Trainers

Steven C. Hayes, PhD
Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor Emeritus in Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and President of the Institute for Better Health, a nearly 50-year-old charity dedicated to enhancing mental health care quality. He has authored 48 books and over 700 scientific articles, focusing on human language and cognition to alleviate suffering.
Hayes earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University in 1977, followed by a clinical internship at Brown University under David H. Barlow. His academic journey led him from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, to UNR in 1986, where he served as Director of Clinical Training and later Chair, retiring in 2023.
He has been a prominent figure in behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy, leading several major psychological associations, including the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). Hayes has secured about $15M funding for research and served on the National Advisory Council for Drug Abuse in the NIH.
His contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy and the James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science. He is recognized globally as one of the most influential and highly cited psychologists, ranked by Research.com and AD Scientific Index as among the top 5 clinical psychologists and among the top 25-75 o.
Hayes's personal battle with panic disorder and agoraphobia catalyzed his development of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the early 1980s. His work on ACT and Relational Frame Theory (RFT) has since transformed clinical psychology, leading to bestsellers like "Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life" and "A Liberated Mind". Over the last decade, he has pioneered process-based therapy, culminating in three influential books, yet to be encapsulated in a self-help format until now.

Daniel J. Moran, PhD, BCBA-D
I’d prefer my biography to reflect the most vital and meaningful things in my life, so I should prioritize writing about my family, friends, and love for heavy metal. Alas, this is a professional biography, so it is more appropriate to focus on the fact that I am the founder of Pickslyde Consulting, an organization aimed at using evidence-based applications to improve leadership, performance, safety, and wellness in the workplace. Our organization has also trained tens-of-thousands of people in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other evidence-based treatment approaches. I have personally trained organizations in all 50 states of the U.S., and six of the seven continents (the penguins haven’t asked for my help… yet). I am an associate professor for Touro University and cofounder of our Doctor of Psychology program in New York City.
I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical & School Psychology in 1998, and I am past-president of the international Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. The Association for Behavior Analysis International gave me the Outstanding Mentor Award in 2014. I have several peer-reviewed publications applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and behavioral science to clinical issues, leadership, and behavioral health. I also wrote Finding Your Why and Finding Your Way, a professional self-help book, and Breathe and Bring the Heat, a sports psychology book written for athletes. I appeared on The Learning Channel, Animal Planet, and The Oprah Winfrey Network (and several local television shows and podcasts) discussing how to effectively treat psychological concerns. I am also a Recognized ACTrainer and Board Certified Behavior Analyst… and have I mentioned that I love my family, friends, and heavy metal?

Siri Ming, PhD, BCBA-D
Siri Ming, PhD, BCBA-D, (she/her) is a scientist-practitioner with nearly thirty years of experience in the field. She is committed to the compassionate practice of behavior analysis to help people live meaningful, values-directed lives, and specializes in supporting behavior analysts and other contextual behavior scientists through training, program consultation, and coaching. Her research and clinical focus is on applications of relational frame theory (RFT) to early intervention programs for children with autism, integrating Skinnerian verbal behavior with RFT. Her work in RFT includes co-authoring Understanding and Applying Relational Frame Theory, as well as numerous peer-reviewed research and theoretical articles on applications of RFT, and a practical handbook series on using RFT in early intervention programs. Coauthor of Finding Your Why and Finding Your Way, Siri also supports both clinicians and creatives through ACT-informed coaching practices to help them find and stay on their chosen path. She teaches and acts as subject-matter expert for graduate-level classes in verbal behavior at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and has been an associate editor for The Analysis of Verbal Behavior journal. Her work is grounded in values of rigor, generosity, and kindness, and the importance of connecting with joy and with community.

Brianna Z. Kauer, MS, BCBA
Brianna Z. Kauer is a Behavior Analyst and Peer-Reviewed Trainer in Acceptance and
Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is the owner and director of Create Behavior Solutions, a company that supports parents to understand their unique child’s behavior, learn new skills, and build resilience. She is also the owner of Learn & ACT, which provides training and consultation for professionals. She has been providing ACT training for many years and has been an invited presenter at various conferences and training events. By working at the intersection of behavior analysis and ACT she aims to make these approaches more accessible and widely understood, fostering a more compassionate and scientific approach to supporting human behavior.
Brianna began working in the field of Behavior Analysis in 2003 and has provided direct service to hundreds of clients in various settings. Before earning a Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, Brianna earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Dance and spent many years training and performing as a professional dancer. She lives in the Madison, Wisconsin area with her 3 kids and partner. She values spending time with loved ones and dancing, practicing yoga, rock climbing, gardening, cooking and writing.