By Brooks Witter, LPC
Driving from Reno to Boulder affords a lot of time to contemplate life, suffering, values and the road ahead. In the early summer of 2010 I was returning from a 2-day workshop with Steve Hayes, my first introduction to ACT, processing the impact these teachings were having on me. What came to me in the hours following that training was a very clear, very energizing and somewhat unnerving conviction: “I want to be teaching this material within 2 years.” The power of that commitment fueled a deep and profoundly rewarding dive into the study and practice of ACT, contextual behavioral science and the applications of a functional contextualistic worldview.
Nine years on, I am relieved and happy to announce that I have passed the application process and am now a recognized peer-reviewed ACT Trainer. While I have no plans to make a pronounced pivot in my professional trajectory as a result of this, I do feel more clear that an area I wish to contribute and participate deeply in the world of contextual behavioral science is in teaching and communicating the practical tools for psychological freedom and flexibility that this community is rigorously cultivating. I am eager to join an esteemed group of colleagues who are committed to developing best practices in disseminating the technologies of CBS in professional trainings, public workshops, and other learning environments where the psychological flexibility and pro-social tools can be put into practice.
If you are interested in joining this team of peer reviewed trainers, I encourage you to apply. The process is rather straightforward and you will need to commit some time to it. To begin, visit the ACT Trainer web page to find the latest info on the application process (https://contextualscience.org/training_standards). In short, the application process consists of being an ACBS member in good standing, agreeing to the values and principles of an ACT trainer, submitting a CV which includes relevant trainings received and given, completing two essays to demonstrate proficient understanding of RFT and functional contextualism, and, finally, having a training reviewed by two current peer reviewed trainers. This final step can be done live by inviting two trainers to attend a training you are giving; or you can submit videos of past training(s) to the committee for review. If you choose the latter option, as I did, you must submit an accompanying document guiding the reviewers to relevant sections of your video that highlight the various competency areas the reviewers are looking to assess.
For me personally, the biggest hurdle was not the process of the application itself, but rather working with the “demons at the gate”, the sticky thoughts and feelings that barked me down as I considered taking this step towards something meaningful, challenging and uncertain. Good thing I can draw from a very cool toolbox to meet these challenges!