ACT Here and Now
Second Israeli ACT Conference, 2022

The Israeli ACT community, the Israeli branch of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), and the Interpreters Institute at the Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College are proud to present:

ACT here and now

The Second Israeli ACT Conference, 2022

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? What does it look like in the clinic or in research, what are its theoretical foundations, and what psychological or philosophical movement can it be associated with? The answer to these questions is not unambiguous and uniform, as ACT therapy draws its inspiration from different directions and movements, and part of the beauty of the world of ACT therapy stems from the fact that each and every one may find themselves in the approach and the therapeutic and human spirit that expresses their beliefs and perceptions. From structured protocol-based treatment to a liberated stance based on the therapeutic relationship, from simple contact with the moment to tracing patterns from the past, from behaviorist foundations and learning theories to a humanistic basis and various spiritual and cultural approaches.

The various branches of ACT therapy allow for contact and development in each of these areas and more. It is not for nothing that at the heart of the approach is the psychological flexibility that stems from dialectics. For dialectics is development from conflict, from the tension that exists between different attitudes, ideas, and directions of thought.

At the second annual conference of the Israeli ACT community, we seek to provide a rich and broad response to different lines of thought, diverse theories and applications, and theoretical transformations and developments. The conference contains a variety of workshops on various topics, and for different levels of knowledge and familiarity of the participants. It is intended for veteran community members as well as for new interested parties who are first introduced to ACT, for those who wish to deepen their field of work and also for those who wish to expand and encounter a new topic.

The workshops at the conference touch on the theoretical background of ACT in various aspects (behaviorism and its impact, language as behavior, the flexibility hexagon, etc.), provide an introduction to various psychotherapeutic approaches (focused therapy, compassion-based therapy, the therapeutic relationship, integration in therapy, etc.), and various interfaces to a range of therapeutic approaches (couples therapy, yoga, mental resilience, cultural connections, etc.), deal with responding to a variety of difficulties and challenges (working with anger management, chronic pain, high sensitivity, complex post-trauma, body perception, eating disorders, disease states, etc.) and offer several options for experiential and applied experiences (group experiential practice, introduction and application of metaphors in therapy, the therapist's position, practicing skills in small groups, etc.).

We will begin the day with a lecture by Lior Gilad, one of the founders and leaders of the Israeli ACT community branch, on the topic of "To the Self": Different Perspectives - One 'Self' (?). In her lecture, she will present a kind of roadmap for the concept of the self in the world of ACT. In the middle of the day, after a shared lunch and a break to refresh ourselves, we will meet for the main panel, "ACT Here and Now," where clinical and research innovations in ACT in Israel will be presented by leading researchers and therapists in their fields. This panel will provide a glimpse into the diverse and unique work in the field of ACT in Israel. At the end of the day, after the conclusion of the workshops, we will meet for a social and experiential activity that will allow for a final connection before we say goodbye.

Looking forward to seeing you!

To go to the conference website - https://www.mifrasim.mta.ac.il/actconferencehome