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

Description

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.

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.

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.

Format and Access

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

Course Details

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: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

Matthew Fullen, Ph.D, M.Div., LPCC (OH)

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.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 1.5 continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists:

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits, effective 10/15/2025. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 90 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This course is a non-interactive, online self-study.

Participants may request a printed version of their certificate of completion to be delivered by mail. A shipping/handling fee of $6.95 will be charged per request. Shipping internationally may require an additional charge.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement