4th Mondays ACT Study Group, December
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Meeting on THIRD Monday in December to avoid holiday and travel!
Group usually meets on the 4th Monday of each month (hence the name).
Status of Group: Full/closed. Please contact Joel if you want to be on a waitlist for an opening.
Potential Agenda:
TBD, bring a case!
EvoS Book Club, December
Evolution Science & Behavior (EvoS) Book Club.
We usually meet on the (second or) third Wednesday evening of each month (more or less!).
Agenda. This season we will take another of our detours off the strict EvoS theme to read Against the Machine: On the Unmaking of Humanity by Paul Kingsnorth. Here is what Iain McGilchrist, the author of our last book (The Master and His Emissary) has to say about Against the Machine:
The most powerful and important book I have read in years. This book should be required reading not only for politicians, technocrats, teachers and all who help shape our world, but for every still-living soul in this terrifying age of the Machine.
We will read through Section 3 of his new book for December.
Sample of Kingsnorth’s thinking and ideas. Disclaimer: Kingsnorth’s thinking is complex and nuanced—and also situated inside his own worldview, which is Orthodox Christian. It will not be to everyone’s taste.
Please RSVP if you are new to the group.
Time: Now meeting in-person at +/- 6:30 pm.
Location: TBD. Watch for a separate email or text with reminder about address.
BTW: Get a taste of what EvoS Book Club is about by watching this video (whole video but relevance especially demonstrated >1:00 into the talk).
ACT Peer Consultation Group, December
Our no-cost, open group for professionals interested in connecting with others while learning ACT. Groups meet on the third Friday of each month. Format varies but includes discussion of ACT concepts and strategies, case consultations, and a wide range of other topics. Groups are currently meeting on Zoom.
This meeting will be hosted by Joel. Please email him with questions or agenda items.
Possible Agenda items:
TBD
We always prioritize salient and pressing concerns, questions, and topics!
Bring a case!
Impactful Strategies from 25 Years of ACT in Practice
Presented by Joel Guarna, PhD
Hosted by Psychology Specialists of Maine
ACT is more than a set of therapeutic techniques; it offers a way of understanding human suffering and human possibility. In the past, when preparing ACT workshops, I usually began with the theoretical model—the concepts and processes that form the foundation of the approach. This time, however, I began with a project of reflecting on 25 years of using ACT in clinical practice, asking what the work has actually been like in the therapy room and what has genuinely helped the people I met there. This presentation emerges from that different starting point, guided by a few essential questions: What has truly worked? What has helped people suffer less and thrive more? What strategies have reliably created real-world impact? This workshop will provide an entry—or a re-entry—into the heart of ACT: a practical, flexible set of strategies rooted in compassion, values, and a clear-eyed understanding of human suffering and change. It will serve as a solid starting point for those new to ACT and a useful reminder and re-orientation for those who have been using the model for years.
Note: This is a stand-alone workshop that requires no previous exposure to ACT. However, given the scope of the topic, it is likely to be the first in a series of two or three such presentations.
Register by Friday, Dec 19, 2025 (early registration deadline)
AND use discount code SMACT for additional discount!
Early registration + SMACT discount= $90
Regular registration: $110
3 CEs for psychologists, social workers, and counselors in Maine.
1st Mondays ACT Study Group, December
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Status of Group: Closed. Please contact Joel if you want to join another study group or be on a waitlist for an opening. Group usually meets on the first Monday of each month, alternating between Zoom and in-person (see below).
Agenda:
TBD; bring a case!
Location: In person!
Future:
Tentative plan: We will hold in-person meetings on alternating months (December 2025 and then February 2026). This is an increase in the in-person meetings per expressed preference by group members and is an increase from the rate of quarterly/seasonal meetings.
4th Mondays ACT Study Group, November
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Group usually meets on the 4th Monday of each month (hence the name).
Status of Group: Full/closed. Please contact Joel if you want to be on a waitlist for an opening.
