Please distribute to others who may be interested... You are hereby invited to a seminar in our twelfth interdisciplinary series on Evolution, Complexity and Cognition <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/?q=node/108> (ECCO 2016-2017) <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marjoriikka_Ylisiurua>
Time: *Friday** April 21, 14h-16h * Place: *room * *D.1.07*, building D, VUB ------------------------------ Dancing Observer: An Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Tjorven Harmsen Abstract: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychotherapeutic approach focusing on psychological flexibility (Hayes et al. 2006). It is based on the assumption, that mental suffering and its reproduction result from attempts of avoiding painful experiences and feelings (cf. Harris 2006: 4). Therefore, ACT develops six core treatment processes in order to interrupt this "cycle of suffering from pain" and to make space for more flexible responses to whatever is experienced at present moment. The upcoming seminar will try and introduce ACT more as a general, not necessarily psychotherapeutic strategy one can use if interested in questioning and flexibilizing the own world views and resulting behaviour. The six core processes - acceptance, cognitive defusion, contact with the present moment, self as context, values and committed action (Hayes et al. 2006: 25) - might help provide general orientation for the development of a mindset characterized by more fluent, more vivid and fulfilling re-, de- and constructions. With short reference to its theoretical framing, the seminar furthermore will try and relate ACT to different theoretical approaches like Niklas Luhmann's Systems Theory (Luhmann 1995). Of both ACT and Systems Theory can be said they play with "aesthetics of uncertainty" (Nassehi 2003: 329) by raising awareness of mechanisms, which let constructions fuse with reality and such in the case of mental observation lead to an identification of the psychic self with its own thoughts. ACT as well as Systems Theory seek to overcome this kind of dualistic elimination and strengthen positions that meet complexity with flexibility. *Literature* Harris, Russell (2006): *Embracing Your Demons: An Overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy*. In: Psychotherapy in Australia, Vol. 12 No. 4 2-8 // http://www.livskompass.se/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ Russ_Harris_A_Non-t... <http://www.livskompass.se/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Russ_Harris_A_Non-technical_Overview_of_ACT.2006.pdf> Hayes, Steven C. / Smith, Spencer (2005): *Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy*. Oakland: New Harbiger Publications. Hayes, S.C. / Luoma, J.B. / Bond, F.W. / Masuda, A. / Lillis, J. (2006): *Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Model, processes and outcomes*. Georgia State University: Psychology Faculty Publications, Paper 101 // http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1085&context=psy... <http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1085&context=psych_facpub> Luhmann, Niklas (1995): *Social Systems*. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Nassehi, Armin (2003): *Closeness and Openness. Studies on the Theory of Modern Society*. Frankfurt / Main: Suhrkamp (German title, translated: TH). Powers, Mark B. / Zum Vorde Sive Vording, Maarten B. / Emmelkamp, Paul M. G. (2009): *Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Meta-Analytic Review*. In: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 78, 73-80 // http://citeseerx.ist.psu. edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.476.7775&rep=re... <http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.476.7775&rep=rep1&type=pdf> Wilson, Kellly G. / DuFrene, Troy (2008): *Mindfulness for Two. An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Approach to Mindfulness in Psychotherapy*. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications. ------------------------------ Upcoming Seminars *April 28th* Marta Lenartowicz United Humanity Ledger as a UN-laid bedrock for the fair, sustainable, and creative future: A case for a global existential opportunity investment *May 5th* Orion Maxted THE MACHINE (pt. 2) *May 12th* Mark Bukarev The Genealogy of Becoming: Explicating the Constrained Stochastic Notion of Creativity Under the Auspices of a Teleodynamical Ground of Reference See also the ECCO/GBI calendar <https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=azMyN252aWluM2JoMnU3MXY5OGt2ZzliOGdAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ> . You can add this calendar to your calendar application through here <https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/k327nviin3bh2u71v98kvg9b8g%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics> More info about the ECCO seminar program: http://ecco.vub.ac.be/?q=node/108 <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/?q=node/108> -- Cadell ECCO Group (VUB) <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/?q=node/1> Email: [email protected] Website: https://cadelllast.com
