FREE prize draw – Now closed

6 Aug, 202412 Aug, 2024

THIS PRIZE DRAW IS NOW CLOSED. WE WILL BE CONTACTING THE WINNER SHORTLY

This week is your last chance to win over £6000 of ACT training! We are giving one lucky person the chance to win a 12 month access pass to our ENTIRE acceptance and commitment (ACT) course library including:

All live workshops
Over 100+ hours of on-demand workshops

Upcoming live training

LIVE

3 hours

ACT for psychosis masterclass

Eric Morris

13th Nov 2025

Full details

LIVE

6 hours

ACT for insomnia & sleep difficulties

Maja Schaedel

19th - 20th Nov 2025

Full details

LIVE

8 hours

CFT for beginners

Russell Kolts

25th Nov - 3rd Dec 2025

Full details

All live training

Knowledge hub

Acceptance and commitment training for counselling

Counsellors typically support clients in addressing life challenges th ...

End of life and ACT

What do we mean by end of life? In the context of acceptance and commi ...

Neurodivergence in young people and ACT

Neurodiversity is a term that recognises the natural variations in hum ...

Teen OCD and ACT

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a challenge faced by many young ...

ACT for parents

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can be incredibly helpful for ...

Using ACT with young children

Young children between the ages of 5 to 9 encounter unique challenges ...

ACT for stuck adolescents

What do we mean when we say adolescents are “stuck”? Adole ...

ACT for women in leadership

What are the challenges often faced by women in leadership? Despite si ...

Perinatal mental health and ACT

What do we mean when we refer to perinatal mental health? Perinatal me ...

FAP and ACT

What is functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP)? Functional analytic p ...

Rejection sensitivity dysphoria and ACT

What is rejection sensitivity dysphoria? Rejection sensitivity dysphor ...

Workability in ACT

What is workability? The concept of workability is an important aspect ...

ACT for sport

Can ACT be used in sport? Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can ...

Functional analysis and the ABC model

What is functional analysis? Functional analysis refers to the process ...

Grief and ACT

What is grief? Grief is a deep emotional response to loss, particularl ...

Multiple selves, CFT and ACT

What are ‘multiple selves’? Used in compassion-focused therapy (CF ...

Emotional efficacy and ACT

What do we mean by emotional efficacy? Emotional efficacy refers to an ...

Internal family systems (IFS) and ACT

What do we mean by internal family systems (IFS)? Internal family syst ...

Imposter syndrome and ACT

What is imposter syndrome? Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenom ...

Psychological flexibility

Embracing change for a meaningful life What is psychological flexibili ...

SEED model of ACT supervision

An overview of SEED The SEED model of acceptance and commitment therap ...

Self-harm and suicidality in young people

Helping with self-harm and suicidality in therapy with young people is ...

Focused ACT: a brief and effective behavioural intervention

Introduction In the field of psychology and healthcare, Focused Accept ...

Process-based behaviour therapy: an introduction

Process-based Behaviour Therapy (PBBT®) is an exciting new scientific ...

ACT in the workplace

Recent statistics reveal that a significant proportion of British work ...

The power of metaphors in ACT: illuminating perspectives and facilitating change

Metaphors have a long-standing tradition in therapeutic interventions, ...

What is acceptance and commitment (ACT) therapy?

An overview of ACT Acceptance and commitment therapy (said as one wor ...

ACT for children and young people

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy tha ...

ADHD and ACT

What is ADHD? Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neu ...

Addiction and ACT

What is addiction? Addiction is a complex condition characterised by c ...

Anger and ACT

What is anger? Anger is a complex and powerful emotion that is experie ...

Anxiety and ACT

What is anxiety? Anxiety is a complex and multifaceted emotional, phys ...

Autism and ACT

What is autism? Autism (sometimes referred to as autistic spectrum con ...

Phobias and ACT

What is a phobia? A phobia is an excessive and unrealistic fear of a s ...

Psychosis and ACT

What is psychosis? Psychosis is a complex mental health condition char ...

OCD and ACT

What is OCD? OCD stands for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is a men ...

Self-esteem and ACT

What is self-esteem? Self-esteem refers to the overall subjective eval ...

Stress and ACT

What is stress? Stress is a physiological and psychological response t ...

The ACT matrix

What is the ACT matrix? The ACT matrix (Polk, Schoendorff, Webster &am ...

Chronic pain and ACT

What is chronic pain? Chronic pain refers to persistent or long-lastin ...

Creative hopelessness and ACT

What is creative hopelessness? Creative hopelessness is a term used in ...

Depression and ACT

What is depression? Depression is a mental health condition characteri ...

Mental health and ACT

What is mental health? Mental health refers to a person’s emotio ...

Mindfulness and ACT

What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is a practice that involves bringing ...

Eating disorders and ACT

What is an eating disorder? An eating disorder is a serious mental hea ...

RFT and ACT

What is relational frame theory? Relational frame theory (RFT) is a ps ...

CBT and ACT

What is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)? Cognitive behavioural the ...

Chairwork and ACT

What is chairwork? Chairwork, also known as the “two-chair techn ...

Procrastination and ACT

What is procrastination? Procrastination refers to the act of delaying ...

Physical health and ACT

What is physical health? Physical health refers to the overall well-be ...

Sleep problems and ACT

What can be defined as a sleep problem? Sleep problems, also known as ...

Self-harm, suicidality and ACT

What is self-harm and suicidality? While self-harm and suicidality can ...

Perfectionism and ACT

What is perfectionism? Perfectionism is a personality trait characteri ...

Neurodiversity and ACT

What is neurodiversity? Neurodiversity is a concept that recognises an ...

