- Theorize the role that control and experiential avoidance play in the development and maintenance of mental health concerns.
- Create and modify metaphors to use with clients to illustrate the concept of psychological flexibility.
- Evaluate the 6 core processes in psychological flexibility and give examples of each.
- Utilize creative hopelessness to help clients generate client motivation toward change.
- Utilize beginner's mind to increase client’s contact with the present moment.
- Demonstrate the one-eye-in one-eye-out mindfulness practice to increase flexibility with the present moment.
- Practice being present exercises such as embodied movement and focus on the breath with client in-session.
- Define the benefits of being present in the context of mental health concerns.
- Engage client in a conversation about values .
- Define what values are and are not, according to ACT theory.
- Utilize in-session writing to help clients’ clarify their values.
- Lead client in an experiential exercise demonstrating the link between values and pain.
- Gain clinical strategies such as the choice point model to increase values awareness.
- Identify common myths and misconceptions about acceptance.
- Demonstrate an experiential exercise to increase acceptance, willingness and allowing of difficult thoughts, feelings and sensations.
- Lead client through a body-based acceptance exercise.
- Describe the “paradox of control” and apply it to the conceptualization of mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, eating concerns, and trauma.
- List common experiential avoidance strategies in clients with mental health concerns.
- Utilize metaphor to help clients get space from thoughts.
- Understand when to apply cognitive diffusion strategies and be able to lead a client in an experiential cognitive diffusion exercise.
- Describe the difference between cognitive restructuring and cognitive diffusion.
- Lead clients in a visualization exercise to increase self-compassion.
- Engage clients in perspective-taking exercises such as “I am” and “I am not” and “getting behind the eyes of another”.
- Employ clinical strategies such as committed action plans to guide clients in values-based behavior change.
- Differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for change.
- Understand the role that therapist psychological flexibility plays in client psychological flexibility and be able to spot experiential avoidance behaviors in the therapist.
- Integrate and apply ACT core processes into client daily activities.
Join us atop the breathtaking Appalachian Mountains at Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, NC
where you’ll spend 5 days filled with ACT skills-building and personal transformation!
Leave renewed and energized to utilize ACT confidently with your clients
as an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and more.
PLUS, earn up to 19 CE Hours!
where you’ll spend 5 days filled with ACT skills-building and personal transformation!
Leave renewed and energized to utilize ACT confidently with your clients
as an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and more.
PLUS, earn up to 19 CE Hours!
With the background of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll do some of the most meaningful work of your career ensuring an unforgettable, life-changing pivot that will transform your clients' suffering.
Safely immersed in supervised ACT experiential exercises, pairs work, and psychological flexibility skills-building, you’ll witness transformation for yourself and members of your cohort.
Enlightened and uplifted both professionally and personally, you’ll leave not only a changed therapist, but revitalized with the confidence to fully implement ACT to help clients struggling with anxiety, depression, life transitions, and other psychological distresses.
Featuring Diana Hill, PhD, internationally renowned ACT expert, therapist, author, speaker, podcaster, and consultant.
“Training with Diana is like talking with a good friend who happens to be a world-class therapist.”
–Rick Hanson, PhD, New York Times best-selling author and an internationally recognized leading expert on positive neuroplasticity
–Rick Hanson, PhD, New York Times best-selling author and an internationally recognized leading expert on positive neuroplasticity
СƵ retreats fill up fast, so secure your spot today!
ACT Experiential Retreat:
An Immersive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinical Getaway
LIVE in Boone, North Carolina
Monday, October 27th – Friday, October 31st
Single Occupancy: $2,999.00
Interested in a payment plan? Get started for just half down today!
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Plus, earn up to 19 CE Hours — included in your tuition.
Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Diana Hill, PhD, is an internationally known ACT expert, therapist, author, speaker, podcaster, and consultant whose work has been celebrated by many world-renowned ACT experts including Steven Hayes, PhD, and Rick Hanson, PhD.
Join Dr. Hill as she guides you through engaging metaphors, case studies, experiential exercises, visualizations, and embodied movement to help clients:
- Decrease avoidance and release attempts to control so they act rather than react
- Anchor into their immediate experience so they stop living their lives on autopilot
- Stop ruminating to achieve distance from painful thoughts and feelings
- Reduce self-criticism and cultivate a self-compassionate voice that’s warm, kind and encouraging
- Redefine their sense of self in a way that fosters willingness to connect to their values
- Integrate ACT core processes into their daily activities
You don’t want to miss this opportunity to help clients stop trying to control their experiences and start accepting them so that they can take action toward what they care about—building rich and meaningful lives!
Are you ready! Register today and we’ll see you in the Mountains!
ACT Experiential Retreat:
An Immersive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinical Getaway
An Immersive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinical Getaway
LIVE in Boone, North Carolina
Monday, October 27th – Friday, October 31st
Single Occupancy: $2,999.00
Interested in a payment plan? Get started for just half down today!
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Plus, earn up to 19 CE Hours — included in your tuition.
Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Retreat Schedule
All Times Listed in Local Time
Monday, October 27th, 2025
4:00–6:00 pm
Check-in
6:00–7:00 pm
Dinner
7:00–7:30 pm
Orientation & Property Overview (required)
7:45–9:15 pm
Experiential Activity Exploring
Psychological Flexibility*
Psychological Flexibility*
Tuesday, October 28th – Thursday, October 30th, 2025
7:30–8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am–12:30 pm
Training*
12:30–1:30 pm
Lunch
2:00–3:15 pm
Training*
3:15–6:00 pm
Restoration and Relaxation
6:00–7:00 pm
Dinner
Friday, October 31st, 2025
7:30–8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30–10:15 am
Training*
10:15–11:00 am
Check Out and Depart Retreat Center
(Lunch available at 12pm, if desired)
Included at No Cost! Yoga Classes, Meditation Classes & Bonfires!
*CE is awarded during these specified times. Licensing boards require full attendance to the entire retreat, including departure day, to receive any credit for the entire retreat. Please plan travel accordingly.
Who Should Attend?
The target audience includes:
- Psychologists
- Counselors
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Social Workers
- Addiction Counselors
- Mental Health Professionals
See What Others Have Said...
“Such an important training for my skill set! Diana modeled psychological flexibility to best meet participants' needs and was compassionate and skilled in her interactions with us.”
—Christy E., Social Worker
“What a gifted presenter! Her inclusion of experiential instruction, movement, and meditation enhanced learning. The sessions flew by!”
—Lucia S., Counselor
“I am glad I attended this unique, reenergizing, experiential training!”
—Oscar E., Counselor
“I've already seen improvements in my work with clients based on material from this ACT retreat…”
—Paul W., Psychologist
“I very much appreciated Diana's passion for ACT… It was such a joy to hear her stories, engage in experiential exercises, and see her role-play. Her passion and commitment to the field is inspiring…”
—Elizabeth K., Counselor
“Her depth of knowledge was awe-inspiring for me.”
—Laura F., Counselor
“I'm grateful for the experience – it not only enriched my professional development but also my personal life.”
—Heydi H., Social Worker
“Thank you for a transformative experience! It was a lovely retreat with a wealth of knowledge gained.”
—Christina M., Social Worker
ACT Experiential Retreat:
An Immersive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinical Getaway
An Immersive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinical Getaway
LIVE in Boone, North Carolina
Monday, October 27th – Friday, October 31st
Single Occupancy: $2,999.00
Interested in a payment plan? Get started for just half down today!
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Plus, earn up to 19 CE Hours — included in your tuition.
Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Retreat Content
Experiential Activity Exploring Therapist Values
ACT Theory, Psychological Flexibility, Functional Assessment
The Ubiquity of Human Suffering
- The nature of the human mind
- The problem of experiential avoidance
- Case examples, personal examples
- The utility of metaphor
Psychological Flexibility, A New Approach to an Old Problem
- 6 core processes of psychological flexibility
- Validated assessments and tracking processes
- Experiential avoidance
- Creative hopelessness
- Open, aware and engaged
Overview of ACT Research
- State of the evidence
- Limitations in research
Functional Assessment
- Identifying unworkable behaviors and consequences
- Mapping experiential avoidance
- Biopsychosocial model
Being Present and Values Processes
Being Present Definition and Rationale
- Benefits of being present
- Doing mode versus being mode
- One Eye In + One Eye Out
Being Present Practices
- Beginner’s Mind
- Mindfulness of Thoughts, Sensations and Emotions
- Being Present in Your Body
Values Definition and Rationale
- What are values?
- Values questions
- Values as intrinsic motivators
- Values versus domains
Values Practices
- Choice Points
- Values and pain are two sides of the same coin
- Highlighting Values
Acceptance and Cognitive Defusion Processes
Acceptance Definition and Rationale
- What acceptance is and is not
- Difficult TEAMs
- Experiential Avoidance Roundabouts
Acceptance Practices
- Increasing the zone of flexibility
- Willingness
- Curiosity
Cognitive Definition and Rationale
- Signs of cognitive fusion
- Inflexible rules and shoulds
- Getting space from the inner critic
Cognitive Defusion Practices
- Bad news radio
- Clouds in the sky meditation
- Break a rule on purpose
Perspective Taking and Committed Action Processes
Perspective Taking Definition and Rationale
- Conceptualized self
- Boxed in by self-stories
- Signs you are caught in a self-story
Perspective Taking Practices
- Perspective taking over time
- Perspective taking with others
- Compassionate Mind
Committed Action Definition and Rationale
- Fall climbing up
- Motivate with values
- Action over outcome
- A towards values lifestyle
Committed Action Practices
- Committed action habit loop
- Growing small habits
- Putting it all together: Your committed action plan
Integration and Flexible Application
- ACT in daily life
- Therapist Psychological Flexibility
- Treatment Flexibility
ACT Experiential Retreat:
An Immersive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinical Getaway
An Immersive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinical Getaway
LIVE in Boone, North Carolina
Monday, October 27th – Friday, October 31st
Single Occupancy: $2,999.00
Interested in a payment plan? Get started for just half down today!
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Plus, earn up to 19 CE Hours — included in your tuition.
Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Meet Your Retreat Instructor
Diana Hill, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and co-author of ACT Daily Journal: Get Unstuck and Live Fully with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She has been practicing ACT for over a decade and supervises postdoctoral fellows and leads regular teachings on ACT through Insight LA Mindful Heart Programs. Diana has a knack for unpacking complex, science-based concepts and making them applicable to clinical practice and daily life. She is the host of the podcast Your Life in Process: Psychological Flexibility from the Inside Out and co-founded the popular podcast Psychologists Off the Clock where she has interviewed experts in ACT including Kelly Wilson, Steven Hayes and Benjji Schoendorff.
Diana completed her undergraduate work at UC Santa Barbara, majoring in Biopsychology, followed by a PhD in clinical psychology at CU Boulder where she researched mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches for eating disorders. Diana completed her pre-doctoral internship in the Eating Disorder Emphasis Area at UC Davis and her post-doctoral fellowship at La Luna Center Intensive Outpatient Program for eating disorders. Diana went on to serve as the clinical director of La Luna Center, where she helped develop an ACT-based group program.
Click here for information about Diana Hill
Dr. Hill's ACT & Self-Compassion Daily Journals – Endorsed by Steven C. Hayes, PhD, Rick Hanson, PhD, Jill Stoddard, PhD, & More!
What does Tuition Include?
- Learn to utilize ACT to treat anxiety, trauma, depression & more
- Supervised ACT experiential exercises
- Training and Q&A with an ACT expert & author
- Up to 19 CE Hours, CE certificate & course manual
- Access to Ayurvedic spa*, yoga classes, group meditation, & fire circles
- Forest trails, labyrinth & peaceful location set in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains
- Healthful (and tasty!) vegetarian cuisine
- Lodging, with private bathrooms, for the duration of your stay
*Spa requires reservations and additional cost. Paid services are not included with retreat registration – cost is the responsibility of the guest. Please contact Shankara Ayurveda Wellness in advance for more information.
Click "+" to Expand
The Art of Living Retreat Center – Boone, NC
Set in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina, Art of Living Retreat Center (AOLRC) is the perfect place to restore your mind and body.
AOLRC is fully equipped to help you escape the rush of the outside world and ground yourself in nature. Walk in pristine forests, or unwind with fantastic views, AOLRC is yours to experience and explore.
Retreat Highlights:- Secluded retreat, offering 380 peaceful acres
- Private or shared lodging with private bathrooms
- Healthful vegetarian cuisine (3 meals daily)
- Beautiful mountain setting with gorgeous views and vistas
- Tranquil walking trails set in ancient forests
- Award-winning spa featuring Ayurvedic treatments & therapies (*Additional fees)
- Daily yoga and group meditation classes
- Awe-inspiring sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing
- Vedic architecture, labyrinths, and fire circles
- Direct shuttle service available from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (Additional fees)
Retreat Location
The Art of Living Retreat Center
639 Whispering Hills Rd
Boone, NC 28607
Phone: (800) 392-6870
Travel Information
Art of Living is located within driving distance of several airports. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) in Charlotte, NC is recommended due to availability of rental cars and direct shuttle to the retreat center. Please visit Art of Living’s website for detailed travel information and recommendations:
Please review the retreat’s schedule above and plan flights/travel accordingly.
Accessibility
Art of Living’s campus sits on top of a mountain, so it’s important to note the grounds are spacious and hilly. The entire campus is walkable and accessible. However, those with mobility issues may encounter difficult terrain. Please visit Art of Living’s website for more information:
If mobility is a concern, please contact the retreat center before registering with СƵ.
Non-Participating Retreat Guests
Art of Living is an all-inclusive retreat center. All reservations are per individual, not per room. All individuals staying at the retreat center incur a room and board charge whether or not they are participating in the СƵ educational training. If you are considering bringing a guest with you who will not be participating in the СƵ educational training, please contact СƵ at 800-844-8260.
CE Information
Please review the retreat’s credit information by clicking any of the “Click here for CE credit details” links found above.
PLEASE NOTE: Most licensing boards require full attendance to the entire program to receive any credit.
Please review the retreat’s schedule above and plan your travel accordingly to ensure full attendance to the program.
Travel Advisories
All attendees are advised to purchase travel insurance that includes a cancellation for any reason option to protect your travel plans.
If for any reason you are unable to attend, please contact us immediately:
Email: retreatinfo@pesi.com • Phone: 800-844-8260
Please check with your local government to see what advisories are in place before you travel. All flights are subject to the terms and conditions of your airline carrier’s policy travel plans.
From Purchase Date until September 26, 2025: Cancellation results in a full refund less a $100 administrative fee
From September 27, 2025 until October 27, 2025: Cancellation results in a 50% penalty of the total purchase amount
ACT Experiential Retreat:
An Immersive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinical Getaway
An Immersive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinical Getaway
LIVE in Boone, North Carolina
Monday, October 27th – Friday, October 31st
Single Occupancy: $2,999.00
Interested in a payment plan? Get started for just half down today!
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Click here for Payment Plan Information
Payment Plan available through 8/27/25
Plus, earn up to 19 CE Hours — included in your tuition.
Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details