ACT for Trauma-Related Disorders CE Course for Therapists, counselors, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists
 
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Trauma-Related Disorders - 4 hours

To access the discount form for registering for multiple workshops or participants, please click here.

When and Where:

  • Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
  • Time: 12:00pm - 4:30pm Eastern Time
  • CE Hours Included: 4 (please see below for details)
  • Location: Live Interactive Webinar (“Synchronous”) on Zoom
  • Investment: $109 before Friday, June 12th at 5:00pm Eastern Time, $122 after
  • Presented by: Melissa Stringer, LPC and Diana Garcia, LMHC (see bios below)
  • Workshop Recording: A recording of this workshop is available for review for 60 days after the presentation. However, participants must attend live to receive the "Synchronous" CE Certificate.
  • Instruction Level: Intermediate
  • Target Audience: Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists

Learning Objectives:

After completing this workshop in its entirety, you will be able to:

  • Discuss Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, including its application to trauma-related disorders.
  • Assess the role of experiential avoidance in maintaining trauma-related disorders.
  • Apply the 6 core ACT processes to promote post-traumatic growth.
  • Design treatment interventions to increase psychological flexibility.

Workshop Description:

Join us for an experiential and practical workshop on ACT specifically tailored for treating trauma-related disorders. This workshop is designed for mental health professionals who want to deepen their understanding and enhance their skills in using ACT for clients affected by trauma. Through instructional presentations, case examples, and practical exercises, participants will gain comprehensive insights and useful tools to support their clients effectively.
Learn how ACT's unique approach can be applied to address and alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress and related disorders by thoroughly understanding ACT's theoretical foundations and principles. Understand the role of psychological inflexibility in perpetuating trauma-related distress, including the rigid and maladaptive cognitive and behavioral patterns that contribute to the maintenance of PTSD and other trauma-related issues. Obtain the skills needed to effectively apply the six core processes of ACT to assist clients in progressing toward post-traumatic growth and develop practical and effective intervention strategies aimed at enhancing psychological flexibility.

Course Outline:

  • Discuss Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, including its application to trauma-related disorders. (60 mins)
    • Opening exercise and trauma overview
    • Define ACT and its main aim (psychological flexibility), review 6 core processes and their corresponding core yearning.
    • Review of ACT foundations (functional contextualism, RFT, ABA) and interactive poll
  • Assess the role of experiential avoidance in maintaining trauma-related disorders. (30 mins)
    • Experiential avoidance and identifying control as the problem (case examples)
    • Rationale and research supporting ACT as an effective treatment for trauma
    • Explanation of prolonged exposure and how ACT differs from traditional exposure-based approaches
  • Apply the 6 core ACT processes to promote post-traumatic growth. (75 mins)
    • Suggested measures (AAQ‑II, PCL‑5, VLQ, CAPS-5, ISS) and basic psychoeducation for client
    • Introduction of the ACT Matrix Tool, its history, and common language misconceptions
    • Step-by-step breakdown of an adapted version of the ACT Matrix (Survival-Vital), highlighting each core process
  • Design treatment interventions to increase psychological flexibility. (75 mins)
    • Mapping ACT-based interventions into the ACT Matrix (values, present moment, defusion)
    • Mapping ACT-based interventions into the ACT Matrix (acceptance, self-as-context, committed actions)
    • Discuss importance of teaching self-compassion to aid in increasing psychological flexibility

Presented by:

Melissa Stringer, LPC

Melissa Stringer is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-Certified Telemental Health Provider based in Dallas, Texas. She founded Connect & Reboot to provide effective virtual therapy grounded in contextual behavioral science. Although she enjoys the challenge of working with a wide array of mental health challenges, she specializes in treating individuals suffering from anxiety and trauma-related disorders.
Melissa’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Counseling Psychology from Louisiana Tech University. She has worked in the mental health field since 2009 across various settings and roles. She has experience working in long-term care facilities, community mental health centers, substance abuse treatment, and internationally recognized virtual therapy platforms. Additionally, Melissa has extensive experience working with diverse populations and cultures as the spouse of a former active-duty military member.
Melissa’s passion for this line of work is reflected in her efforts to continuously grow professionally. She has written several mental health-related articles for GoodTherapy.org, Healthline.com, and Pollen Magazine. She is a member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. Most recently, she has collaborated with her colleague to form Two ACT Fan Girls, a hub for training other professionals in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy approach. She is currently working towards becoming a Peer-Reviewed ACT Trainer.