EMDR and ACT

What is EMDR? EMDR stands for eye movement desensitisation and reproce ...

CFT and ACT

What is CFT? Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is a therapeutic approac ...

Trauma and ACT

What is trauma? Trauma refers to a deeply distressing or disturbing ex ...

DNA-V - the ACT model for children and adolescents

What is DNA-V? DNA-V is a combination of acceptance and commitment the ...

Why ACT for coaching?

What is acceptance and commitment coaching? Acceptance and commitment ...

Knowledge hub

On-demand training

ON-DEMAND

ACT for psychosis foundations

Eric Morris

ON-DEMAND

ACT for teens with OCD

Ben Sedley

ON-DEMAND

ACT for perinatal mental health

Jennifer Berrett, Cerith Waters

ON-DEMAND

Using metaphor in psychotherapy:

Niklas Törneke

ON-DEMAND

ACT for physical health problems

Ray Owen

ON-DEMAND

ACT essentials

Joe Oliver

ON-DEMAND

3 hours

ACT intermediate-level skills masterclass

Lou Lasprugato

ON-DEMAND

3 hours

ACT for grief

Ray Owen

ON-DEMAND

2 hours

Thriving in sport

Jenna Ashford, Alison Maitland

ON-DEMAND

8 hours

Compassion-focused therapy for anger

Russell Kolts

ON-DEMAND

3 hours

Using RFT to build psychological flexibility

Siri Ming

ON-DEMAND

7 hours ( 7 CE credits)

ACTing it out with chairwork - intermediate level

Tobyn Bell, Matthew Pugh

ON-DEMAND

2.5 hours ( 2.5 CE credits)

Working compassionately with our multiple selves

Russell Kolts

ON-DEMAND

12 hours

ACT for physical health problems

Ray Owen

ON-DEMAND

1.5 hours ( 1.5 CE credits)

Frame by frame

Siri Ming

ON-DEMAND

6 hours (5.5 ICF CCEs)

ACTivate your coaching for beginners

Hazel Anderson-Turner

ON-DEMAND

12 hours

Acceptance and commitment therapy in chronic pain

Kevin E Vowles

ON-DEMAND

6 hours

Working with neurodivergent adults

Jennifer Kemp

ON-DEMAND

6 hours

Functional analysis for ACT practitioners

Ray Owen

ON-DEMAND

14 hours

ACT in the workplace

Ross McIntosh

ON-DEMAND

6 hours

ACTivating your supervision

Sally Bradley, Jim Lucas

ON-DEMAND

1 hour

An introduction to the ACT model

Joe Oliver

ON-DEMAND

2 hours/ 2 ساعت

Understanding cognitive defusion from an RFT perspective

Hossein Saeedi / حسین سعیدی

ON-DEMAND

6 hours

ACTing it out: using chairwork to enliven your sessions

Tobyn Bell, Matthew Pugh

ON-DEMAND

2.5 hours

ACT skills for working with chronic pain

Kristy Potter

ON-DEMAND

2 hours

ACT in focus: navigating processes, procedures, and future directions

Richard Bennett

ON-DEMAND

2 hours

Creative hopelessness in ACT

Joe Oliver

ON-DEMAND

7 hours

Super-charge your CFT

Russell Kolts

ON-DEMAND

3 hours

ACT with young people on the autism spectrum

Jodie Wassner

ON-DEMAND

2.5 hours

The ACT matrix for beginners

Joe Oliver

ON-DEMAND

8 hours

Level up in ACT

Lou Lasprugato

ON-DEMAND

3 hours

Facing the Storm with Dr Ray Owen

Ray Owen

ON-DEMAND

3 hours

Relational Frame Theory (RFT) made simple

Joe Oliver

ON-DEMAND

6 hours

Acceptance and commitment therapy for depression

Jim Lucas

ON-DEMAND

2.5 hours

Developing psychologically flexible children and adolescents

Darin Cairns

ON-DEMAND

2 hours

Having difficult conversations: How psychological flexibility can help

Ray Owen

On-demand training

Blog: Latest insights into ACT

Introducing ACT into workplaces - how to do it

A practical guide for practitioners, organisational consultants, HR pr ...

The self-help paradox: why we keep reading (and why that is not always a bad thing)

written by Joe Oliver I have a soft spot for self-help. Like many ps ...

Supporting psychological adjustment to chronic health conditions: An ACT-informed approach

Living with a chronic health condition involves more than managing phy ...

The differences between therapy and counselling (and why ACT can work in both settings)

From a client perspective, the terms “therapist” and “counsellor ...

A 3-step strategy for managing insomnia: practical tips to help clients get restful nights

As ACT therapists, we understand that insomnia is not just about the p ...

Enhancing exposure and response prevention with ACT: Supporting teens who have OCD

Written by Dr Ben Sedley Ahead of our ACT for teens with OCD workshop, ...

Compassion meets flexibility: a new study on CFACT and what it means for ACT practitioners

As ACT practitioners, we’re no strangers to helping clients turn tow ...

6 ways ACT can support people at the end of life

In psychological practice, especially within an ACT framework, “ ...

When clients apologise for their emotions: An ACT perspective

It’s a moment many therapists will recognise. A client takes a breat ...

Pokemon: an insight into popular culture phenomena and special interests

Why we think it resonates When it comes to popular culture phenomena, ...

Unlocking vulnerability through non-dominant handwriting: An exercise for functional analytic psychotherapy

Sometimes the simplest tools and techniques can help us uncover profou ...

9 things all ACT therapists do, say, or own

At Contextual Consulting we are passionate about ACT (acceptance and c ...

ACT for insomnia: what recent research says about an emerging alternative to CBT-I

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) remains the first-l ...

