Why do I have to pay via the internet? It seems like such a hassle.
Firstly, for security purposes. The online payment system on this website uses top-of-the range data encryptment software. This makes online payment totally secure – and arguably much safer than sending cheques or credit card details by ordinary mail. Secondly, the system is designed to maximize efficiency and minimise administration. For example, once you have registered, you will automatically receive invoices, receipts, and reminders about the workshop as it draws near. Although some people find it offputting initially, after you have been through the process once, you will see it is a simple and effective system.
Are these online payments secure?
Absolutely. These online transaction systems are using the latest high-security software. They are arguably much safer than sending cheques, money orders or credit card details by post. After all, normal mail is often “lost in the post’, delivered to the wrong address (how often has this happened to you?) or even stolen from mailboxes. However, this doesn’t happen with the encrypted online-payment programs used on this website.
I don't have a credit card. Can I pay by cheque?
Yes. When you come to pay online, select the box that says ‘pay later’ and follow the instructions.
Can I pay by American Express?
Yes. When you come to pay online, select the box that says ‘paypal’. Paypal allows payment by American Express, whereas our credit card payment system only allows payment by Visa or Mastercard.
My employer is paying for me but refuses to pay online. How can they pay?
Yes, provided they pay prior to the workshop date. When you come to pay, select the box that says ‘pay later’. Your employer can then print out the invoice and pay for your workshop online. Bank details will be on the emailed invoice.
My employer wants to see an enrolment/registration form.
Enrolment happens entirely online. No forms are used.
I registered but I didn't receive any confirmation email.
The most likely possibility is that the email was mistaken for ‘spam’. Therefore, please check your ‘junk email folder’. if the email is in there, please do the following four steps. (These steps may be slightly different if you don’t use Outlook.)
1) Open the email
2) Click ‘ACTIONS’ in your toolbar
3) Click ‘Junk Email’
4) Click ‘Add sender to safe senders list’
This will ensure that future emails get through.
Another possibility is that you entered an incorrect email address, so if you haven’t heard from us within 24 hours, please contact us.
I tried to register, but couldn't.
Please try again. If you are still having difficulty in booking in, please email us and we will help you.
When I registered, I chose the 'Pay Later' option. Now I am ready to pay. How do I do so?
On the top of your original invoice you will see a link that says: “You can pay for your order on Actmindfully. Pay for this order”. Click on the link and it will take you to the payment page on the website. Or, there are payment details listed on the invoice.
What is the cancellation policy?
For cancellations with more than seven days’ notice, we will give a full refund, minus a $50 admin fee. For cancellations at less than seven days notice, we will refund fifty percent of the total fee.
Are you running any Coaching Workshops?
I am no longer running separate workshops for coaches. Instead, the ACT for Beginners Workshop for therapists has been redesigned, so that it is now also suitable for both coaches and therapists.
It looks like your next scheduled workshop in my area is not for several months. Will you be running another one between now and then?
Not likely but please feel free to email us to find out. If there is no workshop scheduled for several months, it is deliberate (because of my hectic schedule).
Can I attend your Advanced Workshop if my Beginners Workshop was with another ACT trainer?
Yes, absolutely. As long as it was a 2-day Beginners workshop with a recognised ACT trainer, you’re welcome to attend my advanced workshop. Just make sure you read through my 50-page introductory workshop handout, so you’re familiar with my metaphors and techniques. (Once you’ve enrolled, you can email me for a copy of it.) However, I urge you to seriously consider doing my Beginners workshop too – because I am told repeatedly by people who have done workshops with other trainers that my own Beginners workshop adds enormous value to their previous training.
Can I attend your Advanced level Workshops if I haven't attended any Beginners Workshop at all?
There’s a lot of experiential and theoretical stuff in the Beginners workshop that is essential to ACT but is not repeated in the advanced. For example, in the Beginners workshop, we experientially go through a large variety of mindfulness techniques, cognitive defusion techniques, self-as-context exercises, connecting with values, and the process of making a commitment to another person – plus you’ll experience some classic ACT training techniques, such as practicing being mindful and present while staring into another’s eyes for a long period of time (which is very challenging!). The intro also covers all the ‘classic’ ACT metaphors, defusion techniques, and various other standard interventions – as well as how to present them to clients. Knowledge of all this will be assumed for the advanced workshop; there’s simply not enough time to go through it again.
Therefore, even for those with a lot of experience in mindfulness, (through Buddhism, MBSR, MBCT, DBT, Vipassana, meditation courses, etc.) I believe it is wiser to do the introductory workshop before doing the advanced.
The advanced level workshops cover case conceptualization, and applying ACT to different conditions (depression, anxiety, suicidality, PTSD, substance abuse, and anger), and getting unstuck with difficult clients, and enhancing motivation. It also involves therapists practicing exercises on each other, building on experiences they had in the intro workshop. Experientially, it covers forgiveness, compassion, cognitive defusion with memory, and the use of mindfulness with urges.
So, I’ll leave it in your court – but my advice would be, don’t do the advanced level workshops unless:
1) you’re not only confident that you understand the ACT model, (including the ACT conceptualization that experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion underlies almost all psychopathology) but you’ve also witnessed the model in action – ie seen how it is used in a clinical context with a real issue
2) you know what cognitive defusion is and how to facilitate it, and you’ve practised it on yourself and at least one other person
3) you’ve had some personal experience of the ‘psychological space’ of this model and you’ve applied it to your own personal issues so you know it works for you
4) you’ve read my book ‘The Happiness Trap’ (available in all bookstores, and also from this website)
I have already attended an ACT workshop with another trainer. How is your workshop different to theirs, and is it worth attending another?
I often get asked about similarities & differences between my workshops and those of Robyn Walser, Steve Hayes, JT Blackledge, Graham Taylor, or Kelly Wilson. While my workshops will obviously have some overlap with those of Robyn, Kelly, JT, Graham and Steve, there are also significant differences. Quite a number of participants have now attended both a workshop run by myself and a workshop run by one of these other excellent ACT trainers, and they have all told me that they gained different – but complementary – benefits from each. (As for my advanced workshops, they are also very different to the advanced workshops of both Kelly & Robyn.)
Personally, I have now attended INTRODUCTORY workshops by Steve Hayes, Kelly Wilson, Robyn Walser, and JoAnne Dahl – and I have always got my ‘money’s worth’ just from seeing their different takes on ACT, their different metaphors and strategies, and the different ways the therapy itself is practised by therapists with different styles. I’ve also had quite a few participants attend one of my workshops twice (as I did with Kelly Wilson’s workshop) and they tell me they still get a lot out of it on the second go!
So, basically if you’ve done an introductory workshop with someone else, I’m happy for you to either go straight to my advanced one, or to do both my Beginners and advanced level workshops. (And I promise you that if you ever came up to me after a workshop and said, ‘That was a waste of time; I didn’t learn anything new’ – then I’d willingly refund your money!)