clinical education


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

Course Description

This course is designed to explore and apply the six core Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) psychological flexibility processes within the Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF). This highly specialized course seamlessly blends expert-led lectures, practical skills development, and comprehensive case studies, all aimed at optimizing the clinical application of psychological flexibility skills. By actively participating in this multifaceted approach, participants will develop the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively integrate ACT principles within the HRF, thereby cultivating psychological flexibility and enhancing patient outcomes.

Course Background​

The study of movement and pain has undergone significant changes in the last four decades as increased effort to move healthcare from a biomedical to biopsychosocial approach for care. The Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF) is the world’s first biopsychosocial process-based approach to rehabilitation, accessible by all disciplines to deliver care in a transdisciplinary manner. It addresses the criticisms of the Biopsychosocial (BPS) Model and is an evolutionary step forward for Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), providing a new perspective that synthesizes scientific evidence, clinical practice, and personalized care. The HRF is based on the scientific philosophy of Functional Contextualism and replaces differential diagnosis, Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), Clinical Prediction Rules (CPRs), and Clinical Pathways with a process-based approach for evaluation and intervention. It supports advances in personalized precision medicine and the value-based care model and is designed to be ready for the future of biomedicine and biopsychosocial research.

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. Understand Core Concepts – Introduce participants to the fundamentals of psychological flexibility, the Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
  2. Develop Practical Skills – Equip participants with evidence-based skills in psychological flexibility for use in clinical and personal settings.
  3. Explore Models and Theories – Familiarize participants with the EEMM and EEMM-HRF models, functional analysis, multilevel selection theory, applied evolutionary science, and network theory.
  4. Examine Real-world Applications – Discuss actual clinical cases and explore different ACT variants to demonstrate the practical utility of the course material.
  5. Introduce Prosocial Concepts – Explore the progression of individual development toward shared purpose and vision, focusing on collective action and co-evolution as outlined by the Prosocial Core Processes.
  6. Explore Cutting-Edge Developments in Clinical Decision-Making – Examine how EEMM-HRF, idiographic analysis, and emerging technologies are reshaping the future of clinical reasoning and skillful interventions.

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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