Unlocking the path to healing: can ACT help with chronic physical health conditions?

What are physical health problems? When we discuss physical health pro ...

5 rules for Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP)

with Mavis Tsai Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), founded by Ma ...

Hands as thoughts: how a simple metaphor can help you overcome worry, rumination and obsessions

Worry, rumination,, and obsessive thinking are common experiences that ...

Building connection and reducing isolation: Using ACT for psychosis

With Eric Morris Psychosis can be a profoundly isolating experience. F ...

4 reasons why ACT is great for women in leadership

Leadership can be a rewarding but challenging journey, especially for ...

7 ways group supervision is invaluable for ACT therapists

As ACT therapists, we ask our clients to do something brave: to sit wi ...

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

When we think about mindfulness, it often conjures up images of serene ...

How we, as men, can advocate for women in leadership: The role of ACT

Written by Joe Oliver As men, we have an important role to play in adv ...

A - Z of ACT metaphors

Metaphors help our clients understand and apply ACT principles like ac ...

Every birth has a story: reflections from our team

Real experiences of the perinatal period Birth is one of the most prof ...

6 things the best ACT therapists do differently

Highly skilled ACT practitioners bring creativity, nuance, and a deep ...

Making metaphors matter: increasing their precision and impact

Metaphors are a cornerstone of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) ...

The balance of connection and challenge in functional analytic psychotherapy

In the therapeutic space, the relationship between therapist and clien ...

Key myths about physical health – and how to bust them

Living with a physical health condition comes with a unique set of cha ...

Understanding rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) in ADHD, and the role of ACT

Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) is a term that has gained tracti ...

How I came to ACT

By Dr Kristy Potter, clinical and training director and clinical psych ...

The critical importance of early support and access to services for neurodivergent adolescents

Neurodivergence, which includes autism spectrum condition, attention d ...

What Netflix’s Adolescence gets right about teen psychology – through the lens of ACT

The underlying themes everyone is talking about Adolescence as a part ...

Accelerating your ACT training: Strategies for success

Anyone that already uses ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) will ...

Bridging the gap: applying grief models to practical therapy techniques

Written by Dr Ray Owen You might have heard the saying, “There’s n ...

International Women’s Day 2025: Accelerating action

In the workplace, women often face unique challenges. While men and wo ...

Why you need to know about emotion efficacy therapy to do ACT

You don’t necessarily need to know emotional efficacy therapy (EET) ...

Promoting self-compassion for people with long-term health conditions using the ‘soothing hand’ exercise

Living with long-term physical health conditions can be challenging, o ...

Celebrating women in science within the ACT community

Some papers that caught our eye! Women have made remarkable contributi ...

Trainer profile: Yvonne Barnes-Holmes

Yvonne Barnes-Holmes is a highly accomplished academic and clinician w ...

5 mindfulness myths and realities: Debunking common stereotypes

Mindfulness has become a buzzword in recent years, but it’s not ...

Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) to complement ACT: addressing avoidance

Addressing experiential avoidance is a key aspect of ACT intervention, ...

Embracing discomfort: The wrinkly sock metaphor in sports psychology

In the world of sports, anxiety is a familiar companion. Whether you&# ...

Enhancing your practice with the acceptance and commitment therapy - fidelity measure (ACT-FM)

It is key when learning and later applying ACT to ensure that there is ...

Working with 'common' mental health disorders

Ahead of our intermediary workshop ACT for anxiety and depression with ...

Understanding clinical procrastination: insights from a social media poll

Towards the end of last year, we reached out to our social media follo ...

Taking the steps to becoming a more advanced ACT practitioner

When learning acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), many practition ...

Training, supervision and therapy: A look back at 2024

As we build towards the end of another calendar year it’s a great ti ...

Navigating grief in the lead up to Christmas

Practical suggestions from ACT to help with grief The festive season i ...

Understanding self-forgiveness: insights from an ACT therapy poll

Clients often bring struggles surrounding self-forgiveness into the th ...

Understanding the loop: a powerful analogy in PBBT

The loop is a simple yet profound analogy in process based behavioural ...

20% off selected courses for a limited time only!

From 28th November – 2nd December 2024 We know Black Friday is n ...

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

Written by Joe Oliver If I’m completely honest, I often feel dis ...

Inside Out 2 from an ACT psychologist perspective

Here’s Dr Joe Oliver’s take of Inside Out 2, from a clinical p ...

ACBS UK and Republic of Ireland chapter conference: keynote speaker summary

Exploring the history of ACBS UK/ROI: A journey of community, belongin ...

Celebrating world kindness day: embracing loving kindness meditation

As we celebrate World Kindness Day (observed annually on November 13th ...

Harnessing the power of chairwork in online ACT therapy

As the psychology world embraces online therapy as a convenient and ac ...

RFT: what is it good for? Absolutely everything.

by Joe Oliver, Clinical psychologist, founder of Contextual Consulting ...

Mental health in the workplace: Tackling burnout with ACT

World Mental Health Day was created with the aim of raising awareness ...

Using the science of procrastination to understand behaviours

Procrastination – the act of delaying tasks despite knowing the ...

Four steps to arrive at a difficult conversation – with Dr Ray Owen

Navigating difficult conversations is a reality we all face, whether i ...

Integrating ACT approaches into CBT practice: finding the balance

In the field of psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and ...

4 tips to increase psychological flexibility

Psychological flexibility is a vital skill that allows our clients to ...

An A-Z of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

As schools in the UK begin returning to the classrooms and we all star ...

FREE prize draw - Now closed

THIS PRIZE DRAW IS NOW CLOSED. WE WILL BE CONTACTING THE WINNER SHORTL ...

