Articles that explore approaches and modalities around acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and also complementary/alternative therapies and models that can work in collaboration with ACT.
For elite athletes, coaches and managers participating in high-stakes tournaments, the pressure to perform is immense. Not only are they representing their teams and countries, but competitors, teammates and passionate fans watch their every move. In this environment, it’s obviously crucial that athletes have all been taught the mental fortitude and psychological skills to thrive […]
One of the most powerful aspects of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) lies in the therapeutic relationship. In fact, many of us find that the relationship itself can play as significant a role as any specific technique or intervention. However, in ACT, the therapeutic relationship takes on a unique meaning, shaping both the practitioner and […]
The energy in the building was evident as over 250 attendees gathered at Cecil Sharp House in London to join us for our two-day Trauma-focused ACT (T-FACT) workshop, led by none other than Dr Russ Harris. With his reputation as a world-leading ACT trainer and best-selling author of The Happiness Trap, it was no surprise […]
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) can work powerfully together when integration is thoughtful rather than forced. Both approaches aim to reduce psychological rigidity, albeit through different mechanisms. EMDR facilitates adaptive information processing of traumatic memories, while ACT helps people respond more flexibly to difficult internal experiences. One area […]
A guest blog by Dr Linda Nicholson As an ACT clinician and co-author of the SHAPE model for Contextual Behavioural Science, I’ve always seen supervision as a space to explore not just what clinicians do, but how they relate -to their clients, to the unknown, and to their own inner experience. What follows is an […]
Online therapy has become an indispensable resource for mental health care. Offering flexibility, accessibility, and convenience, it has transformed how practitioners can connect with clients. However, this evolution also requires therapists to creatively adapt their approaches to maintain the depth and impact of in-person sessions. Many aspects of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) seamlessly lend […]
Leadership in the modern workplace is fraught with challenges. Balancing conflicting priorities, managing teams with diverse needs, and staying true to one’s values can make the role of a leader both rewarding and overwhelming. In a recent video from our expert tips series, Ross McIntosh dives into this very topic, exploring how acceptance and commitment […]
There’s a pattern that shows up in supervision that I find quietly fascinating, and if you’ve sat in a supervisor’s chair for long enough, you’ll recognise it immediately. A supervisee comes with a client. They’re stuck. The client isn’t progressing, the sessions feel flat, something isn’t working. So you work through it together and you look at the function of the key behaviours, you revisit the formulation, you find a new angle. It’s a good session. Then […]
Acceptance and commitment therapy is not simply described as a behavioural therapy. It is one. ACT sits firmly within the contextual behavioural science tradition and draws its conceptual foundations directly from behaviour analysis; from reinforcement, rule-governed behaviour, functional contextualism, through to the analysis of verbal behaviour. Yet in practice, many clinicians reach ACT through a […]
Most organisations consist of skilled, values-driven individuals who care about their work, yet they still struggle to create effective teams. Why? Because good intentions alone can’t overcome the hidden dynamics that derail collaboration. When teams are stuck, we often see the same patterns: Meetings feel circular, with little progress. Decisions are endlessly delayed. Disagreements harden […]
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 hosted a ‘Thriving in Sport’ training session alongside Jenna Ashford, joined us to share a metaphor that she loves to […]
Changing content vs changing impact When it comes to psychological therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively researched and widely practised approaches, with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) now also supported by a substantial and growing evidence base. Both are effective for a variety of mental health difficulties, but they differ […]
Develop your therapy skills in 2026! When learning acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), one of the most common questions everyone asks us is, “Where do I start?”. ACT is a rich, dynamic, and flexible model, and with a vast number of books, models and experts it can certainly feel overwhelming at first. However, we really […]
As 2025 draws to a close, it feels fitting to pause and take stock of what has been a truly inspiring year for us. It’s not just about ticking off achievements or counting milestones but about the stories behind them, the connections we’ve nurtured, and the incredible ACT community that makes everything we do at […]
By Dr Kristy Potter, clinical and training director and clinical psychologist. I remember first learning about acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and feeling very sceptical. This was just before starting on my clinical doctorate training and I was very much CBT aligned, and definitely at the positivist end of the philosophy of science spectrum. In […]
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