) relating to speech and language therapy management of AWS.
2. Develop knowledge and understanding of the current ACT research base related to stammering
3. Build knowledge and skills working across all 6 constructs of the ACT Hexaflex within the assessment and intervention process with AWS
4. Notice the role of ‘rupture and repair’ (Walser and O Connell, 2021) in the therapeutic journey with AWS
5. Enable a powerful therapeutic alliance with AWS through an ‘inside out’ approach
6. Set realistic fluency goals with AWS within an ACT context
7. Develop skills to measure and track psychological flexibility changes in AWS
8. Work through case conceptualisation to strengthen the SLT’s ability to apply ACT to their intervention with AWS

This course is suitable for: Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs), Speech and Language Therapy returners to practice, Speech and Language Therapy Students

This course is available on various dates throughout the year. To view available course dates, select your preferred date and book your place, please click here.

During the booking process, you can select to reserve a place instead (while you confirm you can attend or to organise payment through your employer for example). We can hold your place for up to four weeks, if we have not heard from you after this time, we may need to cancel your reservation so other people can attend the training.

Course Beetle is an approved supplier for NHS Trusts, Local Authorities and Schools.