Mini Workshop 14 - Fun with Psychoeducation!

The primary goal of this mini workshop is to teach and model how to provide effective psychoeducation by utilizing humor, fun, visuals, experiential exercises, and metaphor. Psychoeducation is a fundamental component of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), providing essential knowledge and skills to individuals and their families. However, engaging children, parents, and adults in psychoeducation can be a challenge. This presentation explores innovative and interactive approaches to making psychoeducation enjoyable and effective across different age groups and patient presentations. Drawing from clinical research and experience, this roundtable will demonstrate creative approaches tailored to the developmental stages of children, the concerns of parents, and the learning styles of adults. Through the integration of metaphor, visuals, experiential exercises, and humor, this presentation will model how psychoeducation can be transformed into a fun, memorable, and dynamic learning experience. Presenters will model their approaches to psychoeducation used across diverse populations, with cultural sensitivity, and across modalities (individual therapy, group therapy, and community presentations). Key topics will include the use of age-appropriate metaphors to explain complex concepts, interactive experiences to optimize learning, and the incorporation of humor and visual aids to enhance engagement, comprehension, and retention. Additionally, strategies for fostering active participation, encouraging open dialogue, and addressing potential resistance will be discussed.

Recommended Reading 1: Noble, L. A., Firth, N., Delgadillo, J., & Kellett, S. (2021). An investigation of the competencies involved in the facilitation of CBT-based group psychoeducational interventions. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 49(6), 732-744.

Recommended Reading 2: Consoli, A. J., Blears, K., Bunge, E. L., Mandil, J., Sharma, H., & Whaling, K. M. (2018). Integrating culture, pedagogy, and humor in CBT with anxious and depressed youth. Practice Innovations, 3(2), 138.

Recommended Reading 3: Foody, M., Barnes-Holmes, Y., Barnes-Holmes, D., Törneke, N., Luciano, C., Stewart, I., & McEnteggart, C. (2014). RFT for clinical use: The example of metaphor. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3(4), 305-313.