• Event Info
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  • CE Info

The Poetics of ACT: Finding Beauty in the Midst of Darkness

About this event

Kelly G. Wilson, PhD, Co-Founder of ACT

The Poetics of ACT: Finding Beauty in the Midst of Darkness

November 9–11, 2026 • Moab, Utah


12 APA-Approved CE Hours • The Red Earth Venue


Workshop Description

Something has shifted in the rooms where we do this work. Our clients carry what the world is carrying — and so do we. The question of how to remain present, how to stay open without being swept away, how to act with integrity when the ground is uncertain — these are not abstract clinical questions right now. They are the texture of the work itself. We chose Moab deliberately. There is something about the scale of canyon country — the deep time written in the rock, the quality of light, the particular silence — that creates conditions for a different kind of learning. Space to slow down. Room to see clearly.

Seeing clearly, though, is not simple. Human motivation is often opaque and rife with contradiction. We are shaped over time by the questions we encounter — some spoken plainly, others embedded in the quiet demands of family, work, love, and culture. Much of what we call identity emerges in response to those pressures. Although we are aware of some aspects of this shaping process, a great deal of learning and motivation occurs outside the bright, dumb light of awareness — in our clients, and in ourselves.

It is because so much of human experience unfolds outside awareness that the therapist's quality of attention matters. Poetics is a response to that complexity — a way of keeping the science answerable to the person it is meant to serve.

Within the therapy room, poetics can discipline our sensitivity to the tone, form, rhythms, textures, and unfolding of lived experience. A poetic stance does not rush to explanation or correction. Instead, it slows, listens, and follows the living structure of experience as it reveals itself in relationship. In that shared light — between therapist and client, teacher and student, human and human — complexity is not reduced but honored. When we are willing to remain present to uncertainty, without collapsing into the certainty of pedagogy or technique, paths appear that are dignified, meaningful, and worth the pain they require. Poetics, in this sense, names the creative and ethical discipline of staying with what is alive long enough for transformation to arrive.

This workshop will approach ACT as the lived practice of a poetic stance, rather than protocol. It will be experiential and creative. Work with self and identity will be woven throughout acceptance, defusion, present-moment awareness, values, and committed action — not as an add-on, but as a central thread. We will examine these processes from the inside out.

Although this workshop is not an introduction to ACT, it will be conducted in plain language, with an emphasis on staying close to lived experience. No prior background in ACT is required. For those familiar with ACT, the workshop will deepen understanding of core principles and expand the capacity to use them flexibly in the service of therapeutic connection. The workshop is appropriate for beginners and veteran therapists alike.

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  • Kelly G. Wilson, PhD
    Kelly G. Wilson, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Mississippi and a co-founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He is the author of over 100 articles and chapters and numerous books, including Mindfulness for Two, Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong, and The Wisdom to Know the Difference. Dr. Wilson is known for his deeply human, story-infused teaching style and his emphasis on the emotional and relational core of ACT. He has led workshops in over 36 countries, training clinicians in contextual behavioral science and the art of therapeutic presence. His work integrates behavioral science, mindfulness, compassion, and an abiding appreciation for lived human experience.
    Sessions
    • Monday : Foundations: The Case for the Poetic Stance (Click to expand)
    • Tuesday : Inside the Room: Process, Suffering, and Language (Click to expand)
    • Wednesday : Integration: Self, Values, and the Living Practice (Click to expand)

CE Info

Earn up to 12 CE Credit Hours including

12  ACT Hours

Each professional is responsible for the individual requirements as stipulated by his/her licensing agency. Please contact your individual licensing board/regulatory agency to review continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Please note: You must attend "live" (in real-time) for the duration of the training to earn CE credits.

After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.

Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:

  • Complete evaluation forms for the event
  • Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ceactivities.com".

If you have any continuing education related questions, please contact your event organizer.

Please make sure to check your spam/junk folder in case those emails get "stuck". We'd also suggest "Allowlisting" support@ceactivities.com. This tells your email client that you know this sender and trust them, which will keep emails from this contact at the top of your inbox and out of the junk folder.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's.

Continuing Education Credit Hours are available from the following organizations

In-Person

Joint Accreditation
Joint Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
American Psychological Association
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Association of Social Work Boards
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive up to 12 clinical continuing education credits.
New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work
CE Learning Systems SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0060.
New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy
CE Learning Systems (d/b/a CE-credit.com), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0008
New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors
CE Learning Systems, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.
New York Education Department Board for Licensed Psychoanalysts
CE Learning Systems, LLC dba CE-credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts #P-0031.
New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology
CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0016.
New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy
CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0045.

