• course Info
  • Content
  • Ce Approvals

Values at the Wheel: An ACT-Enhanced Approach to Exposure Therapy for OCD

CE Hours 4

About this course

This continuing education course provides mental health professionals with an integrated approach to treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combined with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Clinicians will learn to help clients identify their core values, develop psychological flexibility in response to OCD symptoms, and design meaningful, values-based exposures. The course teaches practitioners how to guide clients in shifting from OCD-driven behaviors to values-driven actions, using metaphors, experiential exercises, and mindfulness practices that can be immediately implemented in clinical work. Through detailed clinical examples and practical frameworks, participants will gain competence in helping clients respond differently to intrusive thoughts, reduce compulsive behaviors, and expand their window of tolerance for distressing emotions—all while maintaining connection to what matters most. This approach emphasizes self-compassion and present-moment awareness as essential components of effective OCD treatment.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify at least three core principles of integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for treating OCD.
  • Describe values-based exposure design techniques that connect therapeutic interventions to clients' values.
  • Explain cognitive defusion strategies and non-engagement responses that help clients create distance from intrusive thoughts and obsessions.
  • Demonstrate how to guide clients in using self-compassion to support themselves through exposure exercises and difficult emotions.
  • Apply at least two present-moment awareness techniques to help clients slow down compulsive behaviors and expand their window of tolerance.

Learning Levels

  • Intermediate

Target Audience

Licensed mental health professionals including: Psychologists (PhD, PsyD), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses, & other licensed mental health professionals treating anxiety and OCD

Course Instructor(s)

  • Emily Wharton, PsyD

    Dr. Emily Wharton is a clinical psychologist providing psychotherapy to individuals and couples in her private practice, and a Clinical Instructor at the Cognitive Behavior Institute, where she teaches courses in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Dr. Wharton has also served in roles of Clinical Assistant Professor (Affiliated) of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, and licensed clinical psychologist in the Palo Alto VA. She has provided supervision and training for VA and Stanford psychiatry residents, medical students, and psychology trainees in ACT, DBT, and MI. Dr. Wharton trained at the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, San Francisco VA, UCSF, and Palo Alto VA. Dr. Wharton has also served as the Member-At-Large Director for the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Wharton has given lectures and trainings for the Palo Alto VA, Stanford University, and the Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science. Dr. Wharton has published papers and book chapters on ACT for PTSD, ACT for moral injury, mindfulness practices for anxiety disorders, and trauma-focused CBT for parents of preterm infants.

Disclosure

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.

References

  • Evey, K. J., & Steinman, S. A. (2023). A systematic review of the use of acceptance and commitment therapy to treat adult obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behavior Therapy, 54(6), 1006-1019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2022.02.009
  • Gayatridevi, S. (2025). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Psychological Well-Being: A Narrative Review. Cureus, 17(1). doi:10.7759/cureus.77705
  • Hsu, T., Adamowicz, J. L., & Thomas, E. B. (2023). The effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on the psychological flexibility and inflexibility of undergraduate students: A systematic review and three-level meta-analysis. Journal of contextual behavioral science, 30, 169-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.10.006
  • Jiang, X., Sun, J., Song, R., Wang, Y., Li, J., & Shi, R. (2024). Acceptance and commitment therapy reduces psychological distress in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1253266. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1253266
  • Keulen, J., Deković, M., Oud, M., A-Tjak, J., & Bodden, D. (2025). The efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy for transitional-age youth: A meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 28(4), 823-857. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-025-00543-5
  • Kong, Q., Yan, S., Huang, K., Han, B., Han, R., Jiao, Y., Yang, H., Pu, Y., Li, S., & Jia, Y. (2025). The efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry research, 116701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116701
  • Lee, E. B. (2025). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 48(3), 457–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2025.02.004
  • Lee, S. W., Choi, M., & Lee, S. J. Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Obsessive Beliefs Among Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Psychiatry Investigation, 23(1), 154-163. https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2025.0265
  • Laurito, L. D., Loureiro, C. P., Moreira-de-Oliveira, M. E., Dias, R. V., Torres, B., Faro, L., Twohig, M. P., de Menezes, G. B., & Fontenelle, L. F. (2025). Acceptance and commitment therapy associated with exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: An online group protocol adapted for the Brazilian context. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 89(2), 111-133. https://doi.org/10.1521/bumc.2025.89.2.111
  • Ong, C. W., Petersen, J. M., Terry, C. L., Krafft, J., Barney, J. L., Abramowitz, J. S., & Twohig, M. P. (2022). The “how” of exposures: Examining the relationship between exposure parameters and outcomes in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 24, 87-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2022.03.009
  • Philip, J., & Cherian, V. (2021). Acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 28, 100603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2020.100603
  • Twohig, M. P., Capel, L. K., & Levin, M. E. (2024). A review of research on acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Psychiatric Clinics, 47(4), 711-722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2024.04.013
  • Twohig, M. P., Hayes, S. C., Plumb, J. C., Pruitt, L. D., Collins, A. B., Hazlett-Stevens, H., & Woidneck, M. R. (2010). A randomized clinical trial of acceptance and commitment therapy versus progressive relaxation training for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 78(5), 705. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020508
  • Twohig, M.P., Morrison, K.L., & Bluet, E.J. (2014). Acceptance and commitment therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder and obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders: A review. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 10(4), 296-307. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573400510666140714172145
  • Twohig, M. P., Abramowitz, J. S., Smith, B. M., Fabricant, L. E., Jacoby, R. J., Morrison, K. L., Bluett, E. J., Reuman, L., Blakey, S. M., & Ledermann, T. (2018). Adding acceptance and commitment therapy to exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 108, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2018.06.005
  • Ye, L., Li, Y., Deng, Q., Zhao, X., Zhong, L., & Yang, L. (2024). Acceptance and commitment therapy for patients with chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis on psychological outcomes and quality of life. PloS one, 19(6), e0301226. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301226
  • Yu, X., Zhao, B., Yin, T., Qu, H., Zhang, J., Cheng, X., & Chen, X. (2025). Effect of acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescent depression: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1506822. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1506822