Potential Agenda:
TBD, bring a case!
ACT Peer Consultation Group, November
Our no-cost, open group for professionals interested in connecting with others while learning ACT. Groups meet on the third Friday of each month. Format varies but includes discussion of ACT concepts and strategies, case consultations, and a wide range of other topics. Groups are currently meeting on Zoom.
This meeting will be hosted by Joel. Please email him with questions or agenda items.
Possible Agenda items:
TBD
We always prioritize salient and pressing concerns, questions, and topics!
Bring a case!
Launching the Maine ADHD Consult Group for Clinicians
Presented by Christie Pickel, PhD
Hosted by Psychology Specialists of Maine
Are you looking to deepen your skills and confidence in supporting adults with ADHD? You’re not alone. The demand for competent, neurodiversity-affirming ADHD care is growing, and many clinicians feel they didn't receive adequate training in this specialty.
You're invited to the inaugural session of the Maine ADHD Consult Group, a new professional community dedicated to practical, evidence-based learning. Facilitated by Dr. Christie Pickel, a specialist in adult ADHD, this recurring forum is designed to help you immediately integrate more effective strategies into your work, with an overarching goal of increasing access to high-quality ADHD care throughout Maine by empowering providers.
Whether this becomes your new monthly resource or a one-time skill-building session, this is your opportunity to join a dedicated community of practice. This session blends expert-led education with real-world case consultation and collaborative problem-solving, all within a supportive community of your peers.
$30 | 1 CE Use discount code SMACTFIVE for $5 off. REGISTER
Better Sleep for your Clients (and Maybe Yourself): Practical Strategies from CBT-i and ACT
Presented by Joel Guarna, PhD
Hosted by Psychology Specialists of Maine
Poor sleep and insomnia can contribute to depression and anxiety and to chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity—not to mention burnout among the very health care and behavioral health professionals that are poised to help with these conditions. Insomnia medications are often habit-forming, have troubling side effects, and merely mask the symptoms of sleeplessness rather than treat the underlying problems. We all have had clients who have suffered from a poor night's sleep. What role do we play in helping to curb the effects of sleeplessness and insomnia? A variety of behavioral approaches have been proven effective in treating insomnia and difficulties with sleep. However, many clinicians lack the training and confidence to work effectively with these issues. This presentation will emphasize ways to work with your existing clients who struggle with sleep so you do not need to disrupt your care by referring them out.
$60 | 2 CEs or $35 | 1 CE. Use discount code SMACTFIVE for $5 off. REGISTER
EvoS Book Club, November
Evolution Science & Behavior (EvoS) Book Club.
We usually meet on the (second or) third Wednesday evening of each month (more or less!).
Agenda. This season we will take another of our detours off the strict EvoS theme to read Against the Machine: On the Unmaking of Humanity by Paul Kingsnorth. Here is what Iain McGilchrist, the author of our last book (The Master and His Emissary) has to say about Against the Machine:
The most powerful and important book I have read in years. This book should be required reading not only for politicians, technocrats, teachers and all who help shape our world, but for every still-living soul in this terrifying age of the Machine.
We will read through Section 2 of his new book for November.
Sample of Kingsnorth’s thinking and ideas. Disclaimer: Kingsnorth’s thinking is complex and nuanced—and also situated inside his own worldview, which is Christian. It will not be to everyone’s taste.
Please RSVP if you are new to the group.
Time: Now meeting in-person at +/- 6:30 pm.
Location: TBD. Watch for a separate email or text with reminder about address.
BTW: Get a taste of what EvoS Book Club is about by watching this video (whole video but relevance especially demonstrated >1:00 into the talk).
1st Mondays ACT Study Group, November
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Status of Group: Closed. Please contact Joel if you want to join another study group or be on a waitlist for an opening. Group usually meets on the first Monday of each month, alternating between Zoom and in-person (see below).
