Topic: Mental health

Everything we do is about mental health. These articles explore specific issues, approaches and research that can be useful to understand from a mental health perspective when implementing ACT.

4 reasons why ACT is great for women in leadership

Leadership can be a rewarding but challenging journey, especially for women navigating societal, organisational, and personal obstacles. From combating gender bias to overcoming impostor syndrome, women in leadership often face unique hurdles that require resilience, confidence, and clarity. This is where acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can make a profound difference. ACT is a mindfulness-based […]

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Toddler mind: a mindful approach in ACT for perinatal mental health

When we think about mindfulness, it often conjures up images of serene meditation, peaceful silence, and a complete focus on the present moment. But for busy parents, particularly those navigating the challenges of perinatal mental health, mindfulness can feel like a luxury. How do you carve out time for mindfulness when you’re juggling nappies, sleepless […]

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A – Z of ACT metaphors

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. We therefore thought it would be helpful to share […]

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Every birth has a story: reflections from our team

Real experiences of the perinatal period Birth is one of the most profound human experiences and one that is also a deeply personal experience. It is complex, powerful, and unique to every individual. As it’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, we’ve been reflecting on our own birth stories within our team: moments of strength, unpredictability, […]

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Bridging the gap: applying grief models to practical therapy techniques

Written by Dr Ray Owen You might have heard the saying, “There’s nothing so useful as a good theory.” In an area like grief, where there are numerous theories – some well known – it can sometimes feel like there’s a gap between understanding the models and knowing what you can actually do to help […]

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International Women’s Day 2025: Accelerating action

In the workplace, women often face unique challenges. While men and women are equally capable, societal expectations, organisational experiences, and life events such as menopause, fertility, and family responsibilities can create different outcomes for women. In honour of International Women’s Day 2025 (8th March 2025) and the theme for this year being ‘accelerate action’ we […]

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Celebrating women in science within the ACT community

Some papers that caught our eye! Women have made remarkable contributions to science, breaking barriers and challenging societal norms to advance knowledge and innovation. This is very true for the ACT community, and the contribution of women in ACT has been invaluable. In honour of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11th) […]

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Embracing discomfort: The wrinkly sock metaphor in sports psychology

In the world of sports, anxiety is a familiar companion. Whether you’re an athlete facing the pressure of competition or someone navigating challenges in leadership, managing discomfort is crucial. Alison Maitland, a sports psychologist who will be hosting a training session for us in March – ‘Thriving in Sport’ alongside Jenna Ashford, recently joined us […]

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Working with ‘common’ mental health disorders

Ahead of our intermediary workshop ACT for anxiety and depression with Russ Harris, we are looking at these so called ‘common disorders’. We might call them our bread and butter, as therapists. Whether we label them diagnostically or view them as symptoms of anxiety or low mood, we frequently engage with individuals facing these issues. […]

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Understanding clinical procrastination: insights from a social media poll 

Towards the end of last year, we reached out to our social media followers with an important question in the realm of mental health:  “When working with clinical procrastination, what would you say most commonly underlies this, in your experience?” The responses were interesting and provided valuable insights that we can explore through the lens […]

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Understanding self-forgiveness: insights from an ACT therapy poll

Clients often bring struggles surrounding self-forgiveness into the therapy room.  This is a complex issue that cannot always been boiled down to a simple process without context, but we were curious on ACT practitioners go to ideas when working with self-forgiveness. We did a recent poll on our social media channels regarding forgiveness and how […]

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Beyond the stereotypes: A compassionate approach to working with anger in therapy

Written by Joe Oliver If I’m completely honest, I often feel disheartened when I receive a referral for problematic anger. The stereotype usually involves working with someone deeply entrenched in their anger, viewing themselves as a victim, and attending therapy only because they’ve been mandated or pressured by others, such as a partner, to address […]

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Inside Out 2 from an ACT psychologist perspective

Here’s Dr Joe Oliver’s take of Inside Out 2, from a clinical psychologist and ACT therapist perspective:  As a fan of the first movie and its powerful message about embracing difficult emotions, I was keen to check out how this sequel might tackle adolescence and the challenges of puberty. As a reminder, in the first […]

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Celebrating world kindness day: embracing loving kindness meditation

As we celebrate World Kindness Day (observed annually on November 13th) we are reminded of the power of kindness in our lives and our communities. In ACT terms, we are focusing on the value of kindness, and the role this can play in our own lives, as well as our family, friends and the wider […]

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