Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients to embrace their feelings and use their personal values to improve their lives. Its popularity has grown significantly in recent years, but the number of ACT resources designed to support children is still limited.
The ACT strategies and activities in this guide have been designed specifically for use with children aged 5-12, with a particular focus on the uniquely delicate connection needed for a successful practitioner-client relationship. The approach is designed to fit children's stages of development and learning styles, allowing young clients to build skills in a way that suits their age and cognitive patterns.
Built from the author's extensive experience in child psychology, this guide offers ways to tailor ACT for effective work with children. It includes specific and detailed guidance on tailoring ACT to specific presentations, including OCD and neurodivergent populations, as well as parenting.
"Jodie's thoughtful, developmentally informed approach is apparent throughout this book, which provides a comprehensive introduction to ACT with children. Incorporating many helpful examples and child-friendly metaphors, along with chapters dedicated to working with parents and neurodivergent populations, this text will be a great resource for child therapists."
- Fiona Zandt, Clinical Psychologist and Author of the Creative Ways to Help Children Series
"This is an incredibly useful guide for all therapists using ACT with children - both neurotypical and neurodivergent. Covering everything from OCD to ADHD, it translates ACT into simple, fun, jargon-free interventions that kids can easily understand and apply - and also gives invaluable guidance for working with parents. Highly recommended!"
- Russ Harris, Author of ACT Made Simple and The Happiness Trap
"This book peels back the curtain and lets you step into the therapy room of a master child psychologist. Do step in. Once you're in the room (this book) with Jodie, she reveals how to make your work with children engaging and fun whilst increasing your effectiveness. You will experience what profound acceptance with children looks like. You will discover how to help kids and their families know they are not deficient but, instead, need learning opportunities that fit their individuality. I have no doubt the lessons in this book will be useful for you. It covers everything from how to set up and plan your intervention to playing games and making them clinically useful. Your sessions will be more fun while also being grounded in good science."
- Louise Hayes, PhD, Clinical Psychologist. Founder DNA-V and author