Event Learning Objectives

  • Describe how the adoption of medical and pharmacological research models in the late 20th century influenced prevailing assumptions about psychotherapy, therapist roles, and treatment development.
  • Differentiate protocol-driven psychotherapy from process-based approaches, including how each model organizes therapist–client collaboration in clinical practice.
  • Identify therapist variables — such as presence, responsiveness, and participation — that function as active components of the therapeutic context.
  • Explain how a process-oriented understanding of psychological suffering supports collaborative case formulation and ongoing clinical decision-making.
  • Demonstrate the ability to notice and track, in real time, shifts in therapeutic dialogue between contexts of limitation and contexts of possibility.
  • Apply ACT-consistent, collaborative methods to explore with clients how verbal narratives, rules, and self-stories influence lived experience and behavioral flexibility.
  • Integrate work with self and identity into acceptance, defusion, present-moment awareness, values, and committed action through shared experiential practice.
  • Use the principles slow is fast, small is big, and less is more to guide the pacing and sequencing of collaborative therapeutic interactions.
  • Create values-based therapeutic directions and next steps collaboratively with clients, grounded in the client's current context and expressed values.
  • Use experiential exercises and structured dialogues that enhance the therapist's capacity for flexibility, presence, and creativity in the face of clinical uncertainty.

Policies

Where can I find my Attendee Dashboard link?
Upon registering, you should receive an email from support@ceactivities.com with a link to access your Attendee Dashboard. If you do not see it in your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder. If you still cannot locate the email, you may retrieve your Attendee Dashboard link by clicking HERE

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Refund and Cancellation Policy

Participant Cancellations

Full Refund

Participants who cancel their registration 60 or more days before the first day of the event will receive a full refund of registration fees.

50% Refund

Participants who cancel between 31 and 59 days before the event will receive a 50% refund of registration fees.

No Refund

Cancellations received 30 or fewer days before the event are not eligible for a refund. Participants who cancel within this window are welcome to transfer their registration to another eligible attendee at no charge (see Transfers below).

No-Shows

Participants who do not attend and have not cancelled or arranged a transfer prior to the event are not eligible for a refund.

Transfers

Registration transfers to another qualified individual are permitted at no charge up to 10 days before the first day of the event. To arrange a transfer, please email info@destinationpsychce.com with the name and contact information of the person taking your registration. Transfers requested fewer than 10 days before the event will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Event Cancellation or Postponement by Organizer

In the unlikely event that this training must be cancelled or postponed due to circumstances beyond our control — including severe weather, public health emergencies, venue failure, or presenter illness — participants will be notified as soon as possible via the email address provided at registration.

• If the event is cancelled by the organizer, participants will receive a full refund of registration fees. Refunds will be processed within 30 days of the cancellation notice. Please note that in cases involving insured events, processing may be subject to insurance claim timelines.

• If the event is postponed, participants will have the option to transfer their registration to the rescheduled date or receive a full refund.

• Destination Psych CE is not responsible for non-refundable travel, lodging, or other expenses incurred by participants in the event of a cancellation or postponement.

Note: We strongly recommend that participants purchase travel insurance to protect against non-refundable travel costs. This is a destination event and travel expenses may be significant.

How to Request a Refund

All refund and cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to:

Gretchen Lewis-Snyder, Founder

gretchen@destinationpsychce.com

Requests will be acknowledged within 5 business days of receipt. Approved refunds will be processed to the original payment method within 10 business days of approval.


Accessibility & Accommodation Policy
We are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all attendees. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations and will make every effort to meet the needs of participants with disabilities, health conditions, dietary restrictions, or other access needs.


Requesting Accommodations
Participants requiring accommodations are encouraged to submit requests as early as possible, and no later than 14 days before the first day of the event. Late requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but we cannot guarantee accommodation for requests received after this deadline.
To request an accommodation, please contact:


Gretchen Lewis-Snyder, Co-Founder
Destination Psych CE
gretchen@destinationpsychce.com

Please describe your needs as specifically as possible so we can respond appropriately. All accommodation requests are confidential.


Physical Accessibility
This event is held at The Red Earth Venue, located approximately 10 minutes from downtown Moab, Utah, between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Please note the following regarding physical access:
  • The Glass Venue — our main meeting space — is a ground-floor, single-level indoor space. There are no stairs required to access the main event area.
  • Two ADA-compliant restrooms are located within the Glass Venue.
  • A 50-car parking area is located adjacent to the Glass Venue. Accessible parking is available. If you require a specific parking accommodation, please notify us in advance.
  • The venue is approximately 10 minutes from downtown Moab via scenic byway 313. The road to the venue is paved.
  • All optional hikes and outdoor activities are entirely voluntary and are not required for CE credit. Participants should self-select activities appropriate to their physical abilities and comfort level.
Note: The Red Earth Venue is a desert property. Surrounding terrain includes uneven surfaces, sand, and rock. The optional outdoor areas are not ADA accessible. All CE content takes place within the accessible Glass Venue space. Participants are encouraged to contact us with any questions about physical access before registering.


Dietary Needs
Meals and snacks are provided on all three days. Please indicate any dietary restrictions or allergies during registration. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate needs including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and common food allergies. Requests must be submitted no later than 14 days before the event to ensure we can accommodate them fully.


Sensory & Other Needs
If you require large-print materials, a sign language interpreter, a quiet space, or any other sensory or cognitive accommodation, please contact Gretchen Lewis-Snyder at gretchen@destinationpsychce.com at least 14 days before the event. We will do our best to meet your needs within the constraints of our venue and format.

