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Integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Techniques into Client Work
SESSION INFO
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Session Type: Workshop
We are excited to share ways that probation officers can infuse Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills into their work with clients – individually and in groups. First, we will provide a brief introduction to ACT as a trauma-informed and evidence-based program that differs from more commonly known cognitive behavioral programs. Second, we will share an ACT-based curriculum developed as a domestic violence program. We will share how it is currently being implemented and the evidence of its ability to reduce recidivism. Third, we will discuss ways in which an agent’s use of ACT skills in 1-1 settings can help clients identify values-based actions and increase self-awareness, while remaining non-confrontational and collaborative with clients. This approach is particularly helpful with clients that struggle with substance use, mental health, and high conflict relationships. This presentation will be highly participatory with experiential activities and plenty of time for audience discussion and Q&A.
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SESSION PRESENTERS
Dana Guzman
Probation Officer, Domestic Abuse Unit, Ramsey County Community Corrections
Dana Guzman has been in the probation field for nearly 20 years and has been a Probation Officer in the Domestic Abuse Unit of Ramsey County Community Corrections (RCCC) since 2015. In this role, she provides direct services to domestic violence offenders and helps connect court mandated individuals to appropriate programming. Dana has served as an ACTV group facilitator and coach to new ACTV facilitators since 2016 and has been a consultant and trainer since 2019. Dana has championed the implementation of the ACTV program within Ramsey County and continues to find the daily impact with the clients rewarding. Dana is a graduate of Hamline University where she dual-majored in Criminal Justice and Psychology.
Deric Jackson, MSW, LICSW
Deputy Director of Community Corrections, Scott County Community Corrections
Deric Jackson, MSW, LICSW is the Scott County Community Corrections Field Services Manager. He served as a Community Corrections Supervisor for Ramsey County from 2011-2023 and supervisor of Supervised Release and Interstate Parole Agents. He has over 25 years’ experience in probation in Illinois and Minnesota. Deric has served as an ACTV group facilitator and coach since 2015. He has also served as a consultant and trainer for ACTV since 2019. Deric is a graduate of Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois where he majored in Psychology. He earned his Master of Social Work in 2008 from the University of St. Thomas and is currently a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. He is also a practicing psychotherapist in Minnesota and utilizes aspects of ACTV in his practice.
Erika Lawrence
Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Psychology, The Family Institute at Northwestern University
Dr. Erika Lawrence is a clinical psychologist and clinical research professor of psychology at Northwestern University. She has spent the last 10+ years partnering with community corrections and community mental health agencies infusing Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) skills into their individual and group work with domestic abuse clients. Ten years ago, Dr. Lawrence and her students (including Dr. Amie Zarling) developed an ACT-based program to successfully treat domestic violence (ACTV). She and her team were able to implement their program in two states and still maintain its effectiveness at reducing domestic abuse when working in partnership with a variety of corrections and community agencies. Three studies have been conducted demonstrating that that ACTV reduces recidivism by one-third to one-half compared to the standard programs used across the U.S. The Pew Institute recognized ACTV for being a domestic abuse program that is both empirically effective and cost-effective, and it was featured on NPR Marketplace as an example of a program that is both effective at reducing target behavior and cost-effective.
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