ACT and Exposure Across Contexts: Insights from 20 Years of Anxiety and Cancer Research
Abstract: This talk will highlight key findings, lessons, and emerging directions from two decades of research on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and exposure therapy across diverse populations—ranging from adults with anxiety disorders to individuals coping with cancer. I will begin by summarizing our early work integrating exposure-based ACT for anxiety disorders, then turn to our ongoing efforts applying ACT to support mental health, spiritual well-being, and treatment adherence among adults with cancer. A central theme emerging from this work is the need to balance scientific expertise with simpler and more collaborative intervention design. I will illustrate this through two examples: (1) a novel adaptation of exposure therapy for individuals with advanced cancer, and (2) a multi-year co-design initiative to enhance the accessibility and fit of exposure therapy for emerging adults with social anxiety. I will conclude by discussing key challenges and future directions for advancing ACT and exposure-based interventions across contexts.
Dr. Joanna Arch is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Inaugural Yvonne Kristy Endowed Chair in the Renée Crown Wellness Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is a Member in Cancer Prevention and Control at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, and a licensed clinical psychologist. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating interventions designed to address anxiety disorders in adult populations, and to improve anxiety and behavioral adherence outcomes among adults with cancer, with a focus on mindfulness, compassion, and acceptance-based interventions. She has published over 110 journal articles and chapters and an edited book. Dr. Arch’s work has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, the Templeton Foundation, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network/AstraZeneca, and the Yvonne Kristy Endowed Chair.