Designed for therapists who want to enhance their ability to help clients overcome "stuckness", avoidance, and depressive patterns through purposeful action.
Grounded in behavioral theory, this training covers the essential components of Behavioral Activation (BA) and how to deliver it effectively in diverse clinical populations using a trauma-informed lens.
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Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the theoretical foundations of Behavioral Activation (BA), including its behavioral model of depression and the role of avoidance in maintaining emotional distress.
2. Identify and apply core components of the BA protocol, such as activity monitoring, values exploration, activities scheduling.
3. Facilitate values exploration with clients to guide meaningful activity selection and enhance motivation and engagement in Behavioral Activation.
4. Incorporate complementary clinical strategies (e.g., problem-solving, motivational interviewing, and action planning) to enhance the effectiveness of BA interventions.
5. Apply practical strategies to identify and overcome common barriers to engagement in Behavioral Activation, including avoidance patterns, low motivation, and environmental obstacles.
Spaces Therapy LA (Provider #1032777) is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs. Spaces Therapy LA maintains responsibility for the program and all its content.
Grievance Procedure:
To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance, please email the Program Administrator kelli@spacestherapyla.com or call 323-498-4448.
Accommodations:
To request accommodations for any ability-related needs, please email the Program Administrator at kelli@spacestherapyla.com.
References:
Dimaggio G, Shahar G. Behavioral activation as a common mechanism of change across different orientations and disorders. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2017 Sep;54(3):221-224. doi: 10.1037/pst0000117. Epub 2017 Jul 24. PMID: 28737419. 2017;54(3):221–224.
Etherton, J. L., & Farley, R. (2022). Behavioral activation for PTSD: A meta-analysis. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 14(5), 894–901. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000566
Greenberger, D., & Padesky, C. A. (2016). Mind over mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Malik, K., Ibrahim, M., Bernstein, A., Venkatesh, R. K., Rai, T., Chorpita, B., & Patel, V. (2021). Behavioral Activation as an “active ingredient” of interventions addressing depression and anxiety among young people: a systematic review and evidence synthesis. BMC Psychology, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00655-x
Richards, D. A., Ekers, D., McMillan, D., Taylor, R. S., Byford, S., Warren, F. C., Barrett, B., Farrand, P. A., Gilbody, S., Kuyken, W., O’Mahen, H., Watkins, E. R., Wright, K. A., Hollon, S. D., Reed, N., Rhodes, S., Fletcher, E., & Finning, K. (2016). Cost and Outcome of Behavioural Activation versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression (COBRA): a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority Trial. The Lancet, 388(10047), 871–880. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(16)31140-0
Saberi, S., Ahmadi, R., Sahel Khakpoor, Reza Pirzeh, Hasani, M., Latif Moradveisi, & Saed, O. (2024). Comparing the effectiveness of behavioral activation in group vs. self-help format for reducing depression, repetitive thoughts, and enhancing performance of patients with major depressive disorder: a randomized clinical trial. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05973-z
Stein AT, Carl E, Cuijpers P, Karyotaki E, Smits JAJ. Looking beyond depression: a meta-analysis of the effect of behavioral activation on depression, anxiety, and activation. Psychol Med. 2021 Jul;51(9):1491-1504. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720000239. Epub 2020 Mar 6. PMID: 32138802.
Wagner AW, Jakupcak M, Kowalski HM, Bittinger JN, Golshan S. Behavioral Activation as a Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Returning Veterans: A Randomized Trial. Psychiatr Serv. 2019 Oct 1;70(10):867-873. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800572. Epub 2019 Jul 24. PMID: 31337325.