Episode #123: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Kody Harms

You may have heard of the term “ACT,” or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, before, but this is a new topic for the show! I was so excited to learn about this impactful therapy approach from BCBA Kody Harms.

What is ACT? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is all about accepting that variables and challenging things will occur in life, but developing mental flexibility through positive values can be overcome. As a therapist working with parents, teachers, and other professionals engaged in the special education community, Kody found this to be the strongest force, especially with post- COVID concerns. He focuses especially on those that will have an impact on children with special needs.

The approach to this therapy involves action based sessions. Creating daily actions to reflect who you want to be and systematic goals based on your environment. During intake, you have a values assessment to understand who you are and what you want to be. And weekly check-ins involving a health score from 1-10. The idea is that a healthier mind and mental space lead to more positive outcomes and change toward your goals. You can expect role play, narrative exercises, and other tactics that drive towards an overall shift toward a positive mindset.

Whether you’re a mom looking to be a better, more positive parent towards your special needs child or a professional working towards handling contentious situations with special needs children and their parents, ACT can be a really healthy and balanced way to reach those goals.

Before we close, Kody shares his 5 second rule when it comes to when you don’t really want to do something. I know I am going to use this right away!

You can find out more about Kody and ACT therapy with Curated Family Therapeutics online at their website and Instagram.

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guest:

Kody Harms is a Board-Certified Behavioral Analyst living in Los Angeles, California. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Education with a minor in Sociology from Iowa State University. He completed his graduate degree at California State University, Los Angeles, with a Master of Arts in Special Education.

Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Kody has over 10 years of experience working with children and adults with various developmental differences and their families. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2014, Kody has worked in the field of Applied Behavioral Analysis, with a heavy emphasis in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, social skills, parent training and teacher training. In his free time, Kody has a passion for music, exercise, his dog, and spending time with his wife.

What’s Inside:

• What is ACT?
• The power of positive values and mindset.
• What is the ‘5 Second Rule’?
• What is Mental Flexibility?
• Traditional ABA vs ACT.

Mentioned In This Episode

—Curated Family Therapeutics
—CFT Instagram
—Get Your Free Autism Toolbox

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