The 5 love languages of neurodivergent people and how ACT can support well-being

For people with neurodivergence, ACT promotes the acceptance of one ...

Psychological therapy for chronic pain

One of the biggest problems facing healthcare today is the issue of ch ...

Thriving under pressure: Three ways ACT can support sports professionals

For elite athletes, coaches and managers participating in high-stakes ...

ACT for the climate crisis – a climate change coaching perspective

Climate change presents the biggest behaviour change challenge the wor ...

The impact of low emotional efficacy on wellbeing and performance

Emotional efficacy plays a crucial role in our overall wellbeing and p ...

How to get the most out of your ACT training

I saw a comment recently in an online forum saying that most ACT train ...

The four big myths about love and how ACT can help

We’ve all grown up surrounded by idealised depictions of love � ...

Re-frame, re-train and re-connect with Hazel Anderson-Turner

Ahead of her upcoming course “ACTivate your coaching for beginne ...

Supporting children and young people's mental health – a necessity not a luxury

While the emotional well-being of our youth is acknowledged as a key c ...

Mental health awareness week - Free introduction to ACT

Free introduction to ACT We’re supporting the Mental health foun ...

Mastering the moves: What chess can teach us about therapy

Can chess teach us how to master therapy? During therapy sessions, the ...

ACT for chronic pain - systematic review

Key findings 25 randomised controlled trials of ACT for chronic pain ...

ACT in the workplace randomised controlled trial study

Background to the study Mindfulness interventions in the workplace hav ...

Neurodiversity celebration week - Supporting the mental health of people with neurodivergence

Neurodiversity celebration week is a global initiative that seeks to c ...

Exploring the dual nature of perfectionism and how ACT therapy can support

Superpower or supervillain? Perfectionism, often seen as a hallmark of ...

Exploring the effectiveness of ACT in easing stress among adolescents – a meta analytic review

The power of acceptance In today’s fast-paced world, stress has ...

ACT as a workplace intervention: A path to employee well-being and performance

The importance of well-being at work At long last, many organisations ...

The challenge of implementing ACT as a brief therapy: Navigating complexity when time is limited.

Finding an approach to therapy that suits both therapists and clients ...

Supervision: Meet the speaker (and an introduction to SEED)

At Contextual Consulting we’re proud to offer a full service for acc ...

Reflections on an enriching year: Contextual Consulting 2023 highlights

As we begin to wind down 2023 and eagerly embrace the new year, we tho ...

ACT and its impact on sleeplessness, especially in the winter months

What is sleeplessness? Sleeplessness is the inability to fall asleep, ...

ACT for adolescent anxiety: a systematic research review

Anxiety in young people is both incredibly common and can be incredibl ...

Meet our speaker: Tobyn Bell

Chairwork has been used for over 100 years, with many therapists regar ...

Processes, procedures and outcomes in therapy

When it comes to delivering therapy, precision is key. We strive to be ...

An overview review of the systematic reviews of ACT for chronic pain

Martinez-Calderon, J., García-Muñoz, C., Rufo-Barbero, C., Matias-So ...

Systematic review and meta-analysis of ACT in working with chronic health conditions

Brief summary of the paper: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) ...

Effective strategies for managing ADHD in adults

How does ADHD present in adults? Whilst we all know the classic presen ...

Self-harming and suicidality - red flags and effective responses

The stark reality: understanding the prevalence of suicide and self-ha ...

Meet our speaker: Louise Hayes

For many of you, Louise is another of the giants in the global ACT com ...

Meet our speaker: Ray Owen

Ray Owen has been a familiar face as a presenter with us for many year ...

Perfectionism: dangerous obsession or harmless competition?

Your opinion of perfectionism may well depend on your age, sex and eco ...

A systematic review of the use of ACT to treat adult Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Brief summary of the paper: This review evaluates literature on the ...

Meet our speaker: Russell Kolts

Russell Kolts public persona is that of a perpetually chill, zen, supe ...

Contextual Consulting event success supports ACBS Developing Nations Training Fund

Dr Joe Oliver and Dr Ray Owen are thrilled with the success of their c ...

American Psychological Association recognition for Contextual Consulting training

We have great news for members and associate members of the American ...

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 inter ...

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 p ...

Meet our speaker: Russ Harris

Many of you will know Russ Harris because he’s giant in the world of ...

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

Gur, A. & Reich, A. (2023). Psychological flexibility of parents o ...

Why levelling up in ACT requires deliberate practice

My graduate school training at Lesley University was rooted in the phi ...

How to make difficult decisions in a crisis

We are making decisions the whole time. Tea or coffee? Netflix or news ...

Does practice really make perfect for therapists?

Does practice really make perfect for therapists? The impact ...

Contextual Consulting support people facing major life crises in aid of ACBS Developing Nations Training Fund

We are supporting the Developing Nations Training Fund by running a we ...

Mental health and neurodiversity in young people: what can we do?

The picture currently painted by NHS Digital1 in England is clear; sad ...

Co-operation, language and the compassionate perspective

While co-operation, as a set of behaviours, is not unique to humans, ...

Psychological therapist burnout, ACT and psychological flexibility

For a psychological therapist, burnout is a very real possibility. A r ...

Flexibility@ work - curated podcast episodes

with Annie Gascoyne & Ross McIntosh Here’s our curated selection ...

Good Housekeeping values article

Not lost in values by Helena Colodro

Not lost in Values – On lifelong skills training and compariso ...

Lost in conferences (Lost in translation, part 2) by Helena Colodro

I was lost in translation (well, I still am) – what I didnR ...

Lost in translation: Who am I without my language

Impressions of a Spanish ACT psychologist in London I am Helena Colodr ...

