Welcome

photo of Sonja Batten
Sonja V. Batten, Ph.D.

Do you resonate with what you’ve heard about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), but struggle to apply it consistently? Have you wondered how you can find your own voice with which to communicate the concepts and metaphors rather than trying to sound like the trainers and experts you’ve heard? Or are you a health care professional who wants to get your message out to a larger platform, but you need specific support to be prepared to speak to the media? I have a passion for working with high performing professionals who want to take their work to the next level through consultation, training, and coaching, and I work hard to provide this training in a clear and individualized way.

Offerings

I am delighted to provide a tailored set of offerings, depending on your specific needs. People I have worked with describe my style as compassionate, clever, creative, motivational, and even funny. I will ensure that we make good use of our focused time to meet your goals, while also enjoying the work that we do together. Options include:

  • Individual consultation and training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) via videoconference. With individual consultation, we develop a personalized training plan tailored to your current level of skills and future goals. For example, you might want to become a Peer-Reviewed ACT Trainer or simply gain increased competence with ACT.

 

  • Online group training on topics related to ACT, with a specific emphasis on posttraumatic problems in living and increasing skills related to committed action in therapy. Trainings related to leadership development are also available. (In person training can also be scheduled, dependent on global travel restrictions.)

 

  • Two-session media training for health care professionals who want to gain comfort and ease with speaking to the media or large groups about their areas of expertise in ways that are relatable and understandable for the general public.

 

  • Professional and leadership coaching via videoconference for high performing professionals, especially in the health care or nonprofit sectors. This can be especially useful for professionals who are looking to refine their leadership voice and style, while increasing their effectiveness across professional contexts.

To request more information or discuss any of these opportunities with me, please complete this contact form, and I will get back to you promptly. I’m looking forward to connecting with you.

Sonja Batten

Photo of Sonja Batten

Dr. Sonja Batten is a licensed clinical psychologist and Peer-Reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) trainer who has provided ACT clinical consultation and training internationally for over 20 years. She currently provides individual ACT consultation and training via videoconference, as well as online or in person group workshops. Sonja is also a certified executive coach who works with health care professionals to increase their leadership skills and become more effective across professional contexts.

Sonja has conducted international ACT workshops since 1998 and provided specialized training in ACT each year at the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) World Conferences. She completed three terms on the ACBS Board of Directors from 2006 to 2015, serving as ACBS President from 2013-2014. She is also a Fellow and Founding Member of ACBS, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit ACBS Foundation.

Sonja trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Steve Hayes and Victoria Follette at the University of Nevada Reno in the 1990s. During that time, she primarily utilized ACT in the treatment of individuals dealing with posttraumatic problems in living, substance use disorders, and depression. Sonja was a primary project therapist and protocol author on the grant evaluating the efficacy of ACT for opioid addiction. She has continued work on treatment development of ACT for PTSD and PTSD comorbid with substance use, collaborating with Sue Orsillo, Steve Hayes, Eric Meyer, and others.

If you have any questions, would like to request training, consultation, or professional coaching, or wish to receive occasional ACT-related updates, you can connect with Sonja via this website or on LinkedIn.

Media Training

Sonja being interviewed

Have you ever wanted to learn the art of speaking in soundbytes? Need help preparing for an upcoming media interview? I have a passion for communicating health-related information in a clear way that is understandable to the general public. Informed by my experience doing live and recorded interviews for film, television, radio, newspapers, and blogs, I can provide you with a two-session media training on speaking to the press about health and wellness so that you are ready to provide poised and accurate information without falling into common interview traps! Contact me for more information.

