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ACT for adult ADHD

Developing skills to help with impulsivity, procrastination, forgetfulness and difficulties focusing

3.5 hours
3.5 CE credits
Intermediate, Introductory
Recording available for 6 months
Psychologists, mental health professionals, counsellors, school psychologists, therapists

Adult ADHD is a widespread and increasingly common diagnosis. In industrialised countries, it is estimated that up to 1 in 20 people have it (Russ Harris himself has struggled with ADHD, and will be sharing his experiences in the workshop).

ADHD is a ‘mixed bag’ of assets and liabilities. It comes with many strengths … and also many problems. Some of the most common strengths and benefits include spontaneity, courage, resilience, hyperfocus, empathy, and great sociability. And in the right context, effectively channelled, these abilities can be so beneficial they are often playfully referred to as ‘superpowers’. (This is one reason why many ADHD-ers, and practitioners who work with them, object to calling it a ‘disorder’.)

Unfortunately, however, there is a downside to ADHD – especially in terms of problems with memory, attention control, impulse control, and cognitive flexibility.
If not addressed, these problems can have a huge negative impact on one’s life.

Many practitioners feel daunted when they encounter clients with common ADHD symptoms because it can feel so complicated. Symptoms include:

  • difficulties focusing or concentrating
  • distractibility
  • disorganisation
  • forgetfulness
  • procrastination
  • difficulty with time management and/or planning
  • difficulty completing tasks
  • excessive talking
  • poor listening
  • interrupting or intruding on others
  • excessive activity or restlessness
  • low frustration tolerance
  • mood swings
  • impulsiveness
  • emotion dysregulation

Adding to the challenge, both clients and therapists often fail to recognise or utilise the strengths and assets ADHD brings.  And on top of that, ADHD often co-occurs with autism, depression, anxiety and trauma.

It’s no wonder practitioners feel overwhelmed; it is difficult to disentangle all these symptoms and to know where to start.

About this workshop

Can ACT help us? Yes, it can be hugely helpful with all for the above symptoms if practitioners follow 3 steps:

  1. take a neurodiversity-affirming approach, which includes acknowledging and utilising the strengths of ADHDers
  2. individually tailor strategies to suit each unique client (as opposed to doing ‘canned ACT’ i.e. trotting it out formulaically or strictly ‘by-the-book’)
  3. carefully modify and adapt how we model, instigate, and reinforce core ACT processes (for example, with some clients this may involve simplifying things, breaking tasks down into tiny steps, changing our language and adapting how we use metaphors).

This course is designed to help you use ACT for all aspects of adult ADHD.

In this 3.5 hour workshop Russ will use a combination of didactic and experiential learning, as well as videos and live roleplays, to equip you for using ACT confidently in working with people with ADHD.

Russ proudly proclaims his workshops a ‘jargon-free zone’ – and bases his training on three core values: simplicity, clarity, and having fun. His highly acclaimed ACT workshops are brief, powerful, cost-effective and life-enhancing.

Who would benefit from this workshop?

Meant for practitioners who have already had basic introductory training in ACT, we recommend this workshop for all mental health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurse practitioners, coaches, therapists, counsellors, GPs, youth workers, and OTs.

What you’ll learn

  • A quick look at terminology: neurodivergence, ADHD and autism
  • Tips for a neurodivergence-affirming practice
  • ADHD medication: pros and cons
  • Key strategies for using ACT with ADHD symptoms
  • How to simplify everything: language, skills, exercises, etc
  • How to work with clients that have difficulty with metaphors
  • How to overcome ‘It’s too hard’, ‘I can’t do it’, ‘I can’t change’, ‘This is who I am’, and other common barriers
  • How to develop and strengthen attention skills in quick, simple, easy, practical ways – without formal mindfulness
  • How to train focusing and refocusing attention in session – without formal mindfulness
  • How to overcome procrastination
  • How to move from self-judgment to self-compassion
  • Practical skills to aid memory, planning and time management
  • When to accept behaviours such as clients interrupting or talking over you – and when (and how) to actively address them
  • How to work with co-occurring ADHD and autism
  • How to work with co-morbidity, such as depression, anxiety, trauma,
  • How to do a quick functional analysis of any ADHD symptom, to formulate an ACT-based intervention
  • How to work with impulsiveness and emotion dysregulation

Feedback from Russ’  previous ADHD workshop

“Thankyou as always for a brilliant, informative, enjoyable workshop. I learnt a lot and will definitely recommend to others.”

