ACT for ADHD
This four-week online course with Dr. Russ Harris covers practical tools, techniques, strategies and principles for working with every aspect of ADHD.
About the course
Start date
Starts 18 August 2026Length
12hrs | 4 weeksWho this course is for
For Mental Health Professionals, Health Professionals Organization Enquiries
Find out moreADHD is a double-edged sword. It comes with many strengths - such as courage, creativity, spontaneity, sociability, originality – but also with many problems, such as inattention, distractability, impulsivity, and emotion dysregulation. The good news is, with its flexible format, and easy-to-adapt core processes, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is ideally suited for making a difference – especially when delivered from a neuro-affirming stance.
In this online course, Dr Russ Harris shows you how to apply ACT effectively with every common aspect of ADHD, and how to work with clients who have dual or triple diagnoses. You’ll learn how to scaffold executive functioning, break through task inertia, and create all sorts of quick’n’easy mindfulness practices ideal for clients who can’t sit still, can't focus, or find it almost impossible to meditate.
$590
Starts 18 August
ACT for ADHDEnroll now
$590
Enroll Now!
Course starts August 18Learn ACT for ADHD with World-Renowned ACT Trainer Dr Russ Harris
Dr Russ Harris, author of the million-copy bestseller, The Happiness Trap, is a world-leading ACT trainer. He is a consultant to the World Health Organization, and a pioneer in making ACT accessible and practical. It’s no surprise that his textbook, ACT Made Simple, is the world’s top-selling textbook on ACT.
Through fun and engaging video lessons (if you know, you know!), powerful therapy demonstrations, and ongoing interactive discussions in the forum, Russ will guide you, step-by-step, as you develop skills you can use right away.
And, although the course focuses on adults, everything covered is relevant and easily adaptable for adolescents.
Why Does ACT Work So Well for ADHDers?
ADHDers often have additional clinical issues such as depression, addiction, trauma, rejection sensitivity, and perfectionism. ACT offers a powerful, flexible, non-pathologising approach that’s well suited for such complex presentations.
It’s flexible: ACT’s processes are readily adapted and tailored to suit each unique individual - taking into account their strengths, desires, and challenges, rather than formulaically following a ‘one size fits all’ approach
It’s compassionate: At the core of ACT, there’s a central focus on acknowledging suffering and responding with kindness, which fosters self-compassion and emotional safety.
It’s empowering: ACT helps ADHDers to connect deeply with their values, and take effective action to improve their health and wellbeing; to break through inertia and procrastination, and practice new skills that improve executive function
Practical Skills You'll Build
You’ll learn how to creatively apply ACT principles with a broad range of ADHD issues - all within a compassionate, neuroaffirming format, that empowers clients to recognize and utilize their neurodivergent strengths:
Understand ADHD through a neurodiversity-affirming, biopsychosocial lens
Scaffold executive function skills, such as emotion flexibility, attention flexibility and cognitive flexibility
Use simple, powerful defusion strategies to undermine harsh self-judgment, and break free from rigid rules
Counteract inattention distractibility with ‘mindfulness on the go’: simple refocusing exercises that are easily done, any time, any place
Utilize practical motivational strategies to overcome inertia and break through procrastination
Work ‘bottom up’: interoception, body awareness, somatic mindfulness
Interrupt hyperfocus (in contexts where it’s problematic), and refocus attention on what’s most important
Foster self-acceptance and self-compassion
Integrate sensory self-soothing and other forms of ACT-congruent emotion regulation
Undermine rumination, worrying and obsessing
Implement successful strategies for forgetfulness, impulsivity, disorganization, and time blindness
Prevent or recover from burnout with values-based, compassion-focused pacing & resting strategies (including ‘spoon theory’)
and soooo much more!
Please note: we will not cover diagnosis and assessment. Instead, the course focuses on practical intervention: tools, techniques, principles and strategies you can use effectively with any client, whether they have a formal diagnosis or not.
Course Structure and Format
This is a 12-hour online course, delivered over 4 weeks. You’ll receive approximately 3 hours of new content per week, including video lessons, therapy demonstrations, client handouts, and interactive exercises. You’ll be supported by Russ himself in the forum, where you can share your experiences, ask questions and learn within a worldwide professional community.
You’ll have 12 months of access, so you can learn entirely at your own pace and revisit key materials anytime. You don't need to be online at a specific time!
Who This Course is For
ACT for ADHD is open to all mental health and health professionals, including psychologists, therapists, counsellors, psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, speech therapists, BCBAs, and coaches.