Conflict of Interest & Disclosure Policy

This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the American Psychological Association and CE-Go. As a jointly provided activity, all individuals in a position to influence CE content are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships and to resolve any identified conflicts of interest prior to the activity.

What Must Be Disclosed

All planners, presenters, and reviewers involved in this activity are required to disclose any financial relationship with an ineligible company — defined as any entity that produces, markets, sells, or distributes health care products used by or on patients — that existed in the 24 months prior to this activity.

Financial relationships that must be disclosed include:

• Salary, consulting fees, honoraria, or speaking fees paid by an ineligible company.

• Stock ownership or options (excluding diversified mutual funds).

• Grants or research funding from an ineligible company.

• Royalties from products manufactured or sold by an ineligible company.

• Travel reimbursement from an ineligible company.

Financial relationships that do not require disclosure include:

• Royalties from published books or educational materials not manufactured by an ineligible company.

• Speaking or consulting fees paid by educational institutions, government agencies, or non-health-care companies.

• Employment by a hospital, university, or behavioral health organization.

• Grants from the National Institutes of Health or other government funding bodies.

Presenter Disclosure

Kelly G. Wilson, Ph.D. has disclosed the following regarding financial relationships with ineligible companies in the 24 months prior to this activity:

[Insert disclosure statement — e.g., 'Dr. Wilson has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.' OR describe any relationships and how they were resolved.]

Planner & Reviewer Disclosures

All activity planners and reviewers have completed disclosure forms. The following disclosures have been made:

[Insert disclosure statements for all planners/reviewers, or state: 'All planners and reviewers have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.']

Resolution of Conflicts of Interest

Where a financial relationship has been identified, the following steps were taken to ensure that the educational content of this activity is objective, balanced, and free from commercial bias:

[Describe resolution steps taken, e.g., peer review of content, removal of commercial references, independent content review, etc. If no conflicts were identified, state that here.]

Commercial Support

This activity

[did / did not]

receive commercial support in the form of grants or funding from ineligible companies.

[If commercial support was received: Describe the nature of the support and confirm it did not influence content.]

Registration fees, if any, are used to offset the direct costs of providing this educational activity.

Independence of Content

The content of this continuing education activity was developed independently of any commercial interests. Recommendations involving clinical practice are based on current evidence and professional consensus. Where scientific evidence is limited or conflicting, this will be noted. The views expressed are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the American Psychological Association, CE-Go, or the event organizer.


Grievance & Complaint Procedures

We are committed to providing a high-quality, professionally conducted continuing education experience. If any participant has a concern or complaint regarding this event — including the content, presenter conduct, CE credit, administrative processes, or any aspect of their experience — we encourage them to bring it to our attention promptly.

This grievance procedure is designed to ensure that all complaints are addressed fairly, confidentially, and in a timely manner, consistent with APA CE provider standards.

Step 1 — Informal Resolution

Participants are encouraged to first attempt informal resolution by speaking directly with the event coordinator on-site or contacting us by email. Many concerns can be resolved quickly with direct communication.

On-site contact during the event:

Gretchen Lewis-Snyder, Founder

info@destinationpsychce.com

Step 2 — Formal Written Complaint

If informal resolution is not satisfactory, participants may submit a formal written complaint. Written complaints must include:

• The participant's full name and contact information.

• The date(s) and specific nature of the concern or incident.

• A description of any informal resolution attempts already made.

• The specific remedy or outcome requested.

Formal complaints should be submitted to:

Gretchen Lewis-Snyder, Founder

Destination Psych CE

10505 Wayzata Blvd, Suite 103

Minnetonka, MN 55305

gretchen@destinationpsychce.com

Step 3 — Review & Response

All formal written complaints will be acknowledged in writing within 5 business days of receipt. A full written response, including any findings and actions taken, will be provided within 30 business days. If additional time is needed for investigation, the participant will be notified in writing with an estimated resolution date.

Complaints Regarding CE Credit

Complaints specifically related to the issuance, accuracy, or eligibility of CE credit may also be directed to CE-Go, the CE provider of record for this event:

• CE-Go: www.ce-go.com

• Email: support@ce-go.com

Participants may contact CE-Go directly at any time. Filing a complaint with CE-Go does not preclude or replace the internal grievance process described above.

Confidentiality

All complaints will be handled with discretion and confidentiality to the extent possible. The identity of the complainant will be shared only with those directly involved in the review process.

Non-Retaliation

No participant will face any adverse consequence or retaliation for submitting a good-faith complaint. Any evidence of retaliation will itself be treated as a serious concern subject to this grievance process.


CELS Grievance Policy
If a grievance arises pertaining to continuing education activities or processes, please contact Tyler Gibson via confidential email to tyler@celearningsystems.com as soon as possible, so that the nature of the concern may be addressed in a timely fashion.

Disclosures

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer:


PLANNERS AND REVIEWER
The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

FACULTY
The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.
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The Poetics of ACT: Finding Beauty in the Midst of Darkness
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$1,180.00
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  • CE Hours
    12
  • Type
    In-Person Event
  • Location
    The Red Earth Venue (545 SR 313, Moab, UT 84532)
  • Date
    November 09 - 11, 2026
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