Agenda:
TBD; bring a case!
Location: Virtual
Future:
Tentative plan: We will hold in-person meetings on alternating months (December 2025 and then February 2026). This is an increase in the in-person meetings per expressed preference by group members and is an increase from the rate of quarterly/seasonal meetings.
4th Mondays ACT Study Group, October
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Group usually meets on the 4th Monday of each month (hence the name).
Status of Group: Full/closed. Please contact Joel if you want to be on a waitlist for an opening.
Potential Agenda:
TBD, bring a case!
The Why Behind the Avoidance: A Functional Look at ADHD Thought Patterns
Presented by Christie Pickel, PhD
Hosted by Psychology Specialists of Maine
Why do individuals with ADHD often get stuck in cycles of avoidance and procrastination, even when they desperately want to engage? This one-hour training delves into the ways that specific cognitive patterns can fuel this struggle, from a compassionate, developmental perspective. We'll examine two key cognitive patterns: Negative Automatic Thoughts (NATs), which are often fueled by a history of criticism and failure, and Rationalizing Automatic Thoughts (RATs), which develop as self-protective mechanisms to avoid further pain and overwhelm. Grounded in a third-wave behavioral approach, this session will move beyond challenging the "accuracy" of thoughts and instead focus on their function- specifically, how they serve to regulate emotion in the short-term while perpetuating avoidance and shame in the long-term. Leave with a deeper framework for validating your clients' experiences while empowering them to change. $35 | 1 CE Use discount code SMACTFIVE for $5 off. REGISTER
ACT Peer Consultation Group, October
Our no-cost, open group for professionals interested in connecting with others while learning ACT. Groups meet on the third Friday of each month. Format varies but includes discussion of ACT concepts and strategies, case consultations, and a wide range of other topics. Groups are currently meeting on Zoom.
This meeting will be hosted by Joel. Please email him with questions or agenda items.
Possible Agenda items:
TBD
We always prioritize salient and pressing concerns, questions, and topics!
Bring a case!
EvoS Book Club, October
Evolution Science & Behavior (EvoS) Book Club.
We usually meet on the (second or) third Wednesday evening of each month (more or less!).
Agenda. This season we will take another of our detours off the strict EvoS theme to read Against the Machine: On the Unmaking of Humanity by Paul Kingsnorth. Here is what Iain McGilchrist, the author of our last book (The Master and His Emissary) has to say about Against the Machine:
The most powerful and important book I have read in years. This book should be required reading not only for politicians, technocrats, teachers and all who help shape our world, but for every still-living soul in this terrifying age of the Machine.
We will read Section 1 of his new book for October. Sample of Kingsnorth’s thinking and ideas. Disclaimer: Kingsnorth’s thinking is complex and nuanced—and also situated inside his own worldview, which is Christian. It will not be to everyone’s taste.
Please RSVP if you are new to the group.
Time: Now meeting in-person at 6:30 pm.
Location: TBD. Watch for a separate email or text with reminder about address.
BTW: Get a taste of what EvoS Book Club is about by watching this video (whole video but relevance especially demonstrated >1:00 into the talk).
1st Mondays ACT Study Group, October
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Status of Group: Closed. Please contact Joel if you want to join another study group or be on a waitlist for an opening. Group usually meets on the first Monday of each month, alternating between Zoom and in-person (see below).
Agenda:
TBD; bring a case!
Location: In person!
Future:
Tentative plan: We will hold in-person meetings on alternating months (October, December, February‘26). This is an increase in the in-person meetings per expressed preference by group members and is an increase from the rate of quarterly/seasonal meetings.
4th Mondays ACT Study Group, September
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Group usually meets on the 4th Monday of each month (hence the name).
Status of Group: Full/closed. Please contact Joel if you want to be on a waitlist for an opening.
Potential Agenda:
TBD, bring a case!
