clinical education


Focus on Psychological Flexibility Skills for the Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF-ACT)

Course Description

This course centers on psychological flexibility, a skill that involves staying open, aware, and willing to adapt our actions based on what truly matters to us, even when facing difficult thoughts or feelings. Psychological flexibility helps us understand the underlying motivations behind why we do (or don’t do) things by exploring our values. By building this flexibility, clients and practitioners can work through tough challenges together and make meaningful changes that align with their values. Using the Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF), this course teaches clinicians how to explore psychological flexibility with clients using the six core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Through engaging lectures, hands-on activities, and real-life case studies, participants will develop essential skills for applying ACT principles within HRF for improving psychological flexibility, ultimately enhancing client outcomes and supporting lasting behavior change.

Course Background​

In recent decades, healthcare has evolved from a narrow focus on the physical body to a comprehensive view that integrates physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors. The Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF) represents a major step forward in this evolution, combining scientific evidence, clinical experience, and personalized care to support each person’s unique needs and challenges. This approach goes beyond the traditional Biopsychosocial Model and is a new form of evidence-based practice (EBP), equipping healthcare providers to deliver whole-person, values-based care in a collaborative way.

At the heart of HRF is its use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to foster psychological flexibility. By helping clients explore their values and motivations, ACT enables meaningful, lasting behavior change. Through its integration of ACT, the HRF supports cutting-edge, personalized care that prepares healthcare providers to meet the needs of modern precision medicine.

Course Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Chiropractors, Physical and Occupational Therapist Assistants, Massage Therapists, Counselors/Social Workers, Nurses/Nurse Practitioners, Osteopaths, Physicians, Rehabilitation Professional Students

Course Objectives

  1. Learn Core Ideas – Explore the basics of psychological flexibility, the Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF), and how ACT works.
  2. Build Practical Skills – Gain tools and strategies based on research for using psychological flexibility in both clinical and personal situations.
  3. Explore Models and Theories – Learn about the ChangeGrid (formerly EEMM-HRF), functional analysis, applied evolutionary science, and network theory.
  4. See Real-World Examples – Look at real case studies and different versions of ACT to see how these skills can work in everyday practice.
  5. Understand Group Dynamics – Discover how individual growth can lead to shared goals, focusing on teamwork and co-evolution using Prosocial Core Processes.
  6. Look at the Latest Clinical Tools – Learn how the ChangeGrid, personalized analysis, and new technologies are changing how healthcare providers make decisions and apply treatments.

Current Offerings

ONLINE VERSION

Unlock the flexibility to learn at your own pace with our captivating online edition.

Course Instructors

Dr. Leonard Van Gelder is a clinician, coach, researcher, & educator. He is a co-founder of, and serves in leadership roles for, the Institute of Contextual Health. He has been involved in the movement and rehabilitation field for over 20 years. During this time, he has studied, published research, and presented at regional and international conferences on the science of movement and pain. He has explored a diverse spectrum of manual therapy and movement approaches, and emphasizes a biopsychosocial approach to movement, manual therapy, and education in his practice. Leonard is the creator and lead developer of the Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF).

Dr. Eddie O’Connor is a professional speaker and both clinical and sport psychologist, specializing in removing barriers to peak performance. He is a Fellow and Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and member of the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry. Dr. Eddie has worked with youth, high school, collegiate, national and international, Junior Olympic and professional athletes and coaches, as well as performing artists and musicians. Dr. Eddie is frequently sought after by media, appearing regularly on FOX News in Grand Rapids, a featured guest on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio, and quoted in ESPN.com, NBA.com, Los Angeles Times, Runner’s World, NYMag.com, and CNN.com. He is author and host of “The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life” by The Great Courses, quoted in the New York Times as being the “Netflix of learning” who recruit “the world’s greatest professors” that “are truly special.” An international presenter with over 350 speaking engagements and media appearances, Dr. Eddie delivers a powerful and entertaining message to his audience. Dr. Eddie is the owner of dreddieoconnor.com where he writes, has courses, and provides individual mentorship as well.

JOIN OUR COURSE WITH A DONATION

We believe in making our educational resources accessible to everyone. Instead of charging a set price for our online course, we invite you to make a donation that reflects your ability to contribute. Your generosity helps us continue our mission and provide valuable resources to more individuals.

MINIMUM DONATION

15-Hour Self-Paced Course

Lifetime Access to Course Material

Opportunity to Connect with Other Members

Access to Exclusive Q&A Sessions

DONATION + SUPPORT

All the Same Benefits 

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Support for Patients Struggling with Pain:
Your additional donation will contribute to a fund that provides free in-depth patient education and resources. This includes equipment not typically covered by insurance, such as pedal bikes, durable medical equipment (DME), and adaptive equipment, enhancing the support and care for those in need.

Why Donate?

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. By donating, you’re not just enrolling in a course; you’re investing in a community dedicated to improving chronic pain management and education.

Your Support Enables Us To:

This initiative is dedicated to ensuring that the most vulnerable populations, including Medicaid recipients and individuals in rural communities, have access to high-quality clinical services, resources, and equipment. By bolstering community clinical services, this effort supports the infrastructure needed to deliver effective treatments, ensures continuity of care, and addresses the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes for these populations. Enhancing the availability of essential resources and modern equipment further empowers these communities, enabling more comprehensive and effective healthcare solutions

This effort involves developing publicly available comprehensive educational materials targeted at both healthcare providers and the general public. For clinicians, this could include detailed guides on the latest research and best practices in pain management and movement disorders. For the public, the focus would be on providing understandable and actionable information that helps individuals make informed decisions about their health, enhances their understanding of pain management, and reduces stigma associated with chronic conditions.

This initiative focuses on enhancing the tools and resources available for personalized pain management. The CPEN technology platform will integrate cutting-edge technology to provide tailored solutions that adapt to individual needs, improving patient outcomes and empowering individuals to manage their chronic pain more effectively

This research aims to advance innovative approaches in the treatment of movement and pain challenges. By focusing on individualized treatments, the research seeks to uncover more effective methodologies that can lead to better therapeutic outcomes. 

Course Schedule

Introduction

  • General Introduction
  • Dimensions Overview

ACT General Overview

  • Overview
  • Creative Hopelessness
  • Self-Compassion

Cognition

  • Defusion
  • Defusion Reads
  • Cognitive Dimension

Attention

  • Presence
  • Presence Reads
  • Attention Dimension

Affective/Emotional

  • Acceptance/Expansion
  • Acceptance/Expansion Reads
  • Emotion Dimension

Self

  • Observing Self
  • Self Reads
  • Self Dimension

Motivation

  • Values
  • Values Reads
  • Motivation Dimension

Overt/General Behavior

  • Committed Action
  • Committed Action Reads
  • Behavior Dimension

ACT Specific Tools

  • Choicepoint
  • Matrix

Putting Things Together 

  • Mix and Match Reads
  • Real Play Video Example

Functional Analysis-Networking-Outcomes

  • Networks and Outcomes

Other ACT Variants

  • ACT Variants

Prosocial Introduction

  • Prosocial

End of Course Interviews Between Leonard and Eddie

This course has been approved by The American Physical Therapy Association, Michigan Chapter for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants for 15 CEUs and is eligible for PDR credit in the area of pain and symptom management for Michigan Physical Therapy Licensure.

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