Diana Garcia, LMHC

Diana M. Garcia, MS, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor based in Florida. She founded Nurturing Minds Counseling, specializing in helping overwhelmed millennials regain their confidence and live boldly.
Diana's qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Psychology from Florida International University, and she has been working in the mental health field since 2013. With extensive experience as a Primary Therapist and Director of Counseling Services at a local university, Diana has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to offer her clients. Diana's areas of focus include helping individuals manage anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and low self-esteem. She also works with couples struggling to communicate and reignite their connection. Diana is fluent in Spanish and is passionate about working with first-generation individuals.
Dedicated to her professional development, Diana is certified as a Daring Way Facilitator, guiding individuals through Dr. Brené Brown's transformative teachings. She is also a member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, staying at the forefront of innovative therapeutic approaches. In her upcoming book, "Negative Thoughts Happen: How to Find Your Inner Ally When Your Inner Critic Shows Up," Diana offers practical tools and insights to cultivate self-compassion and resilience. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy principles, her book is a powerful resource for those seeking to make peace with their inner critic.

Workshop Schedule (Eastern Time):

  • 11:30am - 12:00pm | Sign-In and Welcome
  • 12:00pm - 2:00pm | Session
  • 2:00pm - 2:30pm | Break
  • 2:30pm - 4:30pm | Session
  • 4:30pm | Continuing Education Certificates Available

4 CE Hours Included - Details by License Type Below:

  • PSYCHOLOGISTS: The Knowledge Tree, A Summit Professional Education Company is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Knowledge Tree, A Summit Professional Education Company maintains responsibility for this program and its content. For more detailed information on the current CE ruling in Georgia, or if you are licensed in another state or country, please click here.
  • COUNSELORS: The Knowledge Tree, A Summit Professional Education Company has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP), ACEP No. 7153. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Knowledge Tree, A Summit Professional Education Company is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Please click here for more detailed information.
  • SOCIAL WORKERS: TKT has applied for approval for this workshop through the Georgia Society for Clinical Social Work (GSCSW). If you are licensed in another state or country, please click here for more detailed information.
  • MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPISTS: TKT has applied for approval for this workshop through the Georgia Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (GAMFT). If you are licensed in another state or country, please click here for more detailed information.

Registration: To register for individual workshops, you may use our online payment option, or to pay by check you may print and complete the Registration Form and mail or fax it to our office. The registration form is available on our website: www.theknowledgetree.org. Registration is permitted until the time the workshop begins, unless otherwise specified.

Multiple Workshop Special: There is a 10% Discount with registration for two workshops. There is a 15% Discount with registrations for three or four workshops. There is a 20% Discount with registration for five or more workshops.

Refund/Cancellation Policy: If you can no longer attend a workshop you have registered for, you can either receive a credit for another workshop or receive a refund if you are within the refund policy period. Refunds will be given for cancellations received at least five days prior to the workshop. More information about refund/cancellation can be found here.

Attendance Policy: 100% attendance and completion of a course evaluation is required at any CE program in order to receive credit for that CE program. No partial credit is given. Certificates of completion will be available in each attendee’s account once the broadcast has ended and the course evaluation completed.

ADA Requests: We will make every effort to accommodate any reasonable ADA request. Please call or email us at least two weeks prior to the event. Payment and registration are required to fulfill an ADA request.

No Conflict Policy: Neither The Knowledge Tree nor its speakers have received any commercial support for this program or its contents and will not receive any commercial support prior to or during this program. 

System Requirements: Live Interactive Webinars are facilitated via Zoom. System requirements for the Zoom platform are linked at our FAQ page.

We are an approved vendor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for easy reimbursement of educational expenses for VA employees.


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For information about our Continuing Education Workshops, please contact our Customer Service team at:

404.913.2005

theknowledgetree@summit.zendesk.com

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The Knowledge Tree, a Summit Professional Education Company, offers courses that provide continuing education hours as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and holds Approved Continuing Education Provider/Sponsor status with professional organizations including APA and NBCC. Each licensee should check our detailed CE information page and ensure courses taken meet their specific state board requirements.