ACT for coaching - download presentation

Recently City University London hosted an ACT in the workplace day wor ...

Free ACT resources from Russ Harris

Russ Harris has released a bunch of very cool free resources. In case ...

ACT training workshops in Kampala, Uganda

By Joe Oliver – I recently travelled to Kampala, Uganda to carr ...

ACTivate your coaching practice!

by Jon Hill – Corporate Trainer and Executive Coach Blueprint Co ...

Get unstuck - open forwards podcast interview

I was recently interviewed by Jim Lucas, director of Open Forwards on ...

ACT-CBS Conference - Edinburgh 2016 Flyer

...

The problem is not the problem. The solution is the problem - Kirk Strosahl

Open, aware and active worksheet

Use this worksheet, taken from our book, ACTivate Your Life to map out ...

ACT bootcamp with Russ Harris - a personal account

I recently attended Russ Harris’ advanced ACT workshop in July. I fo ...

CBS wars - ACBS Conference follies 2015

Will the evil ACT empire take over and reticulate with the Rebel Force ...

Being a zombie, finding Nemo & urge-surfing: it's all ACT made simple

by Jon Hill, Blueprint Coaching I am 90% certain that Russ Harris did ...

ACT for psychosis on the radio

Contextual Consulting’s very own Dr Joe Oliver is appearing this ...

The psychologically flexible parent

Parenting with mindfulness & acceptance – Chris McCurry, PhD ...

Blog: Latest insights into ACT

Resource hub

Self criticism measure

Self-criticism is a common feature in many people’s day-to-day l ...

Life's dirty little secrets - #65: The self-help paradox - Dr Joe Oliver

In this episode of Life’s dirty little secrets Joe joins hosts E ...

Navigating the unfixable: ACT strategies for end-of-life care - Toni Lindsay

This video with Toni Lindsay explores the challenges and profound rewa ...

Measuring applied ACT knowledge: development of the first ACT situational judgement test

Brief summary A new study published in the Journal of Contextual Behav ...

What is acceptance and commitment (ACT) therapy ebook

An introductory guide to ACT This guide has been designed for practiti ...

3-step ACT strategy for managing insomnia ebook

A guide for practitioners Created by Contextual Consulting with Dr Maj ...

Efficacy of ACT for self-injurious thoughts and behaviours: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Brief summary This study systematically evaluates the effectiveness o ...

3 essential leadership skills supported by ACT

ACT offers practical and transformational tools for workplaces and lea ...

3 essential leadership skills: ACT in the workplace - Ross McIntosh

This video with Ross McIntosh explores the challenges leaders face and ...

Sleep and self-care: an ACT-based approach to better rest

Sleep problems can be very common, with most people experiencing sleep ...

Helping young people understand their emotions: Inside outside vision - Louise Hayes

In this video, Dr Louise Hayes explores the concept of “Inside o ...

The "Itch you don’t scratch" script - A metaphor for insomnia

Struggling to sleep can feel like having an itch you can’t scratch. ...

Acceptance and commitment therapy: 100 key points and techniques

Acceptance and commitment therapy: 100 key points and techniques Provi ...

ACTivate your life: An ACT Workbook

ACTivate Your Life: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for ...

ACT for early psychosis: a narrative systematic review

Brief summary This systematic review explores the application of accep ...

ACT values cards: How to use them during therapy sessions - Dr Joe Oliver

In this short video taken from our ‘Expert tips for ACT‘ s ...

CBT and ACT - What's the difference? handout

While CBT and ACT are both forms of psychotherapy and share similariti ...

ACT-based online programme for caregivers of autistic children: Lancet-published RCT insights from the REACH-ASD trial

Clinical effectiveness of an online psychoeducational and psychotherap ...

Effects of workplace ACT programs on psychological flexibility's subprocesses: A systematic review

This systematic review explores the impact of workplace acceptance and ...

The Thinking Mind Podcast E132 - Does acceptance lead to change? - Dr Joe Oliver

In this episode of The Thinking Mind Podcast, host Contextual Consult ...

Terapi Londra - Staying with the emotions of summer through ACT - Dr Joe Oliver interview

In this article from Terapi Londra, Psychologists Damla Aras and Özge ...

ACT for sleep - 3 steps to help with insomnia - Maja Schaedel

When clients struggle with insomnia, they often become entangled in se ...

The dragon and armour metaphor: A useful tool in ACT for teen OCD - Ben Sedley

OCD can take up a lot of time and energy. For teens this might mean it ...

3 emotional systems, as used in compassion-focused therapy (CFT)

On this page, we have compiled a range of free resources that present ...

ACT for psychosis: Building connection and reducing isolation - Eric Morris

Psychosis can often feel isolating, leaving individuals disconnected a ...

Five rules for FAP (Functional analytic psychotherapy) - Mavis Tsai

Functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP) is a therapeutic approach that ...

An experiential demonstration from FAP - Mavis Tsai with Joe Oliver

A non-dominant hand writing exercise demonstrating functional analytic ...

Applying the ACT Hexaflex to end-of-life care

The acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) framework including the us ...

Questions to consider when working with a client approaching the end of life.

When working with clients who are nearing the end of their lives, it c ...

ACT for ADHD: Avoid problem hopping, start focusing - Russ Harris

Quite often therapists will need to manage “problem hopping̶ ...

Acceptance and commitment therapy for psychosis: a review of the evidence

Brief summary This paper examines the current status, challenges, and ...

Physical health/chronic pain case study - Jeremy's story

This fictional case study explores “Jeremy’s story” ...

"Toddler mind" An ACT strategy for engaging with parents during the perinatal period - Jennifer Berrett

Toddlers naturally embody mindfulness through their curiosity, opennes ...

