Realizing the Potential of Contextual Behavioral Science to Alleviate Human Suffering – Reflections from Days 3 & 4 of ACSBWC 2025

Attending the third and fourth days of this year’s conference deepened my understanding of how Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and related approaches can address complex mental health challenges – and even transform the way we work with ourselves, our clients, and our communities. You can check out my reflections from Day 1 and Day 2 here. From cutting-edge research on anorexia nervosa to experiential workshops on therapeutic “punishment,” psychological flexibility, neurodivergence, and stigma reduction, I left feeling inspired, stretched, and more committed than ever to integrating these approaches into my own practice.

Day 3 Highlights

1. CBS in Action: Using Modern Technology to Address Severe Eating Disorders

Dr. Rhonda Merwin’s plenary on CBS research reminded me why this framework is so powerful. Instead of viewing behaviors in isolation, CBS examines them within their historical and situational context – with the explicit goal of reducing human suffering.

Her work with anorexia nervosa and disordered eating in type 1 diabetes illustrated how ACT principles can be combined with modern technology, such as mobile apps and text-based interventions, to support recovery in both traditional (clinics) and non-traditional settings (home environments).

I was particularly struck by the FLEX ED app and the idea that treatment needs to go beyond weight restoration to address interoceptive deficits, lack of clarity, and non-acceptance of body signals. I plan to explore whether this app could be integrated into my own work with clients.

2. Rethinking “Punishment” in Therapy

The workshop with Manuela O’Connell and Robyn Walser challenged one of my biggest assumptions: that punishment has no place in therapy. Through experiential “real play” exercises, I learned that we are always reinforcing or punishing behaviors.

Key takeaways (that I’ve already applied in sessions) include:

• Punish unworkable behaviors while guiding clients toward more workable alternatives.

• Recognize that shame is not the enemy – it can be an opportunity for connection and change when approached skillfully.

• Pay attention to micro-interactions and their reinforcing or punishing effects.

• This awareness has helped me respond more intentionally, shifting clients toward flexibility without extinguishing what makes them feel seen.

Meeting friends in person for the first time.

3. Psychological Flexibility Through Improv

When my mentor suggested I attend “ACT Like Nobody’s Watching,” my first instinct was to avoid it. Improv? Too far outside my comfort zone. And yet, that was exactly why I needed to go.

The workshop pushed me into uncomfortable territory – so much so that I cried for most of it. But in the process, I gained a deeper appreciation for honoring personal barriers while still engaging in committed action. It also reminded me that growth often requires adaptation, not just perseverance. As someone who is neurodivergent, I learned how to modify participation in a way that was both challenging and self-compassionate – a lesson I’ll carry into my work with clients who are facing their own limits. I’m grateful for my partner in the workshop, the individuals who spoke up during the workshop, and the leaders who adapted the exercises and honored our experience.

4. Affirming Therapy for Neurodivergent Clients

Jennifer Kemp’s workshop on functional analysis for neurodivergent clients was both validating and transformative. Her emphasis on avoiding pathologizing language, respecting clients as the experts in their own lives, and understanding the sensory and cognitive processing differences that underlie behaviors resonated deeply.

One powerful insight: Autistic individuals do not habituate to sensory input. This helped me make sense of my own sensory overwhelm earlier in the day – and underscored the importance of creating affirming environments for neurodivergent clients.

5. Growth 2.0 – Internalizing the Good

Dr. Rick Hanson’s plenary introduced the HEAL framework:

Have a beneficial experience

Enrich it

Absorb it

Link it to other positive experiences

His reminder that the brain is like “Velcro for the bad and Teflon for the good” reinforced why intentional practice is necessary for positive neuroplasticity. While mental health care has improved in helping clients have good experiences, we must do better at ensuring those experiences stick.

Building connection and making new friends

Day 4 Highlights

6. Tackling Stigma Within the Mental Health Profession

The “Toward Us, By Us” panel was one of the most vulnerable and inspiring sessions I attended. Hearing mental health professionals share lived experiences of mental health and substance use challenges – and the stigma they faced within their own field – was a call to action.

A creative writing exercise early in the panel revealed how easily bias can cloud perception and how storytelling can humanize and shift those biases. I left with a renewed commitment to the following:

• Integrate CBS principles into stigma reduction strategies.

• Explore how self-disclosure in therapy can reduce shame and increase connection.

• Advocate for more inclusive professional environments where clinicians with lived experience can thrive.

Personal Reflections and Takeaways

Over these two days, I was reminded again and again that:

• CBS offers a compassionate, scientifically rigorous approach to understanding and influencing behavior.

• Growth often comes from moving toward discomfort – but with self-compassion and flexibility.

• We are always shaping behavior in our interactions – the question is, are we doing it intentionally?

• Affirming, individualized care is essential, especially for neurodivergent clients.

• We can (and must) work to reduce stigma – not just for our clients, but for ourselves and our peers.

At Willow of Wellness, I’ll be integrating these insights into my coaching and wellness work as well as with my therapy clients, continuing to blend evidence-based strategies with a deep respect for each client’s lived experience.