Chronic pain affects one in five people. The pain and the secondary psychological and behavioural effects cost the individual and society significantly. Chronic pain is notoriously resistant to traditional biomedical treatment. It is best conceptualised as a long-term medical condition that requires self-management. Evidence supports the use of non-pharmacological methods to improve participation in daily activities and enhance the quality of life, despite the presence of ongoing pain.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has emerged as an evidence-supported way of helping pain sufferers self-manage their behaviour guided by their values. The primary aim is to alter behaviour by changing the way people relate to their pain and pain-reactive thoughts and feelings. This is facilitated by the use of core ACT processes: acceptance, defusion, committed action, presence, self-as context, and values clarification. This webinar will equip health professionals with the knowledge and skills to integrate ACT into their clinical practice and to improve outcomes for chronic pain sufferers. Attendees are expected to have attended an Introduction to ACT workshop or at least be familiar with the six ACT
processes in the Hexaflex.