ACT for leadership: The magnificent castle metaphor - Alison Maitland

The magnificent castle metaphor is an inspiring and powerful tool to u ...

A-Z of ACT metaphors

Following our A-Z of ACT, we challenged ourselves to come up with an ...

Name it to tame it - Worksheet for working with children's emotions

The “name it to tame it” exercise is a simple yet powerful ...

Model, evoke, reinforce ebook

An ACT practitioner’s guide to shaping psychological flexibility ...

ACT for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders: A feasibility and proof of concept study

Brief summary This study evaluates the feasibility, safety, and effect ...

Supporting students through exam stress ebook

An ACT-informed guide for teachers & parents Our short guide offer ...

Values as a compass metaphor

This metaphor explains that values are like a compass, guiding us towa ...

Mentally Flexible podcast - Dr Joe Oliver, ACTivate your life

In this episode of the mentally flexible podcast, host Tom Parkes, ...

Meaningful change through shaping: reinforce, evoke, and model - Lou Lasprugato expert tip

Shaping behaviour is an essential component of ACT (acceptance and com ...

Tug of war with a monster metaphor

The Tug of War with the Monster metaphor is a powerful way to illustra ...

ACT for anxiety disorders review paper

Key summary Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has emerged as an ...

Zooming out

This exercise emphasises the importance of not fixating on a single sn ...

Effectiveness of ACT on reducing depression and anxiety in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This article focuses on the effectiveness of using Acceptance and comm ...

A guide to functional analytic psychotherapy

Awareness, Courage, Love, and Behaviorism This book presents a clinica ...

Mechanisms of change in an online acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for insomnia

This study explores the mechanisms of change in a six-week online acc ...

The Psychology Podcast - The Happiness Trap with Russ Harris

The Psychology Podcast – The Happiness Trap with Russ Harris In ...

Grief metaphor

This metaphor helps us to navigate feelings towards grief. Grief is a ...

Women in leadership: A conversation with Liz Walker for International Women’s Day 2025

This short interview, conducted for International Women’s Day 2025 f ...

The impact of mindfulness training on athletes: a meta analysis

In the high-pressure world of elite sports, maintaining peak psycholog ...

3 types of emotional messages with Dr Aprilia West

In this video Dr. Aprillia West talks through 3 types of emotional mes ...

Coaching Revealed podcast - Psychological flexibility with Dr Aprilia West

Coaching Revealed: an Institute of Coaching podcast – Psychologi ...

Meta analysis on mindfulness and acceptance-based programs for OCD

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the effectiveness ...

The ACT fidelity measure (ACT-FM)

The ACT fidelity measure (ACT-FM) is designed for clinicians experienc ...

ACT made simple - Russ Harris

This book, by Dr Russ Harris, aims to take the theory and practice of ...

Captain of the ship metaphor

The captain of the ship metaphor explores the concept of multiple selv ...

The flexibility of language metaphor

The focus of this video is on the remarkable generativity and creativi ...

ACT in perspective - PBBT with Dr Yvonne Barnes-Holmes

Process-based Behaviour Therapy with Dr Yvonne Barnes-Holmes In this e ...

Watering your garden. A self-compassion metaphor

In this video, the challenge of embracing self-compassion is explored. ...

5 ways anger can appear

It’s crucial to possess honed clinical skills in assessment and inte ...

5 subtle ways anger shows in therapy

Anger is a complex emotion that doesn’t always manifest as loud out ...

Effectiveness of ACT for addictive behaviours: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Executive summary Addictive behaviours can have a devastating impact o ...

6 different ways of relating

This infographic gives a simple description of 6 different ways we ca ...

The loop analogy - Yvonne Barnes-Holmes expert tip

“The loop” is a powerful analogy to help client’s recogn ...

The power of acceptance metaphor

The focus of this metaphor is to demonstrate the importance of accepti ...

ACT for sport: The wrinkly sock metaphor - making room for discomfort - Alison Maitland

In this video taken from our “Expert Tips for ACT” playlis ...

Disobey on purpose: A defusion exercise - Jenna Ashford

In this video from our YouTube “Expert tips” playlist, spo ...

Effects of ACT on trauma-related symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This article examines the effectiveness of ACT for reducing trauma-re ...

Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for people with advanced cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

This study looked at the effectiveness of ACT (acceptance and commitme ...

The sky and the weather - a metaphor - Dr M Joann Wright

In this short clip Joann discusses a simple but powerful metaphor R ...

4 steps to arrive at a difficult conversation

Having the right approach to difficult conversations can make all the ...

Develop your therapist's sixth sense - Robyn Walser

In this clip taken from our YouTube channel, acceptance and commitment ...

The Sport Psych Show: Episode #257

Achieving your potential in sport and life – Dr Alison Maitland ...

Difficult conversations: 4 simple steps you can take to arrive - Dr Ray Owen

Navigating difficult conversations is a reality we all face, whether i ...

Using values to tackle burnout in the NHS - Hazel Anderson-Turner

In this video from our Expert tips for ACT YouTube series, Business Ps ...

A simple way to explain Relational Frame Theory (RFT) - Dr M Joann Wright

In this expert tips for ACT video Dr. M. Joann Wright demonstrates a s ...

Psychological Flexibility with Dr Joe Oliver

In this video, Dr Joe Oliver talks through the concept of psychologica ...

What is Creative Hopelessness? with Dr Joe Oliver

In this video taken from our YouTube channel, Dr Joe Oliver introduces ...

ACT basics - The six core processes of acceptance and commitment therapy

This set of videos is taken from our ACT basics series on our YouTube ...

