ACT for Adolescents
This six-week course, with support from Dr. Russ Harris in a dedicated forum, focuses on adapting core ACT processes to help adolescents stop struggling and start thriving.
About the course
4.7
Start date
Starts 13 October 2026Length
6 weeks | 16hrs total (12 Months Access)Who this course is for
For Mental Health & Health Professionals, CoachesOrganization Enquiries
Find out moreThis 6-week specialty course teaches you how to adapt ACT for young people. A host of world-renowned experts on the use of ACT with youth – including Darin Cairns (Australia), Chris McCurry (USA), and Sheri Turrell (Canada) – will share, explain and illustrate their approaches to treating adolescents (from age 10 to 19).
Each week you’ll get to watch therapy sessions where one or two of our experts demonstrate specific youth-focussed ACT interventions – and Russ will take you through an in-depth, step-by-step analysis of every technique and strategy, and the theory behind it.
What You'll Learn
Russ and his team of experts will take you step-by-step through adapting the ACT model for adolescents, in a way that is both engaging and entertaining. Prepare to experience Russ’s unique and engaging teaching style, direct-to-camera, supported by delightful animations of key ACT metaphors along the way.
Learn how to rapidly bypass resistance and build genuine rapport with coerced or hesitant clients that would rather be anywhere else but there with you.
Learn how to use teen-friendly language to convey complex concepts simply.
Learn how to fluidly dance around the hexaflex without getting stuck.
Establish genuine and meaningful connections with your clients.
Explode your creativity: music, painting, drawing, sculpting, movies, photography, Lego … there are so many playful and engaging ways to do ACT with adolescents. You’ll see interventions involving everything from bubble wrap and paper plates to toilet rol
Learn step-by-step powerful exercises.
Learn how to make technology your friend, to engage those clients who seem distracted or defiant.
In this dynamic, fun and energising 6-week journey you’ll learn how to use the six core principles of ACT, and how to adapt them to different clinical populations.
$590
Starts 13 October
ACT for AdolescentsEnroll now
$590
Enroll Now!
Course starts October 13Course trainer
Dr Russ Harris, MBBS, is an internationally-renowned ACT trainer, and author of the world’s best-selling book on ACT, The Happiness Trap. Russ’s background is in medicine. As a physician, he became increasingly interested in the psychological aspects of health and wellbeing, which ultimately led him to change careers and become a therapist.
Russ Harris has trained over 90, 000 health professionals around the globe, and authored nine books on the ACT model. His best-known work, The Happiness Trap, has sold over one million copies and been translated into over thirty languages.
Russ is considered one of the world’s foremost ACT trainers, and his textbook for professionals, ACT Made Simple is extremely popular. The book's title reflects Russ’s genuine passion for making the principles and practice of this evidenced-based therapy simple, clear and easy to put into practice.
In 2015 Russ created an ACT protocol for the World Health Organisation, for use in refugee camps around the globe. The WHO have published three RCTs based on this protocol, showing that it not only significantly reduces depression and PTSD, but also prevents the onset of mental health disorders in those at high risk.
Your ACT for Adolescents Learning Experience
This action-packed and interactive 6 week course allows you total flexibility to learn whenever it suits you. Two and a half hours of new core content will be released week by week over 6 weeks, and you’ll have 12 months access to the whole course, so you can watch videos again, catch up after a vacation, or download a select range of powerful resources that simply aren’t available anywhere else.
You’ll watch annotated videos of therapy sessions, engage with audio exercises and reading materials, participate in online forums with other participants, answer multi-choice quizzes that test your learning as you go, plus a whole lot more.
The entire course has been carefully designed with professional learners in mind, to ensure that you gain a comprehensive and practical grounding in the theory and application of ACT, which you can immediately put into practice with your young clients.
Who This Course is Suitable For
ACT for Adolescents is open to any professional who works with physical or psychological health. This includes therapists, coaches, counselors, physicians, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, physios, dietitians, occupational therapists, youth workers, BCBAs, speech therapists, and any other type of health professional - as well as students and researchers in these fields.
However, we recommend you have a solid beginners level understanding of ACT. This can include:
Attend an introductory level 2-day ACT workshop (with any ACT trainer; it doesn’t have to be with Russ), or
Complete our online ACT for Beginners course, or
Work through a beginners-level ACT textbook from start to end, such as ACT Made Simple, 2nd edition.
