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Feelings are Not Facts: Neurocognitive Mechanisms and Advanced Clinical Interventions for Thought-Emotion Fusion

Leesa M. Robertson
2 hours

This advanced clinical training examines the neurocognitive mechanisms that cause thoughts to feel experientially “real” and explores evidence-informed interventions to reduce cognitive fusion, emotional amplification, and maladaptive belief consolidation. Drawing from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), metacognitive therapy (MCT), trauma-informed approaches, and affective neuroscience, this course provides clinicians with practical frameworks and structured interventions for working with clients whose distress is driven not by events, but by the perceived truth-value of internal cognitions.

Participants will learn how prediction processing, emotional tagging, attentional bias, and repetition-based familiarity contribute to the subjective realism of thoughts, and how to clinically intervene at cognitive, attentional, and somatic levels.

This course will award 2 continuing education hours.

Please see the board approval box for course approvals.

Course Objectives

  1. Differentiate between cognitive content, cognitive process, and metacognitive belief systems in clinical formulation.

  2. Explain the neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to the subjective “realness” of thoughts.

  3. Assess and conceptualize thought–emotion fusion and cognitive realism across diagnostic categories.

  4. Implement structured decentering, defusion, and attentional retraining interventions.

  5. Apply process-based interventions for clients with rumination, intrusive thoughts, trauma re-experiencing, and anxiety disorders.

Course Author

Leesa M. Robertson, M.Ed., CAP, LMHC

Ms. Robertson, M.Ed., CAP, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia. She is credentialed in alcohol and other drug counseling.

Beginning her career in the hospital setting, working in admissions, on the 24-hour unit, inpatient and IOP for both adults and adolescents, she went on to supervise a group of clinicians that went into medical-surgical hospitals to assess and place patients. She went into the outpatient setting, working with adults and families. Throughout her career, Ms. Robertson has focused on training and education through presenting live and authored coursework.

Board Approvals

National Approvals

Approval for this course applies only to the national boards listed below.

  • American Psychological Association (APA)
    BaysideCEU is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Bayside Continuing Education maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) (ACE)
    BaysideCEU.com, #1793, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. BaysideCEU.com maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 2/4/2026-2/4/2029. This course is offered in the self-paced/distance learning format.
  • The Association For Addiction Professionals NAADAC
    Bayside Continuing Education and Development Provider Number 81892 is a NAADAC Approved Education Provider for educational credits. NAADAC Provider number 81892 is responsible for all aspects of the programming.
  • The National Board For Certified Counselors NBCC
    Bayside Continuing Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6088. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Bayside Continuing Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

State Approvals

Information

  • Relevance: This course is intended for masters level and post doctoral professionals who work with clients with anxiety, depression and substance abuse with thought-emotion fusion.
  • Content Level: Intermediate
  • Course Format: This course is offered as a self-paced distance learning format (reading-based online activity)
  • System Requirements: This course is offered online. Internet connection required.
  • Course Completion Information: To earn continuing education credit, professionals must register and pay the fee for the course.  They must read the content and demonstrate understanding by earning a minimum score of 70 percent on testing materials.  The certificate of completion will be able to be downloaded after the above is completed. Refunds will be granted upon request with the withdrawal of credit for the course. For questions, concerns, or to request special accommodations, please call 866-863-4225 or email ContactUs@BaysideCEU.com.
  • CEBroker Course ID: 1361512
  • Credit Hours: 2
Leesa M. Robertson
2 hours
This course is intended for masters level and post doctoral professionals who work with clients with anxiety, depression and substance abuse with thought-emotion fusion.
Add to cart $18.00