Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): 18 Training Courses

Painful emotions and unwelcome thoughts can be hard to tolerate. Often our instinct is to avoid or try to eliminate these experiences, which frequently increases distress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people build a healthier relationship with difficult internal experiences and commit to living a meaningful life (Harris, 2011).

If you’re considering ACT training, there are many high-quality courses available though no single official certification pathway. This article summarizes reputable ACT programs and online options to help you decide which training best fits your needs.

How to Become an ACT Practitioner

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on helping people live a values-driven life while recognizing that suffering is part of the human condition (Harris, 2011). Central to ACT are mindfulness-based skills that reduce the impact of distressing thoughts and feelings and increase psychological flexibility.

There is no formal certification process for ACT practitioners. The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) has chosen not to institute a centralized certification system, preferring an open, community-based approach that supports shared learning and critical reflection (Long, n.d.). As a result, clinicians can choose from a wide array of training providers, workshops, and resources to develop ACT competency.

To practice therapy, clinicians should still obtain the appropriate professional licensure and credentials required in their region (for example, as a psychologist, counselor, or social worker). In addition to formal training, ACBS and experienced ACT trainers recommend ongoing professional development through:

• Reading foundational ACT books and articles
• Joining peer consultation groups
• Attending seminars and academic workshops
• Participating in ACBS conferences
• Watching supervised therapy demonstrations and videos

12 Best ACT Programs & Courses

Because there’s no single certification pathway, you can select ACT training that best matches your background, budget, and learning preferences. Below are respected programs and courses led by experienced ACT trainers and clinicians.

Praxis

Praxis provides evidence-based, on-demand ACT courses designed for clinicians and trainees working with specific clinical populations. Their catalog includes foundational and applied trainings.

ACT Immersion

Presented by Dr. Steven Hayes, a founder of ACT, this introductory program covers core ACT processes. The course includes 10 modules equating to 24 continuing education hours and features recorded workshop material, audio exercises, Q&A videos, and session demonstrations to illustrate ACT in action.

ACT in Practice

Also developed by Dr. Hayes, this self-paced 10-module course moves clinicians from ACT theory into practical application. Topics include functional analysis, treatment planning, and interventions focused on present-moment awareness and self-as-context. The course includes practice demonstrations and clinician resources.

Focused ACT for Brief Interventions

This course, taught by ACT experts Dr. Kirk Strosahl and Dr. Patti Robinson, introduces Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) for brief, targeted interventions. Across six modules, you’ll learn how to run initial FACT sessions, follow-up work, practical use of metaphors, and approaches for complex presentations while maintaining clinician resilience.

Psychwire

Psychwire hosts multiple ACT programs led by Dr. Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap. Their courses range from beginner-level introductions to advanced, trauma-focused applications.

ACT for Beginners

A six-week course (approximately 16 hours) suitable for clinicians, covering ACT foundations, cognitive defusion, acceptance and self-compassion, and values-based action. It awards continuing education credits and emphasizes practical exercises to work with challenging client presentations.

ACT for Depression and Anxiety

This intermediate course applies ACT to mood and anxiety disorders. It requires prior ACT familiarity and addresses worry, fear versus anxiety, mindfulness versus relaxation, and engaging values work with clients who struggle to identify meaningful goals.

Trauma-Focused ACT

An advanced, skills-based course offering a compassion-centered, exposure-informed approach to trauma. The training addresses hyperarousal, flashbacks, shame, and identity disruptions, and requires a solid ACT foundation to enroll.

ACT as a Brief Intervention

Designed for clinicians who must deliver effective interventions in limited time, this training teaches the FACT model, focused interviewing, rapid case formulation, and methods to deliver a coherent ACT intervention in brief sessions.

PESI

PESI offers seminars and online ACT training led by recognized trainers, including workshops and streamed webinars that qualify for continuing education hours.

2-Day Intensive ACT Training

A live or streamed seminar that covers ACT fundamentals, equipping clinicians to use the six core ACT processes to foster psychological flexibility across a range of disorders.

ACT Intensive Online Course

Delivered by Drs. Steven Hayes and Daniel Moran, this multi-module online program includes in-session demonstrations and comprehensive content on acceptance, cognitive defusion, values, and psychological flexibility.

Experiential Intensive ACT Training

Delivered by Drs. John and Jamie Forsyth, this interactive workshop features demonstrations, experiential exercises, clinical worksheets, and tools to integrate ACT skills into practice.

Portland Psychotherapy

Portland Psychotherapy offers regular ACT workshops, peer consultation, and a library of audio meditations and session exercises. Their resources support continued skill development and clinical application.

Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)

ACBS maintains a voluntary peer-review process for ACT trainers to help clinicians locate high-quality training. This process evaluates the quality of trainers’ educational delivery rather than certifying practitioner competency, and it is one useful way to identify experienced trainers within the ACT community.

Online Training: 5 Virtual Courses to Consider

Many of the programs above offer virtual or self-paced options. If you want additional online choices, consider the following well-regarded trainings:

The Association for Psychological Therapies (APT), ACT Essentials

This three-day course is aimed at clinicians working in treatment settings. It offers APT Level 1 accreditation and can be completed self-paced or via live online sessions. The training covers practical ACT skills to begin applying ACT with clients.

Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences (AATBS), ACT Made Simple

This introductory course qualifies for continuing education credits and explores the theory and practical delivery of experiential ACT therapy. Participants are encouraged to complement the course with recommended readings.

Udemy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

An affordable, beginner-friendly course that offers nearly seven hours of content across 35 lectures. Suitable for those with a general interest in therapy, it introduces core ACT processes and basic clinical applications.

Psychotherapy Academy, Demystifying ACT: A Practical Guide for Therapists

Led by Dr. D.J. Moran, this self-paced course includes five modules and practical videos with clinical takeaways, plus interviews that discuss case examples and application strategies.

The Affinity Centre, An Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

A cost-effective course taught by an experienced UKCP-registered ACT trainer. It covers foundational topics such as the ACT hexaflex, self-as-context, and practical exercises participants can apply personally and clinically.

PositivePsychology.com’s Relevant Resources

If you already use ACT in practice, consider integrating the following practical worksheets and exercises into your sessions. These downloadable tools support values work, willingness, and commitment-focused interventions:

• Exploring Willingness and Commitment — A blended ACT and REBT exercise to help clients select a meaningful value and identify a practical first action.
• Personal Values Worksheet — A guided template to clarify what matters most and how to allocate time and energy accordingly.
• Values and Problems — An exercise prompting clients to examine problematic thoughts and behaviors and replace them with value-driven goals.
• Commitment, Obstacles, and Strategies Worksheet — A three-part tool to set value-based goals, anticipate barriers, and design strategies to maintain commitment.

A Take-Home Message

Learning to relate differently to painful thoughts and feelings can be difficult when attempted alone. ACT is an evidence-based therapy that helps people accept internal experiences while committing to actions aligned with personal values.

Because ACT training is delivered through many providers rather than a single certifying body, clinicians can choose the formats and trainers that best match their learning needs. Many reputable online and live options exist, so you can build competence at your own pace while meeting professional continuing education requirements.

If you are preparing to pursue ACT training, use this overview to identify courses and resources that align with your clinical context and professional goals.