News
Understanding and Promoting Repertoires of Psychological Flexibility
Posted on Feb 15, 2023
Improving psychological flexibility is the primary aim of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In this interactive workshop, Drs. Siri Ming and Evelyn Gould take the stance that psychological flexibility is a critical socially valid outcome and guiding principle for all that we do as behavior analysts.
Viewing our work through the lens of psychological flexibility gives a clear focal point for building a meaningful, values-directed, compassionate and responsive practice, centered on social validity.
Understanding and Applying RFT: Book Club
Posted on Jan 15, 2023
Have you just purchased Understanding and Applying RFT, and are looking for support and camaraderie as you go through the book? We’re excited to join you on your journey with this 8 week book club.
You’ll connect with others also reading the book and come together with us for live group discussions every two weeks. You’ll also have access to an asynchronous discussion space where we’ll keep you and your fellow book clubbers on track with going through specific parts of the book every two weeks.
New publication: Enhancing supervisory relationships with values and committed action training
(2022). Enhancing supervisory relationships with values and committed action training. Online: Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, Volume 26, pp 241-252 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2022.10.009
Empowering Parents with ACT
Posted on Dec 4, 2022
Announcing a brand new on-demand course taught by Dr. Lisa Coyne and Dr. Evelyn Gould, opening for enrollment on December 12, 2022.
"Empowering Parents with ACT" presents a powerful, evidence-based way to work with caregivers and help families thrive. Register and learn more
UK and Republic of Ireland ACT and Contextual Behavioural Science 5th Conference
Posted on Oct 31, 2022
Dr. Gould will present a keynote talk titled "Thriving in the face of adversity: Supporting neurodiverse and autistic youth to ACT mindfully" at the UK and Republic of Ireland ACT and Contextual Behavioural Science 5th Conference.
OCD SoCal FREE virtual event
Posted on Oct 1, 2022
We are excited to announce that OCD Southern California will be holding a FREE, virtual, interactive educational event on Saturday, October 15th from 11am to 1pm PST. This event is virtual and open to anyone, from anywhere! OCD Awareness Week 2022 is from Sunday, October 9th to Saturday, October 15th, and is an opportunity for everyone to learn about what OCD is and how to treat it!
This special October event is being presented by OCD Southern California, an official affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Additional information and a Zoom link to join the event will be sent out by email over the next few weeks! If you have any questions or are not a current member, contact info@ocdsocal.org to be added to the list of attendees.
Thank you,
OCD Southern California Board of Directors

Event flyer description: OCD Awareness Week Event, 2 hour virtual event, Sat October 15 at 11am-1pm PST.
- "Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) 101 For OCD"
presented by Evelyn Gould, Ph.D., BCBA-D and Jennie Kuckertz, Ph.D. - "Medications For OCD"
presented by Dr. Sepehr "Sheperd" Aziz, D.O. - "Maintaining Motivation in OCD Treatment: Lived & Clinical Experience"
presented by Chris Trondsen, M.S., AMFT, APCC and Shannon Switzer, Peer Support Specialist - "Navigating the Family Accommodation Trap with Compassion and Confidence"
presented by Melissa Mose, LMFT and Liz Trondsen, RD - "Treatment for Kids with OCD and What is Next in the Field"
presented by Eric Storch, Ph.D.
Acting on a Value of Self-Care: On-demand course
Posted on Oct 1, 2022
Our self-care workshop based on our 2020 article is now available on-demand with tiered pricing options, depending on need, through Constellations.
CEU Event hosted by the AzABA ACT/RFT SIG
Posted on Sep 14, 2022
Low-cost CE event! 1.5 CEs available, 10 USD registration fee.
Dr. Gould will present "Learning to Thrive (Without the Hexaflex): What personal adversity and two decades of clinical practice have taught me about ACT as Behavior Analysis"
*Free on-demand*: Fear and Flexibility: Understanding and supporting young people with OCD and ASD from a behavior analytic perspective
Posted on Aug 2, 2022
Evelyn's invited presentation for Queen's University, Belfast, Centre for Behaviour Analysis, on supporting youth with OCD and Autism, is now available on-demand for free. Professionals can get one free CEU.
Fall 2022 Trainings at NECOA
Posted on Jul 31, 2022
Announcing new Fall courses at NECOA, including several taught by Dr. Gould that will introduce OCD and ERP to mental health professionals and BCBAs. 6 x CEs available for Psychologists and BCBAs.
