Course Description

This course examines the integration of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and compassion-focused approaches in the treatment of anxiety and trauma. Grounded in contextual behavioral science, ACT reframes psychological suffering as a normal part of human experience and emphasizes psychological flexibility, the ability to remain present, accept inner experiences, and act in alignment with personal values. Participants will explore how acceptance, mindfulness, and defusion techniques address cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, and shame-based responses common in anxiety and posttraumatic presentations. The course also highlights the neurocognitive underpinnings of ACT processes and demonstrates how compassion-based strategies enhance safety, motivation, and therapeutic alliance. Practical modules guide clinicians in applying ACT principles across diverse settings, including telehealth, while maintaining ethical fidelity and cultural responsiveness. By blending scientific rigor with a deeply humane stance, this course equips behavioral health professionals to help clients live meaningfully in the presence of pain. This is a NBCC and Florida Board Approved course for 1 CE hour.

Please review the course materials prior to purchasing the course. Often, individuals will print a copy of the course worksheet to complete while they view the course material. Once you are ready to complete the course, please enroll in the course and complete the course requirements, including the course post-test and course survey. You will receive your certificate automatically for printing or downloading after achieving an 80% or higher on the post-test and completing the course survey. 

Applications of ACT in Anxiety and Trauma Course Text.pdf

Applications of ACT in Anxiety and Trauma Course Worksheet.pdf


Course Author:  Bryan Glazier, PhD, LMFT, LMHC,, FL Qualified MHC/MFT Supervisor 

Course Time/Location: 1 CE Hour, Location: www.directceu.com (web-based, asynchronous/home study) 

Course Text: Acceptance and Compassion in Action: Applications of ACT for Anxiety and Trauma

Course Board Approval Statement(s): NBCC, Florida Board Approved

Directceu, llc has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7411. directceu, llc maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

directceu, llc (BAP # 50-17578) is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. directceu, llc maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

 Financial Disclosure Statement

directceu, llc is committed to providing our professional colleagues with unbiased information. directceu does not accept commercial support and our course authors have no significant financial interests or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.

Learning Objectives:

Through the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the philosophical foundations of ACT and its contextual behavioral science framework.
  2. Identify and apply the six core processes of ACT to improve psychological flexibility in clients with anxiety or trauma.
  3. Integrate compassion-focused interventions to reduce shame, self-criticism, and avoidance behaviors.
  4. Implement ACT-based strategies ethically within telehealth and culturally diverse clinical contexts

 Course Syllabus:

Foundations of ACT and Contextual Behavioral Science

  • Historical evolution from behaviorism to contextualism
  • Functional contextualism and process-based approaches
  • Overview of psychological flexibility as a therapeutic goal

Relational Frame Theory and Cognitive Fusion

  • Understanding language as a source of human suffering
  • Mechanisms of relational framing and derived meaning
  • Cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, and defusion strategies

Mechanisms of Change: Acceptance, Mindfulness, and Values-Based Action

  • Six core processes of ACT (Hexaflex model)
  • Acceptance and willingness vs. control strategies
  • Values identification, committed action, and exposure through values

ACT for Trauma, Shame, and Memory Integration

  • Conceptualizing trauma through a contextual lens
  • Defusion and self-as-context for shame-based narratives
  • Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) and trauma memory processing

Telehealth Adaptation and Ethical Competence

  • Delivering ACT in digital and hybrid environments
  • HIPAA compliance and telehealth best practices
  • Informed consent, licensure, and professional ethics in remote care

Compassionate Integration and Maintenance of Clinical Fidelity

  • Measuring ACT outcomes and treatment fidelity
  • Embodying compassion and presence as a therapist
  • Supervision, cultural humility, and process-based competence