Behavioral Activation (BA)
Printer-friendly version
The AIMS Center encourages both clinicians and non-licensed staff to pursue training in evidence-based brief behavioral interventions that are well-suited to primary care and other medical settings. Behavioral Activation (BA) strategies represent one such intervention.
About BA
Behavioral Activation (BA) is a brief evidence-based psychosocial intervention for use in primary care, other health care, and community settings. BA has been studied extensively in a wide range of settings and with a variety of providers and patient populations.
BA teaches depressed and/or anxious patients a set of skills to re-engage in valued life activities that they once found rewarding and enjoyable but have abandoned as they developed depression or anxiety.
Evidence Base
Behavioral Activation (BA) is often a component of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Problem-Solving Treatment (PST), but has also been shown to be a stand-alone evidence-based intervention to treat depression and anxiety in a primary care environment. Research shows that BA significantly improves patient outcomes in a wide range of settings and patient populations.
The document below contains selected references demonstrating the efficacy of BA in primary care.
Training Overview
Training consists of two online modules introducing BA principles, a 1-hour BA webinar, and a 2-hour live demonstration and Q&A session with an expert trainer, followed by 3 monthly case presentation calls. Clinicians and staff are taught by expert trainers using procedures and standards set by Patrick J. Raue, PhD, Associate Director for Evidence-based Psychosocial Interventions at the AIMS Center. Clinicians will have the opportunity to apply BA to several cases and receive feedback from AIMS Center experts on their application of clinical skills. The training process typically requires about 8 hours of trainee time over the course of 4 months.
Training Components
- Online Training: Approximately 2 hours of self-paced learning and a 1-hour recorded webinar
- Live Group Demonstration and Q&A Webinar: 2-hour live session demonstration and Q&A with an expert trainer via Zoom
- Monthly Case Presentation: 1-hour group calls over three months where participants present real cases and discuss challenging and complex cases with the expert trainer
Requirements
Trainees must have an active caseload of at least three patients by the time they begin training.
Cost
$440 per trainee
Continuing Education
The AIMS Center is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education hours. Participants are eligible for up to 5 contact hours toward continuing education licensure requirements. The continuing education units can be used by most licensed mental health providers, including psychologists, clinical social workers, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists. Clinicians should check their specific state requirements to confirm that credits awarded by the American Psychological Association apply to them.
Registration
To register, fill out the form at the link below.