While ACT was initially developed for adults, its principles and techniques have been adapted for all ages and found to be particularly suitable for children too.
This reading list provides some suggestions for texts that may support learning of the key concepts, research, and practical applications of ACT for children and parents.
Books
- Black, T.D. (2022) ACT for treating children. New Harbinger Publications
- Coyne, L. W. & Murrell, A. R. (2009). The Joy of Parenting: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Guide to Parenting in the Early Years. California: New Harbinger.
- Hayes, L. and Ciarrocchi, J. (2015). The Thriving Adolescent: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Positive Psychology to Help Teens Manage Emotions, Achieve Goals, and Build Connection. Context Press: US.
- McCurry, C. (2009). Parenting your anxious child with mindfulness and acceptance: A powerful new approach to overcoming fear, panic, and worry using acceptance and commitment therapy. New Harbinger Publications.
- Whittingham, K. & Coyne, L. W. (2019). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The
Clinician’s Guide to Supporting Parents. Elsevier: UK - Wilson, A. (2022) The Behavior Analyst’s Guide to Working with Parents: Acceptance and Commitment Training Skills for Effective Parental Collaboration in Treatment. New Harbinger Publications
Workbooks
- Black, T.D. (2024) The ACT Workbook for Kids. New Harbinger Publications
- Scetinina, A (2025) A Workbook for Kids Who Worry: Fun Activities to Help Children Face Their Fears and Build a Flexible Mindset Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. New Harbinger Publications
Research
- Gloster, A. T., Walder, N., Levin, M. E., Twohig, M. P., Karekla, M. (2020). The empirical status of acceptance and commitment therapy: A review of meta-analyses, Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 18; 181-192, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.09.009.
- Han A, Yuen HK, Jenkins J. Acceptance and commitment therapy for family caregivers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Health Psychology. 2021;26(1):82-102. doi:10.1177/1359105320941217
- Hayes, L. and Ciarrocchi, J. (2015). The Thriving Adolescent: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Positive Psychology to Help Teens Manage Emotions, Achieve Goals, and Build Connection. Context Press: US.
- Puolakanaho, A., Lappalainen, R., Lappalainen, P. et al. Reducing Stress and Enhancing Academic Buoyancy among Adolescents Using a Brief Web-based Program Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Youth Adolescence 48, 287–305 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0973-8
- Raftery-Helmer Jacquelyn N. , Hart Ashley S. , Levitt Madeline R. , Hodge Steven M. , Coyne Lisa W. , Moore Phoebe S. (2024). Acceptance and commitment therapy group protocol for caregivers of anxious youth: an open trial pilot study, Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 3, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/child-and-adolescent-psychiatry/articles/10.3389/frcha.2024.1347295; DOI=10.3389/frcha.2024.1347295
- Shuanghu Fang, S. Dongyan Ding, D. (2020). A meta-analysis of the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy for children, Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 15; 225-234, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.01.007.
- Thompson, E. M., Destree, L., Albertella, L., Fontenelle, L. F. (2021). Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Transdiagnostic Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis for Mental Health Outcomes, Behavior Therapy, 52; 492-507, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2020.07.002.
- Whittingham, K. & Coyne, L. W. (2019). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Clinician’s Guide to Supporting Parents. Elsevier: UK.
Feel free to get in touch if there are more that you feel should be listed here!
