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Counseling Older Adults: Utilizing Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy to Address Depression and Anxiety

Enroll in the Online Self-Study and complete the training on your own schedule.
1.5 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians

Aging does not cause depression and anxiety—but it does complicate them. As older adults confront mounting medical issues, social isolation, and functional limitations, clinicians need a research-backed approach tailored to the realities of later life. This course offers a path forward.

With the right therapeutic strategies, clinicians can guide older adults from emotional stagnation to a renewed sense of purpose. This course introduces you to one of the most powerful tools available—Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—to meet the unique mental health challenges facing older clients.

Enroll in the 1.5 CE Online Self-Study for $45

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Dr. Matthew Fullen, Associate Professor at Virginia Tech and one of the counseling profession’s most active scholars on aging, leads this 1.5 CE hour self-study course. His work has been funded by both public and private entities—including the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and The Mather Institute—and focuses on resilience, wellness, suicide prevention, and Medicare mental health policy for older adults. Dr. Fullen’s clinical and research expertise makes him the ideal guide for clinicians seeking effective approaches for older adult care.

Dr. Fullen teaches this course with both scientific rigor and clinical warmth. By integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into the developmental realities of aging, he presents a compassionate, values-based approach that transcends symptom reduction and empowers clients to live fuller lives.

Participants will explore how ACT can treat depression and anxiety in older adults through strategies rooted in psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and value-driven action. Topics include symptom expression in older adulthood, risk factors such as social isolation and cognitive decline, the impact of internalized ageism, and ACT’s six core principles. Case study integration brings practical clarity to theory, offering real-life application of ACT’s potential in aging populations.

Matthew Fullen Headshot

Instructor

Dr. Matthew Fullen is an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech where he teaches in the counselor education program. Dr. Fullen's research, teaching, and advocacy focus on the mental health needs of older adults, with an emphasis on developing programs to enhance resilience & wellness among older adults, preventing suicide in later life, and addressing gaps in Medicare mental health policy. Dr. Fullen is the counseling profession’s most active scholar on aging and mental health.

He has received research grant funding by both public and private entities, including the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, as well as The Mather Institute. He recently received the American Counseling Association’s Top Research Award for his study on Medicare reimbursement challenges faced by counseling professionals.

Key Takeaways:

  • Apply a values-based framework: Learn how ACT helps older adults reconnect with meaning and direction despite real losses or limitations.
  • Understand age-related clinical needs: Gain insight into how depression and anxiety manifest differently in older adults—and how ACT addresses these nuances.
  • Use research-driven tools: Equip yourself with evidence-based ACT interventions that improve psychological flexibility and promote resilience in later life.

Why this course?

  • A focused and timely approach: As the older adult population grows, clinicians need specialized tools. This course equips you with both knowledge and application.
  • Learn from the leading expert: Dr. Fullen is a national thought leader on aging and mental health policy. His instruction blends science with actionable clinical strategies.
  • Excellence you can trust: Offered by the Telehealth Certification Institute, a trusted CE provider known for quality, innovation, and support for behavioral health professionals.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize transtheoretical treatment principles that impact working with older adults.
  • Describe the core tenets of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
  • Appraise the benefits of using ACT to address depression and anxiety in older adults.
  • Apply ACT to older adults through the use of a case study.

Help your clients age with dignity and purpose. This training empowers you to guide older adults beyond anxiety and depression, toward a life aligned with their deepest values.

Add this course to your professional toolkit and deepen your impact.

This is a non-interactive, self-study program and consists of 1.5 hours of video instruction, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

Enroll in the 1.5 CE Online Self-Study for $45

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Availability: From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to attend: Directions for completing a course can be found by clicking here.

This program was recorded April 25, 2025.

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