Training: "Weeding out coercion in otherwise compassionate environments"
Posted on Jul 19, 2022
Join Dr. Gould and Dr. Kolu as they introduce participants to a trauma-informed ACT approach to creating and maintaining nurturing environments that promote thriving. The training offers ideas, strategies, and tools for minimizing coercion and fostering appetitive environments that promote growth, connection, and meaning.
Behavior Analysis in Practice
Posted on Jun 26, 2022
Emily Sandoz, Evelyn Gould, and Troy Dufrene join us to talk about their paper, Ongoing, Explicit and Direct Functional Assessment is a Necessary Component of ACT as Behavior Analysis: A Response to Tarbox et al.
ACBS World Conference 2022
Posted on Jun 13, 2022
Dr. Gould and colleague Dr. Cañón are proud to be conference chairs for the 2022 conference.
Advances in Mindfulness and Acceptance Based Clinical Tools for Treating Adolescents and Young Adults
Posted on Apr 17, 2022
April 29, 2022
Speaker spotlight: Evelyn Gould, PhD presents on Supporting neurodiverse and autistic community youth at the annual virtual conference on mindfulness and acceptance based tools for adolescents and young adults.
*On-demand*: Workshop on social justice in ABA with Evelyn Gould and Melody Sylvain
Posted on Mar 9, 2022
Now on-demand: This workshop invites participants to commit to the process of ongoing personal reflection and cultural humility, and values-directed, meaningful behavior change at the individual, group and organizational levels in the service of a more diverse and equitable world.
Professionals can get CEUs.
Self-care workshop for CTABA conference
Posted on Mar 2, 2022
Dr. Gould presents a self-care workshop for ABA practicioners and supervisers: "Putting your own oxygen mask on first: Practitioner well-being as a critical component of sustainable, responsive systems of care in ABA"
In press: Textbook for Behavior Analysts
(In press). Understanding and Applying Relational Frame Theory: Mastering the Foundations of Complex Language in Our Work and Lives as Behavior Analysts. Oakland, CA: Context Press/New HarbingerNew publication: A Digital ACT Intervention for Adults with Cardiac Disease
(2022). Investigating the efficacy of a digital ACT intervention for the improvement of self-management behaviors and psychological flexibility in adults with cardiac disease: Protocol for a single case experimental design. Online: Journal of Medical Internet Research: Preprint
New publication: Brief ACT for Undergraduates
(2022). Brief ACT for Undergraduates: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Investigation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Delivered over Zoom. Online: Journal of College Student Psychotherapy: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2022.2029659
New publication: ACT and Parent Training
(2021). Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Training Plus Behavior Parent Training on Parental Implementation of Autism Treatment. Online: Psychological Record: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-021-00496-5
ERP Special Topics: Autism and Neurodiverse Clients
Posted on Aug 18, 2021
Starts Thursday, September 16th, 08:00 PDT
Fall 2021 Groups at NECOA
Posted on Aug 18, 2021
NECOA is pleased to offer the following new groups in Fall 2021:
- ACT Mindfully with Peers (PEERS®+ Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) for Teens
- ACT Mindfully with Peers (PEERS®+ Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) for Young Adults
- Anxiety and OCD Gender Diversity Group for Teens
- CBT for Hoarding
- Tween Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Group
- Teen Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Group
- Young Adult Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Group
- Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) Program
Acting on the value of self-care
Posted on Jul 28, 2021
New workshop from myself and my colleagues at Constellations: "Acting on the value of self-care"
Sept 23 - Nov 18, 2021
In this workshop, we share our favorite tools and practices to promote well-being and resilience. Drawing from our article and the work of other contextual behavior scientists, over eight weeks together we will practice strategies for clarifying and committing to an overarching value of self-care. Meeting size is limited to 12 participants to ensure plenty of interaction opportunity.
This course provides 12 CEUs/3 Supervision CEUs.
OCD SoCal Annual Conference
Posted on Jul 27, 2021
OCD SoCal Annual Conference
Saturday July 31st, 2021
Ongoing, Explicit, and Direct Functional Assessment is a Necessary Component of ACT as Behavior Analysis: A Response to Tarbox et al.
