12th International Symposium of Polish Association for Behavioral Psychology

During the conference we would like to show that behavioral therapy, which is usually perceived as a treatment used in the spectrum of autism disorders, can be successfully applied to treat other conditions. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the role of mindfulness in discounting processes and about the Relational Frame Theory (RTF) and its applications in clinical practice.

Some other subjects that will be discussed during the conference include the application of behavioral therapy in gerontology, in treatment of focal brain injuries and in pain management. The discussion on the spectrum of autism disorders will focus on the applied behavior analysis and behavioral therapy in selective mutism disorder (characterised by inability to speak in selected social settings) and the issue of maintaining the effects of behavioral therapy in children with autism. Presenters will include researchers and therapists specializing in behavioral therapy.

We would like to invite graduate and doctoral students, academics, and behavioral therapists to actively participate in the poster session focused on behavioral research and therapy. Please send your poster and abstract submissions by February 20, 2018.

March 16, 2018

9.00-18.00 | Workshops

• RFT for clinical practise – workshop in English
  – Niklas Törneke, M.D. | room 306
• Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in children presenting feeding problems
  – mgr Katarzyna Bąbik | room 311
• ABA techniques in the preparation of a child with autism spectrum disorders to be introduced into a peer group
  – dr Beata Urbaniak | room 312
• Therapy of people with selective mutism
  – dr Monika Zielińska | room 406

18:00-20:00 – dinner

March 17, 2018 | room 004

8.30-9.00 – Registration

9.00-9.30 – Opening of the Conference

9.30-10.30 – What is RFT and why would it be important to clinicians?
– dr Niklas Törneke

10.30-11.00 – What is the role of mindfulness in discounting processes?
– prof. dr hab. Paweł Ostaszewski

11.00-11.30 – Coffee break

11.30-12.30 – Behavioural gerontology: What we currently know, what we still need to explore, and how we might go about exploring it
– dr Rebecca Sharp

12.30-13.00 – Selecting reinforcers in patients with focal central nervous system injury
– dr Bartłomiej Swebodziński

13.00-13.30 – Can we unlearn the pain? From laboratory studies to behavioral therapy of pain
 – dr hab. Przemysław Bąbel

13.30-14.30 – Lunch break

14.30-15.00 – Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in children presenting feeding problems
– mgr Katarzyna Bąbik

15.00-15.30 –  Selective mutism or controlled conversations
– dr Monika Zielińska

15.30-16.00 – Skuteczność SAZ – badania na polskiej grupie dzieci z autyzmem/ Effectiveness of ABA therapy - research on Polish sample of children with ASD
– dr Beata Urbaniak 

16.00-16.15 – Coffee break

16.15-18.00 – Poster session

Relational Frame Theory (RFT) is the theory and research program about human language and cognition that is at the base of acceptance and commitment therapy. At the same time RFT is much more than just ACT. As it concerns human language it concerns all human activity that involves language, which of course makes it relevant to all human experience. In a very profound way RFT speaks to so diverse topics as our experience of ourselves, the so called future, our battle with the meaning of life and everyday problem solving. This workshop will present the basic conceptual tools used in RFT and explain basic terminology. It will not focus on research but on conceptual understanding needed for applying RFT to the human experience. A special focus will be given to clinical application of RFT for psychotherapy in general and ACT in particular.

Niklas Törneke, M.D. – is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist. He works with clients in his private practice. Additionally, he teaches and supervises therapists in Sweden and around the world. He was originally trained as a cognitive therapist. Since 1998, he has focused mainly on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). He is a certified teacher of ACT and author of three books on contemporary behavioral therapy: ABCs of Human Behavior. Behavioral Principles for the Practicing Clinician (2008, co-author); Learning RFT. An Introduction to Relational Frame Theory and It’s Clinical Application (2010), and Metaphor in Practice. A Professionals Guide to Using the Science of Language in Psychotherapy (2017). As a teacher, Dr. Niklas Törneke is renowned for his ability to translate complex theoretical concepts into the language of clinical practice.