ACT Peer Consultation Group, September
It’s Retreat Day so I suspect this meeting will mostly comprise folks who are not joining us this year. )-:
Nonetheless, come join us and siphon some of that pre-Island energy!
Our no-cost, open group for professionals interested in connecting with others while learning ACT. Groups meet on the third Friday of each month. Format varies but includes discussion of ACT concepts and strategies, case consultations, and a wide range of other topics. Groups are currently meeting on Zoom.
This meeting will be hosted by Joel. Please email him with questions or agenda items.
Possible Agenda items:
TBD
We always prioritize salient and pressing concerns, questions, and topics!
Bring a case!
1st Mondays ACT Study Group, September
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Status of Group: Closed. Please contact Joel if you want to join another study group or be on a waitlist for an opening. Group usually meets on the first Monday of each month, alternating between Zoom and in-person (see below). Moved to 2nd Monday in September to avoid the Labor Day holiday.
Agenda:
TBD; bring a case!
Location: Virtual (switched to accommodate low attendance anticipated in September)
Future:
Tentative plan: We will hold in-person meetings on alternating months (October, December, February‘26). This is an increase in the in-person meetings per expressed preference by group members and is an increase from the rate of quarterly/seasonal meetings.
4th Mondays ACT Study Group, August
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Group usually meets on the 4th Monday of each month (hence the name).
Status of Group: Full/closed. Please contact Joel if you want to be on a waitlist for an opening.
Potential Agenda:
TBD, bring a case!
ACT Peer Consultation Group, August
Our no-cost, open group for professionals interested in connecting with others while learning ACT. Groups meet on the third Friday of each month. Format varies but includes discussion of ACT concepts and strategies, case consultations, and a wide range of other topics. Groups are currently meeting on Zoom.
This meeting will be hosted by Joel. Please email him with questions or agenda items.
Possible Agenda items:
TBD
We always prioritize salient and pressing concerns, questions, and topics!
Bring a case!
EvoS Book Club, August
Evolution Science & Behavior (EvoS) Book Club.
We usually meet on the (second or) third Wednesday evening of each month. IN AUGUST 2025, we are meeting on a Monday because we could not identify a Wed that worked for everyone.
Agenda. We will read through the end of Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire.
Please RSVP if you are new to the group.
Time: Now meeting in person at 6:00 pm.
Location: TBD. Watch for a separate email or text with reminder about address.
BTW: Get a taste of what EvoS Book Club is about by watching this video (whole video but relevance especially demonstrated >1:00 into the talk).
1st Mondays ACT Study Group, August
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Status of Group: Closed. Please contact Joel if you want to join another study group or be on a waitlist for an opening. Group usually meets on the first Monday of each month, alternating between Zoom and in-person (see below).
Agenda:
TBD; bring a case!
Location: Virtual
Future:
Tentative plan: We will hold in-person meetings on alternating months (May, July, September). This is an increase in the in-person meetings per expressed preference by group members and is an increase from the rate of quarterly/seasonal meetings.
4th Mondays ACT Study Group, July
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Group usually meets on the 4th Monday of each month (hence the name).
Status of Group: Full/closed. Please contact Joel if you want to be on a waitlist for an opening.
Potential Agenda:
TBD, bring a case!
ACT Peer Consultation Group, July
Our no-cost, open group for professionals interested in connecting with others while learning ACT. Groups meet on the third Friday of each month. Format varies but includes discussion of ACT concepts and strategies, case consultations, and a wide range of other topics. Groups are currently meeting on Zoom.
This meeting will be hosted by Joel. Please email him with questions or agenda items.
Possible Agenda items:
TBD
We always prioritize salient and pressing concerns, questions, and topics!
Bring a case!
EvoS Book Club, June (Copy)
Evolution Science & Behavior (EvoS) Book Club.
We usually meet on the (second or) third Wednesday evening of each month.
Agenda. We will read through end of chapter 2 of Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire.
