half day workshop

GROUP BEHAVIOURAL ACTIVATION FOR DEPRESSION
Simon Houghton, Sheffield Care Trust Uk and Joe Curran, Sheffield Care Trust UK

Princess Hotel Room: Estrella del Mar

Behavioural Activation (BA) is a contemporary contextual  treatment that views depression as an understandable response to difficult life circumstances (Martell et al 2001). It highlights reduced rates of positive reinforcement and higher rates of negative reinforcement as central to the maintenance of depression. BA hypothesises that the actions people take that provide some relief from symptoms, (or stop them worsening), such as avoidance and rumination, lead to decreased repertoires of responding and reduce opportunities to engage in meaningful, valued action.  Behavioural Activation has been shown to produce comparable results to a full Cognitive Therapy (Jacobson et al 1996). This half day workshop will teach participants how to deliver BA in the context of a group treatment for depressed clients.

Simon Houghton and Joe Curran are Principal Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists for Sheffield Care Trust in the UK. They each have an interest in contextual behaviour therapies and have been developing and delivering a BA group for clients of their service for the last 3 years. They are both experienced trainers, Simon being a member of the course team for a post-graduate training in CBT delivered in Sheffield for which Joe is course leader. Joe Curran also convenes a special interest group for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for the North of England.

Key References:
Jacobson N.S. Dobson K.S. Truax P.A. et al (1996)  A component analysis of cognitive behavioural treatment for depression.  Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.  64(2)  pp.295-304
Martell, C., Addis,M & Jacobson, N (2001) Depression in Context: Strategies for Guided Action. New York. Norton. Addis, M. & Martell, C. (2004) Overcoming Depression One Step at a Time. Oakland. Harbinger Publications.