Overview

The APS hosts this webinar with the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.

Active inference is a process theory for modelling how it is that anything and every-thing that exists manages to do so in an ever-changing world. Research has already developed understanding of conditions (e.g., depression, PTSD, dissociation, generalised anxiety, and interventions (e.g., CBT, psychoanalysis, EMDR) relevant to clinical psychological practice.

As a 'scale-free' model, principles of active inference are not only relevant to understanding and refining diagnosis and treatments (i.e., 'the work'), but the very processes of training, practicing, developing, and regulating (i.e., 'the working') of clinical psychology. The underlying formalisms and jargon of active inference however, (derived from mathematics, physics and neuroscience) are generally unfamiliar to clinical psychologists; although profound (and to an informed learner, profoundly simple), the core principles are notoriously difficult to grasp for those coming from psychological backgrounds.

This webinar will cover:

• an introduction of active inference,

• the general framework,

• its scope to subsume many popular psychological models,

• active inference as a model for the profession, and 

• elements with direct relevance for participants’ approach to formulation, self-reflective and reflexive practice.

Fundamentally, optimisation for a scientist-practitioner ethos and competency should also emerge.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those new to the topic.

Duration of access

Access to the recording and presenter slides is for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Activity details

On-demand webinar recording.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this webinar, participants should be able to:

• describe active inference,

• apply active-inference for both 'the work' and the 'the working' of a clinical psychologist, and

• apply active-inference for:

  • i.) biopsychecological formulations of clients,

  • ii.) precision-weighted perception-action loops for self-reflective and reflexive practice, and

  • iii.) deeper embedding of scientist-practitioner ethos.

Presenter(s)

Dr Jesse Bourke

About the presenter(s)

Dr Jesse Bourke is a clinical psychologist and academic. As a clinician he has trained in multiple models of therapy but most prominently applies Mentalization-Based Treatment, Conversational Model, and EMDR in the treatment of trauma and personality conditions (previously in hospital settings but currently only in private practice). He is a lecturer in psychology at the University of Notre Dame (Australia), conducting and supervising research as well as teaching and supervising professional psychological practice. His research interests are in cognitive neuroscience (predictive coding and anatomical and connective brain asymmetries of speech) and psychology (epistemic trust and mentalization). As a professional who works with minds in ‘talk therapy’ and studies brains in ‘speech processing’ Dr Bourke is of the belief that the unifying theory of ‘active inference’ affords clinical psychology an opportunity for revolutionary optimisation as a scientist-practitioner discipline (a belief which he is actively working towards realising).