Application of behavioral analysis in working with elderly persons has proved to be effective in solving many behavioral problems, by discovering the functions of these behaviors and their environmental determinants. Behavioral approach may also be used in effective learning of new skills, compensating for the loss of some capabilities, and maintaining independence of senior citizens. However, the majority of professional literature on the subject focuses on mapping the behaviors instead of on searching for basic mechanisms responsible for behaviors of elderly people. The presentation will focus on the most current research, which helps to understand how people with dementia interact with their environment, for example by studying whether the stimuli control in these individuals works properly, and if it does not, what can be done to correct it. The lecture will also present how various applications of behavioral analysis impact the quality of life of elderly people (e.g. personnel training in order to prevent unethical practices in elderly care).

dr Rebecca Sharp – a certified behavioral analyst (BCBA-D) and a psychologist registered in New Zealand. She completed her clinical training, the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) program, and received her Ph.D. from the University of Auckland. She is Senior Lecturer and ABA Program Director at Bangor University. Her teaching has been appreciated by students, who have nominated Dr. Sharp for five awards in the past three years. In 2017, she was awarded New Teacher of the Year, following students’ nomination. She is also Senior Member of the Department for Higher Education. She published numerous articles on the behavior analysis approach and assessment in problem behaviors. Her professional interests include behavior analysis approach to individuals suffering from dementia and brain injuries. In her clinical practice she has worked with young offenders, children with brain injuries as well as children and adults with learning difficulties. Currently, Dr. Sharp teaches intensive practical courses in application of behavior analysis in working with elderly persons.

• dr hab. Przemysław Bąbel, the Jagiellonian University, Polish Association for Behavioral Psychology (PTPB) – Chair
• prof. dr hab. Paweł Ostaszewski (SWPS Univerity, PTPB)

• dr Anna Ziółkowska (SWSP University, PTPB) – Chair
• mgr Krystyna Pomorska (SWPS University, PTPB)
• dr Bartłomiej Swebodziński (SWPS University, PTPB)

The Conference Fee depends on the selection of workshops and the discount entitlement.

Lecture 1 (RTF in Clinical Practice) - the fee includes:

• participation in the workshop
• participation in lectures
• participation in the poster session
• conference materials
• simultaneous translation of lectures
• coffee breaks on March 17th
• dinner on March 16th

One Selected Lecture (2, 3 or 4) - the fee includes:

• participation in the selected workshop
• participation in lectures
• participation in the poster session
• conference materials
• simultaneous translation of lectures
• coffee breaks on March 17th
• dinner on March 16th

The fee for lectures on March 17th includes:

• participation in lectures
• participation in the poster session
• conference materials
• simultaneous translation of lectures
• coffee breaks on March 17th

Number of workshop places is limited.

Participation in Workshop 1: What is RFT and why would it be important to clinicians? and lectures

• Regular fee: PLN 650.00
• Fee for PTPB members, students and graduates of professional training SAZ (Stosowana Analiza Zachowania), students and graduates of SWPS University: PLN 600.00

Participation in Workshop 2: Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in children presenting feeding problems and lectures

• Regular fee: PLN 450.00
• Fee for PTPB members, students and graduates of professional training SAZ (Stosowana Analiza Zachowania), students and graduates of SWPS University: PLN 400.00

Participation in Workshop 3: ABA techniques in the preparation of a child with autism spectrum disorders to be introduced into a peer group and lectures

• Regular fee: PLN 450.00
• Fee for PTPB members, students and graduates of professional training SAZ (Stosowana Analiza Zachowania), students and graduates of SWPS University: PLN 400.00

Participation in Workshop 4: Therapy of people with selective mutism and lectures

• Regular fee: PLN 450.00
• Fee for PTPB members, students and graduates of professional training SAZ (Stosowana Analiza Zachowania), students and graduates of SWPS University: PLN 400.00

Participation in lectures

• Regular fee: PLN 200.00
• Fee for PTPB members, students and graduates of professional training SAZ (Stosowana Analiza Zachowania), students and graduates of SWPS University: PLN 400.00