Introduction to ACT for Step 2 and Step 3 teams

Workshop overview

This full-day workshop offers Step 2 and Step 3 clinicians a shared, practical foundation in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), designed to sit comfortably alongside the CBT and behavioural approaches already used in NHS Talking Therapies services. Delivered live online, the day balances clear teaching input with hands-on practice, so participants leave with techniques they can use in session straight away, not just a theoretical overview.

Background to the workshop

Clinicians across Step 2 and Step 3 regularly encounter clients who understand their difficulties intellectually but remain stuck: unable to move past unhelpful thoughts, avoidance patterns or a sense of being trapped by their own emotional responses. Traditional linear models of therapy, which aim to reduce or eliminate distressing thoughts and feelings, do not always fit these presentations well, and services increasingly need clinicians who can draw on a wider range of approaches. Acceptance and commitment therapy conceptualises distress differently, offering a way of understanding psychological inflexibility that complements existing skillsets rather than replacing them. Without training in this model, clinicians can find themselves without a clear alternative when standard approaches reach their limits.

What you will gain from this workshop

• A working understanding of the ACT model and the concept of psychological flexibility
• A framework for recognising common patterns of psychological inflexibility in clients
• Clarity on how ACT complements, rather than competes with, existing CBT and behavioural approaches
• Practical strategies for applying ACT with depression, anxiety, stress and adjustment difficulties
• An introduction to values-based work suited to both low-intensity and high-intensity settings
• Approaches for supporting clients who feel stuck or struggle to engage with change
• A set of practical ACT techniques and exercises ready to integrate into existing practice
• Case examples relevant to both Step 2 and Step 3 services

About this workshop

The day combines short teaching inputs with live demonstration, experiential exercises and guided discussion, reflecting the experiential nature of ACT itself. Rather than presenting ACT purely as a set of techniques, the trainer models the approach throughout the day so participants get a felt sense of the work alongside the theory. The pace and level of the day are designed to be accessible for clinicians newer to ACT, while still offering fresh material and reflection for those with some prior exposure to the model.

Who will benefit from this workshop?

This workshop is designed for psychological wellbeing practitioners, CBT therapists and other clinicians working within Step 2 and Step 3 NHS Talking Therapies services. No prior training in ACT is required, though those with some existing familiarity with the model will still find plenty to take from the day.