It's not essential, but 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
week 1: Can't Focus! Inattention and Distractibility
Module one
We begin this course by exploring ADHD and using ACT for ADHD
Module two
This module explores holding labels lightly, delving into case formulation
Module three
We continue and investigate how to start off well, with therapy demonstrations to illustrate best practice
Module four
We tackle difficulties with focusing attention in this module
Module five
We delve into scaffolding skills and the 7Rs in this module
Module six
This bonus module delves into issues with medication and is packed with dropping anchor resources
Module seven
A further bonus module packed with extended therapy demonstrations to enrich your learning experience
Week 2: Can't Cope! Difficulties With Emotion Regulation
Module one
Week 2 begins by delving into emotion regulation
Module two
We continue and look at acceptance and emotion regulation
Module three
This module delves into defusion and emotion regulation
Module four
We continue and look at self-compassion and emotion regulation
Module five
We investigate the multi-factorial aspects of fatigue and ADHD in this module
Module six
This bonus module is packed full of resources about Insomnia
Module seven
A further bonus module delving into relaxation
Module eight
And just for good measure, another bonus module about sensory overload and sensory self-soothing
Week 3: Can't Do it! Difficulties With Memory, Motivation, and Organization
Module one
We begin week 3 by exploring why it's tough to get going
Module two
We continue and look at motivation with values and choice point
Module three
In this module we explore elements of task initiation in session
Module four
This module delves into planning, prioritizing and organizing
Module five
We investigate barriers to self-compassion and how to overcome them
Module six
We explore integrating ACT with other models in this module
Module seven
Rumination and worry are explored in this module
Module eight
A bonus module packed with research papers to enrich your learning experience
Module nine
Another bonus module which includes a free cartoon based eBook on ACT
Week 4: Can't Help It! Difficulties with Impulsivity
Module one
We begin our final week by delving into impulsivity and urge-surfing
Module two
We explore hyperfocus in this module
Module three
This module explores masking, useful apps, and modifying metaphors.
Module four
We explore progressive muscle mindfulness in this module
Module five
We explore cognitive flexibility in this module
Module six
Some parting comments as we conclude this course
Module seven
A bonus module packed with resources about task-focused attention and mindfulness of the breath
Module eight
A final bonus module about impatience, anger and aggression
Course Excerpts
What People Say About This Course
Jane GabitesPsychologist - Titirangi, Auckland, New ZealandRuss explains everything so clearly. And he also makes it fun, with his little humorous asides - which I love. I have many clients and also family members with ADHD. The course has given me tools that I can use immediately with them. My son told me the other day that the ACE tool has literally changed his life because it is so perfect for the ADHD mind.
Audra YetterSpeech-Language Pathologist & Executive Function Coach - Bozeman, Montana, United StatesIt really makes ACT come alive. The therapy demonstrations by Russ Harris are invaluable. Course material is concise and gives you what you need to incorporate skills into your practice.
Sara AndrewsLicensed Professional Counselor - East Sussex, UKBrilliant course! The way Russ delivers the content works so well – the combination of videos (with animation and humour), exercises, text, and 'in therapy' examples. It is very easy to navigate and the course content is engaging, comprehensive, and links so clearly with interventions in the therapy room.
Leah B. SmithPsychologist - Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaReally love that I can take it as my own place and do this in my own time. Russ has a really great way of presenting and explaining information to a wide audience of people. Engagement is really important to me and making the content fun and interesting. The topics he often covers also - always very on point and relevant. Highly recommend to others :)
Sharon DavisBCBA - Beach Haven, New Jersey USAI love learning and ACT Therapy just feels like a natural method that I am comfortable bringing to my clients. As a BCBA I value the evidence based research, to support the the treatment as well as the fact ACT applies to a wide range of conditions. As I apply the principles of ACT myself and with clients, focusing on values driven behavior, I see positive steps and change in both my own and my clients life. The feedback I receive when using ACT far exceeds any other Therapy methods I have addressed.
Rayza V. Maldonado del MoralPsychologist - San Juan, Puerto RicoIt explains in a very comprehensive way how to use ACT with ADHD, with practical and specific examples and applications. It has helped me reinforce what I was already doing with my patients, develop confidence, and learn new strategies and ways of offering my services as a clinical psychologist.
Continuing Education & Professional Development (CE/CME/CPD)
ACT for ADHD 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 12 CE/CME credit hours for US licensed professionals:
Psychologists - 12 CE hours, APA - co-sponsored with Amedco, an APA-approved sponsor
Social workers - 12 general CE credits, ASWB ACE
Physicians - 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACCME
Nurses - 12 contact hours, ANCC
Counselors, MFTs & addiction professionals - 12 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.
