Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, August 2026

Monday 17 & Tuesday 18 August 2026

Naumi Hotel, Cuba Street, Wellington

Growing research about ACT demonstrates its efficacy for a wide range of diagnoses and life problems. It helps people accept their internal experiences while moving towards the life they value.

At this experiential workshop you will establish a foundational understanding of Psychological Flexibility, develop skills for using ACT and learn about Relational Frame Theory (RFT).

Over the two days you will learn how to:

help clients hold their painful thoughts and emotions gently; identify and actively move towards their values; and develop awareness of the present moment and their capacity to observe it.
develop a therapeutic relationship in which support can be provided compassionately and flexibly.
formulate life struggles from an ACT perspective.
practice ACT exercises and relate the concepts back to your own life and clinical experiences.
meet clients where they are and foster their willingness to change

Lunches and morning teas are included.

Designed for:

Clinicans of any discipline. No prior ACT training is required.

Register:

https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/introduction-to-acceptance-and-commitment-therapy-workshop-august-2026-registration-1977560390362?aff=oddtdtcreator

About your trainers:

Giselle Bahr and Ben Sedley are clinical psychologists and co-founders of ACT Wellington. Since being trained and supervised by many of the world’s leading ACT therapists and researchers, ACT has been the foundation of their practices for many years. Giselle and Ben have both worked at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, in Private Practice with adults and adolescents, and trained clinical psychology students at Victoria University of Wellington. Giselle has developed and facilitated groups introducing ACT to parents and adults, and served on the Board of ANZ ACBS. Ben wrote Stuff That Sucks: Accepting what you can’t change and committing to what you can, Holding the Heavy Stuff: making space for critical thoughts and painful emotions, and Stuff That’s Loud: A teen’s guide to unspiralling when OCD gets noisy (with Lisa Coyne). He is also an ACBS Peer Reviewed ACT Trainer.