Enrollments
We're happy to help if you can't attend the current intake. Once your purchase is complete, contact our customer service team and we can enrol you in a future intake.
If you need an invoice, please fill out the form here.
What You'll Learn
Course modules
Module one
We begin by exploring a road map for the course and your learning experiences.
Module two
We dive into assessment and building rapport with clients, with therapy demonstrations to guide your learning.
Module three
We tackle winning over reluctant clients in this session, with practical strategies and demonstrations to enrich your learning.
Module four
We explore using the choice point in therapy.
Module five
We explore how mindfulness can be fun with jelly snakes.
Module six
A bonus module packed with some extra resources and therapy demonstrations to enrich your learning.
Module seven
This optional module contains your reading and assignments for the week.
Module eight
Quiz questions
Module one
We begin by acquainting ourselves with our friend, creative hopelessness.
Module two
We explore the gentle art of confronting in this module, with therapy demonstrations by Russ Harris to illustrate.
Module three
This module focuses on dropping the struggle, with helpful metaphors to illustrate.
Module four
We investigate a direct route, with therapy demonstrations to model the key concepts.
Module five
We investigate the caveman mind metaphor in this module.
Module six
Some additional fun mindfulness exercises are explored in this module.
Module seven
A bonus module packed with extra resources and therapy demonstrations to enrich your learning.
Module eight
Some optional reading and assignments tasks for the week are contained in this module.
Module nine
Quiz questions
Module one
We begin week three by investigating function spotting, with therapy demonstrations to illustrate key points.
Module two
This is a bonus module that investigates functional analysis in more depth.
Module three
We tackle anger and aggression, with therapy demonstrations to illustrate key learning concepts.
Module four
This module explores values, with Russ Harris demonstrating key points in session.
Module five
More fun mindfulness approaches are explored in this module.
Module six
We focus on creativity with values in this session.
Module seven
We continue exploring values, investigating extracting and extending values in session.
Module eight
We delve into values and committed action homework to utilize with clients.
Module nine
This module explores committed action and behavorial experiments in session.
Module ten
A bonus module with more mindful activities.
Module eleven
This module contains your optional reading and assignments for the week.
Module twelve
Quiz questions
Module one
We being week four by investigating interlinked processes such as unhooking and anchoring.
Module two
This module demonstrates using 'bubble wrap thoughts' in session.
Module three
This module demonstrates the sushi train metaphor, with some practical scripts to use in session.
Module four
More 'mindfulness can be fun' examples are contained in this module.
Module five
We explore using cardboard tubes in session as a metaphor for flexible attention.
Module six
A highly demonstrative module which illustrates dropping anchor in session.
Module seven
We delve into poetry for defusion, with tips and demonstrations to enrich your learning.
Module eight
A bonus module exploring starting a session with dropping anchor.
Module nine
We investigate using the choice point and defusion in this module.
Module ten
A bonus module packed with optional resources to enrich your learning.
Module eleven
This module contains optional reading and assignments for the week.
Module twelve
Quiz questions
Module one
We begin week five by exploring openness and curiosity.
Module two
This module delves into unhooking from rigid rules.
Module three
A practical module which explores some fun strategies to use in session when delving into struggle verses acceptance.
Module four
Further fun mindfulness activities are explored in this session.
Module five
This module explores reframing negative thoughts and feelings, with therapy demonstrations to guide the learning.
Module six
We explore how to make the self-as-context relevant, clear and practical in this module.
Module seven
Self-compassion is the focus of this highly practical module.
Module eight
We explore reinforcing new behavior, with therapy demonstrations to guide key concepts.
Module nine
We investigate the choice point for opening up in this module.
Module ten
A bonus module packed with extra learning material to enrich your journey.
Module eleven
Optional reading and assignments for the week are contained in this module.
Module twelve
Quiz questions
Module one
We begin week six by exploring client motivation and fostering change.
Module two
We explore reminding clients that life ain't easy, with metaphors demonstrated in session to enrich the learning experience.
Module three
We investigate defusion from reason giving in this module.
Module four
We tackle how to handle setbacks, with demonstrations illustrating key learning areas.
Module five
We go back to basics in this module, reviewing key ideas.
Module six
Some final concluding thoughts and ideas are the focus of this module.
Module seven
A bonus module packed to the brim with therapy demonstrations and resources.
Module eight
Optional reading and assignments are contained in this module.