ABC model of functional analysis

Here we have created and collated a range of images that will be usefu ...

4 tips to improve psychological flexibility

Psychological flexibility is a vital principle of acceptance and commi ...

A-Z of ACT - acceptance and commitment therapy

Head ‘back to school’ with our A-Z of acceptance and commi ...

My bus - A passengers on the bus metaphor poem

This poem, kindly shared by Angela Clover, talks through the passenger ...

An overview of the ACT model with Dr Joe Oliver

In this video Dr Joe Oliver talks through an overview of acceptance an ...

What to say when your client thinks compassion is a sign of weakness - Russell Kolts

In this clip, taken from our ‘Expert tips for ACT’ series, ...

Beginning conversations about values - Hazel Anderson-Turner

In this video clip taken from our ‘Expert tips for ACT‘ se ...

ACT for chronic pain, setting targets - Kevin E Vowles

In this video clip taken from our ‘Expert tips for ACT‘ series on ...

ACT values cards

DNA-V Values cards and conversation cards – Two sets in one! ACT ...

5 love languages for working with neurodivergent clients - Jennifer Kemp

In this video clip taken from our ‘Expert tips for ACT‘ se ...

ACT with love

Stop struggling, reconcile differences, and strengthen your relationsh ...

ACT as an adjunct or alternative to CBT-I review article

Summary This narrative review compares components of ACT and CBT-I alo ...

The relationship between psychosis and psychological flexibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Executive summary A systematic review and meta-analysis examined the r ...

Boosting workforce resilience: How organisation-wide training in psychological flexibility can tackle job burnout

Executive summary This field study investigated the impact of deliveri ...

The power of letting go - script

In this script we look at the experience of Sam, a fictional client. S ...

Top technique to try with young people in ACT therapy - Dr Ben Sedley

In this short clip from Dr Ben Sedley, taken from our ‘Expert ti ...

Three tips to be happier at work - Ross McIntosh

Ross McIntosh shares three simple tips to be happier in the workplace ...

How to introduce the 'Dropping the anchor' exercise when clients can't communicate - Russ Harris

In this short clip taken from our ‘Expert tips for ACT’ se ...

2 key ingredients to becoming a great therapist

In this short video taken from our ‘Expert tips for ACT’ s ...

Emotion efficacy therapy (EET)- reading list

Emotion efficacy training (EET) is an approach that aims to help indiv ...

ACT for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders: A research review

In a research review of ACT for anxiety, Twohig, Capel and Levin (2024 ...

Comparison of ACT and CBT for chronic insomnia: A pilot randomised controlled trial

This pilot randomised controlled trial compared the efficacy of accept ...

ACT in the workplace randomised controlled trial study

Comparison of mindfulness training and ACT in a workplace setting This ...

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

The study aimed to test the efficacy of a brief, group-based ACT inter ...

Systematic review and meta-analysis of ACT in working with chronic health conditions

This systematic review and meta-analysis offers some valuable insight ...

Exploring the effectiveness of ACT in easing stress among adolescents – a meta analytic review

In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become increasingly prev ...

The mindfulness and acceptance workbook for self-esteem

Grounded in evidence-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), th ...

ACT for psychosis recovery

A practical manual for group-based interventions using acceptance and ...

Acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness for psychosis

Acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness for psychosis is a v ...

Motivational chairwork: An experiential approach to resolving ambivalence - review paper

Ambivalence towards change is a common challenge for psychotherapists. ...

‘Hands as thoughts and feelings’ exercise - Dr Joe Oliver

The “hands as thoughts” metaphor is a powerful tool for un ...

Identify the DRAIN in your relationship - worksheet

This worksheet is taken from Dr Russ Harris’ book – “AC ...

On coaching with Zoltán Csigás: On values and authenticity podcast

This episode of On coaching with Zoltán Csigás is titled “On V ...

New generation psychological treatments in chronic pain - clinical review

This clinical review offers valuable insights into the application of ...

Coaching and climate crisis - webinar

Purpose and Possibility – the role of coaching in the climate cr ...

Wider Roots: Episode #6 Climate Change Coaching (w/ Charly Cox)

Ep. 6 – Climate Change Coaching (w/ Charly Cox) This podcast dis ...

The Coaching UnpACT Podcast

The Coaching UnpACT Podcast was created to help coaches and leaders a ...

The AC Podcast - Unlocking the Power of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Coaching with Dr Joe Oliver

This episode of the Association for Coaching (AC) Podcast is entitled ...

SEED: An ACT supervision model - e-book

This guide introduces the SEED model of acceptance and commitment ther ...

The Insight Podcast: Episode #100

Anxiety dinosaurs, confronting our shame, the fraud story & more T ...

ACT for ADHD - useful links

The following list comprises publications and online articles that exp ...

The Journey Home: Dr Joe Oliver - podcast

This episode of The Journey Home podcast features an interview with Co ...

Multiple emotions, multiple selves: compassion focused therapy chairwork

This article examines the use of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) for ...

Stop playing-it-safe and start living - Patricia Zurita TEDx Talk

Many people spend a lot of time obsessing over past, present, or poten ...

ACT therapist guide to self-care e-book

We are very excited to have produced this and we hope you find it inte ...

Acceptance and commitment coaching: distinctive features

Acceptance and Commitment Coaching: Distinctive Features is essential ...

The secret ingredients to crack the parenting-teen code e-book

The secret ingredients to crack the parenting-teen code Our free downl ...

The five facets of mindfulness e-book

“The Five Facet Model of Mindfulness Interventions” descri ...

The ACT model

On this page, we have compiled a range of free resources that present ...

The ACT matrix

The acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) matrix is a tool used in t ...

