Topic: Children and Young People

ACT for adolescent anxiety: a systematic research review

Anxiety in young people is both incredibly common and can be incredibly debilitating. It can interrupt key developmental tasks related to establishing social connections, undertaking academic requirements, and developing a healthy sense of self. Although many young people report experiencing anxiety, a subgroup describes their anxiety as very restrictive. They need some help and assistance […]

Read more

Why ACT can be beneficial for children

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that has shown effectiveness in treating various mental health conditions in both adults and children. While ACT was initially developed for adults, its principles and techniques have been adapted and found to be particularly suitable for children as well.   Why ACT therapy can be […]

Read more

DNA-V – the ACT model for children and adolescents

What is DNA-V? DNA-V is a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and positive psychology, both underpinned by behavioural science. It’s designed to help young people cope with challenges, stress and with change. The model is deliberately designed to be simple and easy to understand and is very popular with psychologists, therapists, mental health […]

Read more

Meet our speaker: Louise Hayes

For many of you, Louise is another of the giants in the global ACT community. She’s the founder of DNA-V model for young people and adolescents, a published author and she’s trained over 10,000 professionals. In her spare time she runs a not-for-profit organisation taking professionals into the Himalayas to learn mindfulness and raising money […]

Read more

Parent, child, and family outcomes following ACT for parents of autistic children: A randomized controlled trial

The study aimed to test the efficacy of a brief, group-based ACT intervention for mothers and fathers of autistic children, adolescents, and adults. The intervention resulted in gains for parents, with the greatest treatment effects observed for parent depression and family distress, which were maintained at the 4-month follow-up. Parents also reported short-term gains with respect to personal goal attainment, and […]

Read more

DNA-V: scientific publications around DNA-V and ACT for youth and adults

About the DNA-V Model DNA-V is an evidence-based model that fosters psychological resilience and values consistent living, vitality, and success. It aims to help people manage challenges, stress, and change. DNA-V integrates principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and positive psychology, drawing from contextual behavioral science. The model is updated continuously to incorporate new research findings. We hope you […]

Read more

Psychological flexibility of parents of children with disabilities: a systematic literature review

Gur, A. & Reich, A. (2023). Psychological flexibility of parents of children with disabilities: A systematic literature review. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 136.   Background The World Health Organization estimates that over 1 billion people worldwide live with a disability. Around 100 million of these are children. There are different models of disability: medical or […]

Read more