Samples of my past media interviews, including Congressional testimony:

Sonja speaks on PBS News Hour

Live Interview on PBS NewsHour

Sonja Speaks on the Dr. Oz show

Dr. Oz Episode on Women on the Frontlines of War

New York Times Story on Returning Veterans

NPR Story on Women Veterans

LA Times Interview About Bartenders as Gatekeepers

Congressional Testimony on C-Span

Video Interview on Veteran Mental Health

Interview with USAA Blog

Chicago Tribune Soundbyte Example

Testimonials

See below for a selection of testimonials from accomplished professionals around the world who have trained with Sonja Batten:

“Sonja’s was one of the first ACT workshops I ever attended – it was transformative. In the years since, I have seen Sonja speak and train several times. She continues to amaze me. Her style is engaging and fun, and she makes complex concepts easy to understand and implement with clients. I can’t recommend her highly enough!”

 – Miranda Morris, PhD., Peer Reviewed ACT Trainer, USA

“Sonja has been there to guide me through practically all the stages of my training and career as a psychologist and trainer thus far. She brings a wealth of knowledge and an incredible range of skills in ACT, mental health, training, and leadership to the table. Most striking among the many characteristics that set her apart, in my opinion, are her keen eye for the big picture and ability to develop and share that clarity with you, and her fundamental humanness and relatability. Sometimes even a quick “check-in” call with Sonja is a master class in self-awareness, values, action, empowerment, and support.

 – Shawn Costello Whooley, PsyD, Psychotherapist and Trainer, USA

“Three years into my ACT journey, I was lucky to attend a 3-day workshop with Sonja. It was the most well-rounded ACT workshop I ever took, with a perfect blend of theory, experiential practice, and clinical skills training. I credit this workshop with taking my ACT skills to the next level.”

 – Benjamin Schoendorff, MA, MSc, Peer Reviewed ACT Trainer, Canada

“When I met Sonja, it was difficult  for me to speak up in team meetings, let alone take on leadership roles. Sonja invited me to make room for my imposter syndrome AND to do what matters.

I often think about a particular discussion when Sonja and I were talking about my tendency to clam up and get really serious in situations when I was worried that I might fail. Sonja helped me to open up to a more vulnerable, spontaneous, creative, and genuine space inside myself.  Reorienting toward and acting from this more authentic sense of self has been a LIFE changer for me in both my personal and professional life. Core “moves” like this have helped me at every step of my career.”

 – Andy Santanello, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapy Consultant, USA

“It has been a very wise decision to contact Sonja to improve my experiential skills as a therapist. She promptly identified my personal barriers and we worked on them in a way that has greatly influenced my work. Furthermore, her role as a supervisor in ACT summarizes her professional expertise and loving attitude.”

 – Germán Teti, M.D., Argentina

“Sonja is who you call when you want a training job done really well. She possesses a rare combination of extraordinary comprehension and clear communication skills, and can transform the most complex ideas into real understanding and a plan.”

 – Jennifer Gregg, PhD, Peer Reviewed ACT Trainer, USA

“Sonja is deeply knowledgeable about ACT and contextual behavioral science (CBS). Her experience dates back to her work with Steve Hayes and Victoria Follette at Reno in the early days of ACT – before it was widely disseminated. In her writings, workshops, and contributions to the community, I have found her thoughtful, human, and inspiring.”

 – Matt Boone, LCSW, Peer Reviewed ACT Trainer, USA

“Sonja has a deep knowledge of contextual behavioural science as well as the applications in the real world with real people. I attended her training on RFT and learned how language shapes our lives. She is warm and engaging and I highly recommend her.”

– Louise Hayes, PhD, Peer Reviewed ACT Trainer, Australia

“Sonja provides the clearest and most effective guide to the essentials of ACT providing both a sound explanation of the theory and a clear guide to its application in therapy – her wisdom is priceless.”

– Grant Dewar, Ph.D., Australia

Sonja enabled me to make a complex subject meaningful and practical in my day to day practice, to the benefit of both my self and my clients.”

 – Derek Barkham, CBT Therapist, United Kingdom

Contact Sonja today to learn more about whether her approach to consultation, training, and coaching might be a good fit for your needs.