Mindfulness has become a buzzword in recent years, but it’s not immune to its fair share of stereotypes and misconceptions. These stereotypes can cloud the understanding of what mindfulness truly is and hinder clients from fully experiencing its benefits. We wanted to take the opportunity to debunk some of the common myths about mindfulness, reminding […]
Good ACT practitioners know their clients. They notice what resonates, what falls flat, and when a metaphor has landed somewhere useful versus somewhere puzzling. What separates skilled practitioners from newer ones isn’t usually the size of their toolkit, it’s knowing how to use what’s already in it. The metaphors we reach for most often in […]
You’re sitting with a client who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s six weeks ago and you introduce the word acceptance. Watch what happens. The shoulders drop a little. Sometimes you’ll hear it said back to you almost word for word: “So you want me to just give up?” It’s not a difficult client, and it’s not […]
Do you really need your inner critic to stay motivated? Expert tip from Russell Kolts Part of helping clients work with shame and self-criticism involves getting curious about the functions the client ascribes to their self-critic. Clients can sometimes have real resistance to addressing self-criticism: “I need my self-critic to keep myself on track and […]
A process of presence, values, and growth A new way of seeing supervision Supervision is a familiar space for most clinicians; a place for guidance, reflection, and accountability. Yet when we step into supervision through the lens of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), the atmosphere feels subtly but profoundly different. Rather than focusing only on […]
Guest blog from Matthew Pugh and Tobyn Bell A common misconception is that chairwork can’t be delivered online, or that it is much less effective in this format. This concern is understandable. Chairwork is associated with movement and physical action: moving chairs around the room, switching between seats, standing back to observe different parts of […]
You know the client. They show up, they engage, they can articulate their values with real clarity and they’ll happily defuse from a thought, run an exposure, sit through an uncomfortable emotion. On paper, they’re doing everything right, yet the shame doesn’t shift. Sessions start to feel like you’re both pushing against something neither of you can name. If you work from an ACT frame, it’s worth […]
Finding an approach to therapy that suits both therapists and clients can be a daunting task. When using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) this can present its own set of challenges as the intricate concepts and relatively unstructured nature means applying ACT principles in real-time situations can prove to be demanding. The reality of being […]
An expert tip from Dr Chris McCurry, ahead of his workshop ACT for parents Anyone who works with children knows that the real work of therapy rarely happens in the therapy room. It happens in kitchens, cars and bedrooms, in the heat of a Tuesday evening meltdown, long after the session has ended. The person […]
For elite athletes, coaches and managers participating in high-stakes tournaments, the pressure to perform is immense. Not only are they representing their teams and countries, but competitors, teammates and passionate fans watch their every move. In this environment, it’s obviously crucial that athletes have all been taught the mental fortitude and psychological skills to thrive […]
By Natalie Littlehales, Contextual Consulting Marketing Manager The Rik Mayall Comedy festival might not be the obvious place to do some experiential learning but there was a new piece of theatre on the line-up at the end of May, that had plenty of potential for discussion and education, so we thought it was worth a […]
One of the most powerful aspects of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) lies in the therapeutic relationship. In fact, many of us find that the relationship itself can play as significant a role as any specific technique or intervention. However, in ACT, the therapeutic relationship takes on a unique meaning, shaping both the practitioner and […]
The energy in the building was evident as over 250 attendees gathered at Cecil Sharp House in London to join us for our two-day Trauma-focused ACT (T-FACT) workshop, led by none other than Dr Russ Harris. With his reputation as a world-leading ACT trainer and best-selling author of The Happiness Trap, it was no surprise […]
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) can work powerfully together when integration is thoughtful rather than forced. Both approaches aim to reduce psychological rigidity, albeit through different mechanisms. EMDR facilitates adaptive information processing of traumatic memories, while ACT helps people respond more flexibly to difficult internal experiences. One area […]
Metaphors help our clients understand and apply ACT principles like acceptance, defusion, values, and committed action within their daily lives. While the best metaphors are created with the individual in mind, to be both relevant and personal, there are so many useful ones that already exist that can be easily adapted for many different audiences. […]
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