Module nine
Quiz questions and conclusion
Course excerpts
What People Say About This Course
4.7
786 participant ratings99.4%
Would recommend this course to a colleague.Amanda O'NeilPsychologist - NSW, AustraliaAccess to various therapists demonstrating their own ways of rolling out ACT with a variety of clients - the debriefs are a great way to ensure that the decisions made by the therapist are understood from an ACT perspective.
Natalie HinkePsychologist - Whangārei, New ZealandThe course is relevant and practical. The presentations are very professional, dynamic, clear, and to the point. I find it very pleasant to watch the movies in which Russ explains and presents ACT very personally and informal.
Christine Cowan-JamesCounselling Psychologist - Auckland, New ZealandOnce again a highly engaging learning format. Each time I do a Russ ACT course I feel it builds competency and extends skill level. It is also validating to realise how much has been absorbed and utilised in my therapy process with the repetition of core ACT concepts. I also love to see the evolution of Russ's material over time and the flexibility of application.
Stacey RippyBehavior Analyst - Washington, DC, United StatesI have learned so much from this type of learning experience. Much more than by reading a book or articles.
Bridget YoungPsychologist - New ZealandI am able to use all the skills as I learn them in my work with clients so it is a really practical course, rather than something high in theory but low in applicability. Feeling more like an ACT clinician as I practice applying the tools!
Jacqueline RojoPsychologist - NSW, AustraliaIt is one of the best courses I have done. After doing 2 university degrees, this is far superior in terms of growing my knowledge. The framework really reinforces concepts by providing the theory and the practical in a very user-friendly format, as well as the ability to hear from other therapists. Great sharing and learning. Thank you.
Continuing Education & Professional Development (CE/CME/CPD)
ACT for Adolescents is designed for mental health professionals, health professionals and coaches worldwide. On completion you'll receive an official certificate of completion, which can be submitted to registration bodies for CPD.
This course is accredited for 16 CE/CME credit hours for US licensed professionals:
Psychologists - 16 CE hours, APA - co-sponsored with Amedco, an APA-approved sponsor
Social workers - 16 general CE credits, ASWB ACE
Physicians - 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACCME
Nurses - 16 contact hours, ANCC
Counselors, MFTs & addiction professionals - 16 hours, accepted by most US state boards via APA and ASWB ACE credit — see the state-by-state list
Approved CE activity with the New York State boards for Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, and Marriage & Family Therapy.
View the full learner notification for this course (PDF) - includes complete accreditation statements, state board acceptance lists, learning objectives and faculty disclosures.
How Your Course Works
Frequently asked questionsView all FAQs
This course offers a downloadable Certificate of Completion you can use to show your professional development boards. CE/CME credits are also available for completing this course - please check the learner notification to view the relevant accrediting bodies.
You don't need to be online at a specific time! You can log in and out at a time that suits you and learn at your own pace.
Once your course begins, Russ Harris will be online throughout the week to answer questions, but please allow a couple of days for your questions to be answered. The forum will be open for 3 months, allowing time to delve into the content and ask Russ follow up questions after all content has been released.
No. If you’re a relative newcomer to ACT, it’s wise to do the ACT For Beginners course first, to build your foundational knowledge and develop the core skills. But it’s not absolutely essential.
A number of things. For a start, you’ll see numerous therapy demonstrations, featuring five different expert therapists – so you’ll get to see a wide range of different therapeutic styles. There’s also the fact you’ll learn directly from the world’s foremost ACT trainer, Dr Russ Harris – famous for his fun, engaging, and incredibly practical training approach, that sure to keep you focused, so you can absorb key ideas, and quickly build confidence in applying them.
And you’ll learn how to modify ACT so that it’s effective with adolescents: how to bring in fun and creativity, playfulness and humour, non-technical language, engaging exercises, physical metaphors, and simple skills-building.
Yes, it does. This ACT for Adolescents training will explode your creativity: music, painting, drawing, sculpting, movies, photography, Lego … there are so many playful and engaging ways to do ACT with adolescents. You’ll see interventions involving everything from bubble wrap and paper plates to toilet rolls and jelly snakes!
The course contains many audio and text materials, from recordings of experiential exercises to eBooks on important topics. You can keep all of these materials – and you can freely share all the handouts, worksheets, and audios with your clients. For the video materials, you will have one year of unlimited access.