Dr. Kanchi Gunaratna – Chartered Psychologist

“I found the application of ACT to ADHD really useful. It was a great lesson on how to use the ACT skills through the ADHD lenses.”

Susan Hughes, ADHD parent coach                                                                      

“I really benefitted and enjoyed it. Thank you!”

Lisa Gallagher, PsyD Psychologist

Group booking discounts

Contextual Consulting offer discounts for groups of people from the same organisation e.g. an NHS Trust that does not have a contract arrangement with us.

Please email us here  to arrange a group discount or find out more about our CPD contracts here.

After this workshop you will be able to:

  • Understand terminology related neurodiversity, ADHD and autism
  • Describe methods for a neurodiversity-affirming practice
  • Describe how to do a functional analysis of ADHD symptoms
  • How to develop and strengthen attention, memory and planning skills
  • Describe how to work with impulsiveness and emotion dysregulation

APA psychologists: This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 3.5 CE credits for psychologists. 

Nationally certified counselors: This workshop is available for 3.5 credit hours. Contextual Consulting Ltd. has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7578. 

To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.

If you have disability and require adjustments or accommodation, please email us at to discuss your needs and we will do our best to help you.

Contextual Consulting is committed to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest in the planning, promotion, delivery, and evaluation of continuing education. Potential conflicts of interest occur when an individual assumes a professional role in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of continuing education where personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness.

There was no commercial support for this event. None of the planners or presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

ACT for adult ADHD
25th Jun 2025
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM (New York time) change timezone
$64.00 (+ VAT if applicable). Early-bird rate valid until 28th Feb 2025 and then the normal price of US$80.00 + VAT will apply.
Student price US$40.00   Select:

FAQs

To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.

To access this workshop you will need a stable internet connection and a set of smart phone ear buds with built in microphone. Your internet speed should be a minimum of 1.5mbs  DOWNLOAD & UPLOAD. You can check that here at www.speedtest.net

We will have dedicated technicians on hand throughout the entire duration of the workshop. They will be there to help you manage any issues that may come up and get you back in to the workshop again. Also, if you think there may be a problem, be it with your work access or anything else, you can log in early to check if things are working for you, and be prepared. There may of course be technical issues that come up on your end, which will be your responsibility to look after. But these are rare and we have an extra handy troubleshooting guide that comes with tips and tricks to deal with any problems.

Yes! As long as you have access to a web browser and you’re connected to the internet, you will be able to attend. It’s that simple – all you need to do is go to the webpage link, login and you’re set to go. You can join the workshop on any device including your home computer or iPad. You can even join in using your smart phone.

Yes, we have a special portal in the system to allow you to connect with other participants joining via the workshop.

You just need a computer (PC or Mac), laptop or tablet that can access the internet. You need a good broadband speed that would allow you to comfortably stream a movie (such as a video on YouTube).

Yes, a video of the presentation will be available to you for up to 6 months after the workshop is finished.  You’ll be able to go back over any part of the workshop to review or check anything that you missed. You also don’t actually have to attend the live workshop – if you’re not able to make it on the actual date, you can still login afterwards and watch the recorded version.

Yes, you will receive a CPD certificate.

Absolutely. You will be able to ask the presenter questions, just as you would in any workshop. You’ll also have the extra benefit of being able to interact with other colleagues who have also joined the workshop.

It’s super simple. All you need to do is follow a link that you will be provided prior to the course, along with instructions.

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