(2021). Ongoing, Explicit, and Direct Functional Assessment is a Necessary Component of ACT as Behavior Analysis: A Response to Tarbox et al. (2020). Behavior Analysis in Practice. DOI: 10.1007/s40617-021-00607-2Report of the ACBS Task Force on the strategies and tactics of contextual behavioral science research
(2021) Report of the ACBS Task Force on the strategies and tactics of contextual behavioral science research Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, Volume 20 Pages 172-183 DOI: 10.1007/s40617-020-00435-wAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Parents
Posted on Jul 16, 2021
8-week training course for professionals working with caregivers and families. With Lisa Coyne, PhD.
September 9 - October 28 , 2021, Thursdays 1-3pm EST
Fear and Flexibility: Understanding and supporting young people with OCD and ASD from a behavior analytic perspective
Posted on Jun 15, 2021
Invited presentation for Queen's University, Belfast, Centre for Behaviour Analysis
New Publication: Training Practioners in Relationship-Building Skills
(2021). A Preliminary Analysis of the Effects of Clicker Training and Verbal Instructions on the Acquisition of Relationship-Building Skills in Two Applied Behavior Analysis Practitioners. Behavior Analysis in Practice DOI: 10.1007/s40617-021-00555-x
Psychological Flexibility: Shaping resilience and building skills from infancy through adolescence
Posted on Mar 6, 2021
Friday, April 23, 2021, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm eastern (New York)
ACT para profesionales de salud mental trabajando con padres
Posted on Mar 6, 2021
Acompáñanos en este entrenamiento de ACT para profesionales de salud mental trabajando con padres. Para registrarte, haz click aquí si eres profesional, o aquí si eres estudiante, o visita nuestra página web. Para solicitud de becas, y si tienes preguntas, escríbenos a apoyo@newenglandocd.org ¡Te esperamos!

Join us for this training in ACT for mental health professionals working with parents. To register, click here if you're a professional, or here if you're a student, or visit our website. For scholarships and any questions, email us.
Enhancing outcomes for individuals on the autism spectrum with Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Posted on Mar 5, 2021
Starts Fri, 16 Apr 2021, 08:00 PDT
NECOA Quarterly Group & Training Announcement, Winter 2021
Posted on Dec 26, 2020
NECOA Boston is pleased to offer the following in 2021:
- New groups for families
- New courses & consult groups for clinicians
- Course scholarships for clinicians or students who work with underserved populations
Postdoctoral Fellowships in Clinical Child Psychology
Posted on Nov 30, 2020
We at NECOA are delighted to invite applications for our two-year postdoctoral fellowship program designed to facilitate advanced competencies in Clinical Child Psychology and evidence-based treatment for obsessive compulsive and anxiety disorders.
Chill and Chat with Evelyn Gould
Posted on Sep 15, 2020
September 21 7:30-8:30pm (BST)
Community of BCBA's invites you to Chill and Chat with Evelyn Gould: an online Q&A with Dr. Evelyn Gould about ABA, ACT, CBS and CBA.
Join us to hear about Dr. Gould's journey as a BCBA first in N.I. and then the U.S.A. Hear about how her clinical work shifted from almost exclusively with Autistic individuals to supporting those with OCD and related disorders and their families.

New publication: Self-Care for Practitioners
(2020). An Invitation to Act on the Value of Self-Care: Being a whole person in all that you do. Online: Behavior Analysis in Practice: DOI: 10.1007/s40617-020-00442-x
* Authorship determined alphabetically to represent equal contribution of authors
New publication: Psychological Flexibility in Parenting
(2020). First things first: Parent psychological flexibility and self-compassion during COVID-19. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 6, p. 1-7 DOI: 10.1007/s40617-020-00435-w
DNA-V Intermediate Consult Group - BCBAs
Posted on Aug 9, 2020
NEW! Begins 9/29, online, 6 sessions
Webinar: Flexibility and Wonder – An Introduction to the DNAV Model for Promoting Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Children
Posted on Jul 31, 2020
September 15, 2020 - September 22, 2020, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm PST
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Parents
Posted on May 31, 2020
September 28 - November 16 , 2020, 4-6pm EST
NECOA Support Groups
Posted on Mar 31, 2020
NECOA is now offering a variety of ACT-infused Support Groups for Parents, Teens and Young Adults. Find out more: newenglandocd.org.