ACT for neurological conditions
Practical adaptations for brain injury and progressive disorders
Supporting clients with neurological conditions presents unique challenges that require thoughtful, adaptable approaches, particularly when cognitive changes, decreased executive functioning, memory difficulties, slowed processing, or reduced psychological flexibility are part of the picture. For many clients, including those with brain injuries, stroke, MS, epilepsy, or neurodegenerative conditions, therapy may need to be paced differently, use clearer scaffolding, and incorporate repetition and multimodal learning to support engagement and retention.
This workshop equips you with practical, ACT-informed tools for working at the intersection of emotional distress, physical symptoms, and cognitive change. We’ll explore ways to work flexibly with ACT processes for clients who experience challenges with attention, planning or inhibition, for example adapting metaphors, simplifying experiential work, and using values and committed action in highly concrete, achievable ways.
Designed for real-world clinical practice, this workshop focuses on encouraging psychological flexibility in a way that honours clients’ neurological realities while still supporting autonomy, dignity, and growth. By the end, you’ll leave with clear strategies you can use immediately to help clients reconnect with what matters and take meaningful steps forward in their lives.
Background to the workshop
Neurological conditions are now the leading cause of disability among working-age adults, reshaping not only physical ability but also identity, emotion, and daily life. For clients and families, the impact is profound. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) offers a compassionate, evidence-based way to help people live meaningfully alongside these challenges; supporting flexibility, dignity, and engagement in what matters most. This workshop bridges the worlds of rehabilitation and psychological therapy, equipping clinicians with practical tools to adapt ACT for clients with neurological conditions. Learn how to bring ACT processes to life in real-world settings, foster collaboration across disciplines, and support recovery in its broadest sense: living well, not just surviving.
What you will gain from this workshop
By attending this workshop, you will:
- Learn how ACT can support people with neurological conditions to reconnect with hope, identity, and a sense of what makes life worth living , even amid profound change.
- Leave with a practical toolkit of adapted ACT exercises, metaphors, and assessment resources created specifically for this client group, ready for immediate use in your sessions (e.g., simplified values maps, sensory-based grounding, adapted choice points).
- Develop the skills to tailor your interventions when cognitive changes, fatigue, pain, mobility challenges, or aphasia shape the therapeutic process, without losing the heart and spirit of ACT.
- Build confidence in helping clients move toward living well and meaningfully, rather than simply coping or compensating.
About this workshop
Dr Kim Fletcher and Dr. Amanda Mobley are highly respected Clinical Neuropsychologists and co-authors of ACT for People with Neurological Conditions. Together, they bring extensive experience from across NHS and Ministry of Defence neuropsychology services, working with individuals affected by brain injury, neurological illness, and complex cognitive or identity changes.
This workshop is a dynamic blend of teaching and practice. It includes:
- Mini-lectures to provide clear and concise theoretical frameworks
- Role-plays to practise applying ACT in real-world scenarios
- Experiential exercises to deepen your understanding of the model and its adaptability
Who will benefit from this workshop?
This workshop is ideal for therapists and psychologists working with individuals affected by neurological conditions, including acquired brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. A basic understanding of neurological conditions is essential as the workshop is designed to focus on ACT-based approaches and adaptations rather than detailed neurological education. A basic working knowledge of ACT is assumed – if you are new to ACT, we recommend exploring our introductory training, ACT essentials.
Continuing education credits are available both for attending the live workshop and for completing the workshop by viewing the recording of the live event.
APA psychologists: This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 6 CE credits for psychologists. Contextual Consulting is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Contextual Consulting maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Nationally certified counselors: This workshop is available for 6 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 admin@contextualconsulting.co.uk to discuss your needs and we will do our best to help you.
Booking cancellation
The registration fee will be refunded minus a administration charge if cancellations are received at least two weeks before the workshop date.
Cancellations within two weeks of the event date are charged the full registration fee, other than in exceptional circumstances that can be verified.
Event cancellation
In the event of cancellation of the course outside of our control we will not be held accountable for travel and/or accommodation costs incurred. However, the workshop fees will be refunded.
All workshops will be subject to minimum delegate numbers being met; in the event that a workshop should be cancelled delegates will be given no less than 2 months’ notice.
Replacing delegates
If a delegate is unable to attend and a replacement is nominated there may be a charge depending on the individual circumstances, this will be advised at the time. Please contact the us to request a replacement of delegates at least a week before the workshop date.
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.
Key references and scientific literature
- Kangas, M., & McDonald, S. "Is it time to act? The potential of acceptance and commitment therapy for psychological problems following acquired brain injury." Neuropsychological Rehabilitation.
- Soo, C., Tate, R. L., & Lane-Brown, A. (2011). "A systematic review of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for managing anxiety: applicability for people with ABI."
- Sander, A. M., Clark, A. N., & Arciniegas, D. B. (2021). "A randomised controlled trial of ACT for psychological distress among persons with TBI." Neuropsychological Rehabilitation.
- Rauwenhoff, J. C. C., Bol, Y., Peeters, F., Smits, P. (2024). "ACT for people with depressive & anxiety symptoms following ABI: results of BrainACT RCT."
Recommended pre-reading
- Fletcher, K., & Mobley, A. ACT for Neurological Conditions. Jessica Kingsley Publishers (In Print).
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe key aspects of why ACT is a helpful approach for supporting individuals with neurological conditions
- Use the Hexaflex model to build ACT-based formulations in the context of neurological conditions
- Outline the key evidence base underpinning the use of ACT with this population
- Explain and implement adaptations needed to work effectively with clients experiencing physical or cognitive impairments
- Demonstrate the use of relevant ACT metaphors and experiential exercises
- Communicate the ACT model effectively to teams and other health professionals