CE Process Info

Content

  • Introduction
    1 parts
    • Introduction
  • Module 1 - Making Space for What Shows Up
    4 parts
    • Reconnecting with Your Values
    • Values Exercise
    • Why Fighting OCD Isn't Helping (& What To Do Instead)
    • Acceptance Exercise
  • Module 2: Taking Action with Fear in the Backseat
    4 parts
    • Doing What Matters (Even When It's Scary)
    • ACT Exposure Hierarchy Template
    • Getting Unstuck from OCD Thoughts
    • How to Stop Mental Ping Pong
  • Module 3: Seeing Clearly and Living Fully
    4 parts
    • Coming Back to Now - Awareness without Judgment
    • Stepping Out of the Anxiety Spiral and Into your Body - Practice
    • You Are More Than Your OCD
    • Poem
  • Conclusion
    1 parts
    • Conclusion
  • Joint Accreditation

    Joint Accreditation (JA)

    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 (APA)

    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.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYSEDSW)

    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 (NYSEDCAT)

    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 (NYSEDLMHC)

    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 (NYSEDLP)

    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 (NYSEDPSY)

    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 State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYSEDMFT)

    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.

Values at the Wheel: An ACT-Enhanced Approach to Exposure Therapy for OCD
You Have Completed This course
$179
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    4
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    Jan 13th, 2026

Reset password


Reset your password by providing your email below





Next

We sent a reset password link to the email address you provided.


{{reset.email}}


If you do not see the email, try checking your junk or spam folder.


If you don't receive a link in the email you provided, please click the button below to resend the verification email.

Resend

Please wait {{timer}} seconds to resend



Next

Sign in


Enter your email to get started.




Next

Sign in


Good news! Your email is associated with an account. Enter your password or click here to reset it




Login

Thanks for signing up!


We sent an verification email to the address you provided. Please check your email to verify your email address.


{{signup.email}}


If you do not see the email, try checking your junk or spam folder.


If you don't receive a link in the email you provided, please click the button below to resend the verification email.



Resend

Please wait {{timer}} seconds to resend

Sign up




Sign up

Shopping Cart


Items
Price
Remove
  • {{ item.name }} ({{ item.courses.length }} courses)

    {{ item.credit_hours }} Credits
    {{ item.coupons.map((c)=> c.code).join(', ') }}
    ${{ item.totals.price }}
    ${{ item.totals.total_price }}
Apply


Cart is empty

Thank you for your purchase


To access the course content, click the button below. Enrolled courses may be accessed at any time by going to your Account and clicking Courses


Go to Course

Thank you for your purchase

To access your courses, please click the button below. Enrolled courses may be accessed at any time by going to your Account and clicking either Events or Courses


My Account

Payment

{{$store.state.payment.paymentErrorMessage }}
Pay now