Sweet spot exercise

This script, shared by Dr Kristy Potter, of an exercise developed by W ...

Soothing hand script

This script, shared by Dr Kristy Potter is a well-known exercise that ...

Princess and the pea (expansion) script

This script from Dr Kristy Potter uses the well-known fairy-tale ̵ ...

Working with help rejecting clients - book chapter

This resource is a bonus chapter – Angry Patients and Soft Eyes: ...

Chairwork - Interviewing the inner critic

This guide provides a semi-structured interview schedule for working w ...

Using chairwork to resolve ambivalence and enhance motivation - book chapter

This book chapter is taken from – “Cognitive behavioural c ...

The passengers on the bus metaphor and ACT in the workplace

In this audio, Dr Joe Oliver discusses with Ross McIntosh the passenge ...

ACT in the workplace - useful resources

ACT in the workplace offers a range of interventions aimed at promotin ...

The Insight Podcast: Episode #51

How you can build healthy resilience with Dr Joe Oliver This episode o ...

Internal family systems (IFS) - Dr. Richard Schwartz explains

Pioneered by Dr. Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, Internal family system ...

Internal family systems (IFS) - reading list

Internal family systems (IFS) is a revolutionary form of psychotherapy ...

7 attitudes of mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice rooted in acceptance and the present moment ...

Holding your values lightly metaphor

Values are the qualities and characteristics that we consider signific ...

Leaves on the stream exercise

The “Leaves on the stream” exercise is a mindfulness techn ...

Imposter syndrome metaphor

Imposter syndrome refers to the belief that one’s accomplishment ...

Symptoms of trauma

The impact of trauma varies from person to person, and individuals may ...

Workplace psychological health ACT - City, University of London

This short video from City, University of London was used to introduce ...

Values conflicts metaphor

When we talk about values an important part is remembering there will ...

The gift of forgiveness metaphor

Forgiveness is an important concept. In ACT, forgiveness is not about ...

The ACT fruit bowl metaphor

This metaphor is a simple, practical way to describe the “self&# ...

T-Rex self esteem metaphor

Self esteem is deeply connected to our sense of self and who we see ou ...

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

Background The World Health Organization estimates that over 1 billi ...

Active acceptance metaphor

Active acceptance is a psychological concept that combines elements of ...

Passengers on the bus metaphor

The passengers on the bus metaphor suggests that we are not solely def ...

Conquering the anxiety monster (with love) metaphor

This metaphor is extremely useful for both children and adults. It wor ...

The chinese finger trap metaphor - Joe Oliver expert tip

The Chinese finger trap metaphor is a powerful illustration used in ac ...

ACT for autism and related disorders - useful links

This list of publications, books and videos explores the benefits of A ...

The space between self-esteem and self compassion - Kristin Neff TEDx talk

Self-compassion fosters resilience, well-being, and a healthy sense of ...

The power of vulnerability - Brené Brown TEDx talk

Brené Brown dedicates her research to exploring the profound realm of ...

Listening to shame - Brené Brown TEDx talk

Shame, a deeply ingrained emotional state, corrodes self-worth and hin ...

Anger, compassion, and what it means to be strong - Russell Kolts TEDx talk

Although anger can elicit a sense of strength within us, it is common ...

Psychological flexibility: How love turns pain into purpose - Steven Hayes TEDx talk

What strategies can we employ to thrive in the face of pain and suffer ...

Feeding the dinosaur metaphor

This metaphor is a variation on ‘feeding the tiger’. It is ...

Passengers on the bus metaphor

The “passengers on the bus” metaphor is a concept used to ...

Internal hijackers metaphor

The “internal hijackers” refers to patterns of thinking th ...

Values in action - The unsung hero

A short video showing values in action. Living according to your value ...

The demons on the boat metaphor

This metaphor highlights the importance of accepting and making room f ...

The unwelcome party guest metaphor

In this metaphor, the unwelcome party guest represents unpleasant or d ...

DNA-V resources

DNA-V resources The DNA-V model guides a practitioner to develop peopl ...

The Happiness Trap - Russ Harris

The Happiness Trap, written by Dr Russ Harris, is the best-selling ac ...

ACT for autism and related disorders: meta-analyses and reviews

ACT can be a useful therapy for autistic young people as it can help t ...

Dropping anchor audio exercises

The aim of the ‘dropping anchor’ exercise is not to get ri ...

The mindfulness and acceptance workbook for depression

Taken from the book “The mindfulness and acceptance workbook for ...

Talk yourself better: A confused person's guide to therapy, counselling and self-help - Ariane Sherine

This book aims to help anyone who is finding it difficult when choosin ...

Meaningful work - Counselling at Work, the quarterly journal of BACP Workplace

A team of counsellors and psychologists in the NHS wanted to improve p ...

ACT for adolescent anxiety: a systematic research review

Anxiety in young people is both incredibly common and can be incredibl ...

True strength: a Compassion-Focused Therapy approach for working with anger - workshop manual

This free manual, True Strength: A Compassion-Focused Therapy Approac ...

An overview review of the systematic reviews of ACT for chronic pain

This summary of systematic reviews aims to provide an overview and cri ...

A systematic review of the use of ACT to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

This review evaluates literature on the use of acceptance and c ...

ACT for autism and related disorders - JCBS special issue articles

The Journal of Contextual Behavioural Science (JCBS), published by the ...

Promising findings: ACT for physical activity - a systematic review

Physical activity is crucial for maintaining good health and preventin ...

ACT/ MBSR workplace intervention for sleep – ACBS Berlin 2015 Conference

The effectiveness of a workplace ACT intervention compared to MBSR tra ...

Resource hub