Please RSVP if you are new to the group.
Time: Now meeting in person at 6:00 pm.
Location: TBD. Watch for a separate email or text with reminder about address.
BTW: Get a taste of what EvoS Book Club is about by watching this video (whole video but relevance especially demonstrated >1:00 into the talk).
1st Mondays ACT Study Group, July
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Status of Group: Closed. Please contact Joel if you want to join another study group or be on a waitlist for an opening. Group usually meets on the first Monday of each month, alternating between Zoom and in-person (see below).
Agenda:
TBD; bring a case!
Location: In Person
Future: 8/04/25, Virtual
Tentative plan: We will hold in-person meetings on alternating months (May, July, September). This is an increase in the in-person meetings per expressed preference by group members and is an increase from the rate of quarterly/seasonal meetings.
ACT Peer Consultation Group, June
Our no-cost, open group for professionals interested in connecting with others while learning ACT. Groups meet on the third Friday of each month. Format varies but includes discussion of ACT concepts and strategies, case consultations, and a wide range of other topics. Groups are currently meeting on Zoom.
This meeting will be hosted by Steve. Please email him with questions or agenda items.
Possible Agenda items:
TBD
We always prioritize salient and pressing concerns, questions, and topics!
Bring a case!
4th Mondays ACT Study Group, June
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Group usually meets on the 4th Monday of each month (hence the name). Moved in July to work around a conflict.
Status of Group: Full/closed. Please contact Joel if you want to be on a waitlist for an opening.
Potential Agenda:
TBD, bring a case!
EvoS Book Club, June
Evolution Science & Behavior (EvoS) Book Club.
We usually meet on the (second or) third Wednesday evening of each month.
Agenda. Have your little mind BLOWN by Iain McGilchrist’s The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World (buy). Agenda: read Chapters 10 through end.
Please RSVP if you are new to the group.
Time: Now meeting in person at 6:00 pm.
Location: TBD. Now meeting at various local restaurants! Watch for a separate email or text with reminder about address.
BTW: Get a taste of what EvoS Book Club is about by watching this video (whole video but relevance especially demonstrated >1:00 into the talk).
1st Mondays ACT Study Group, June
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Status of Group: Closed. Please contact Joel if you want to join another study group or be on a waitlist for an opening. Group usually meets on the first Monday of each month, alternating between Zoom and in-person (see below).
Agenda:
TBD; bring a case!
Location: Virtual
Future:
Tentative plan: We will hold in-person meetings on alternating months (May, July, September). This is an increase in the in-person meetings per expressed preference by group members and is an increase from the rate of quarterly/seasonal meetings.
4th Mondays ACT Study Group, May
Facilitated by Joel Guarna, PhD.
Group usually meets on the 4th Monday of each month (hence the name). Meeting on Third Monday in May to avoid Memorial Day.
Status of Group: Full/closed. Please contact Joel if you want to be on a waitlist for an opening.
Potential Agenda:
TBD, bring a case!
Using ACT in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Presented by BRIAN C. PILECKI, PHD
SAVE THE DATE!
Part of the Friday Lunch Series offered by Psychology Specialists of Maine
Use SMACT discount code for 10% off. Register Here.
ACT Peer Consultation Group, May
Our no-cost, open group for professionals interested in connecting with others while learning ACT. Groups meet on the third Friday of each month. Format varies but includes discussion of ACT concepts and strategies, case consultations, and a wide range of other topics. Groups are currently meeting on Zoom.
This meeting will be hosted by Joel. Please email Joel with questions or agenda items.
Possible Agenda items:
TBD
We always prioritize salient and pressing concerns, questions, and topics!
Bring a case!
Become A Member
By joining SMACT, you support a growing non-profit that is dedicated to promoting the use of ACT and other mindfulness-based approaches to wellness. Our members have access to discounted rates on trainings, book clubs, annual meetings and our yearly retreat on Cushing Island.