ACT for Autism: A Neuroaffirming Approach

Learn how to use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) compassionately and effectively with autistic clients.

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About the course

Start date
Coming soon
Time
6 weeks | 12 months access
Who this course is for
For Mental Health & Health Professionals

Autistic clients usually have great strengths, refreshing new perspectives, and a wealth of creativity, but can also face unique and significant mental health challenges, from burnout and trauma, to insomnia and sensory overload. Working effectively with this population requires not only strong clinical skills, but also sensitivity, flexibility, and a neuroaffirming mindset.

In this engaging online course, Dr Russ Harris shares how to use ACT in a flexible, neuroaffirming way to help clients beat burnout, embrace their strengths, develop a positive self-identity, and build lives that are rich, full, and meaningful.

ACT for Autism: A Neuroaffirming Approach
Coming soon

Register your interest to receive an exclusive discount when this course launches

Learn from a World Leader in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

This course is led by Dr Russ Harris, one of the world’s most respected ACT trainers and the bestselling author of The Happiness Trap and ACT Made Simple. Russ is also a consultant to the World Health Organization and a pioneer in making ACT accessible and practical.

Through engaging video lessons, real therapy demonstrations, and interactive discussions, Russ will show you, step by step, how to apply ACT principles through a neuroaffirming lens.

You’ll see how ACT’s flexible, values-based model aligns naturally with the principles of The Neurodiversity Movement and the social model of disability; and how it empowers clients to recognize and embrace their neurodivergent strengths, and build a positive self-identity.

Russ Harris Therapy Demonstration
Why Does ACT Work So Well for Autistic Clients?

Dual or triple diagnoses are frequent amongst autistic clients, a trauma history is common, as are struggles with anxiety, depression, and ADHD.  ACT offers a powerful, nonpathologising approach that fits this context exceptionally well.

  • It’s flexible: ACT’s processes can be readily adapted to suit each individual’s strengths, needs, and communication style.

  • It’s compassionate: Its central focus on acknowledging suffering and responding with kindness fosters self-compassion and emotional safety.

  • It’s empowering: ACT helps clients identify what matters most and take effective action to improve wellbeing and quality of life, including the practice of difficult new behaviours such as self-advocacy and safe, flexible unmasking.

Man with clouds above his head listing diagnosis
What You’ll Learn

Across six weeks of guided learning, you’ll explore how to use ACT to support autistic clients in practical, empowering ways. You’ll learn to:

  • Understand autism through a neurodiversity-affirming, biopsychosocial  lens

  • Adapt your communication and therapeutic style to each client

  • Use neuroaffirming language and approaches that validate clients’ lived experience

  • Scaffold executive function skills, such as emotional regulation, attention flexibility and cognitive flexibility

  • Foster self-acceptance, self-compassion, and positive self-identity

  • Help clients to practice safe, flexible unmasking and build authentic connections

  • Help clients to flexibly use stimming, spins, and routines to self-soothe or ‘recharge their batteries’ in workable, life-enhancing ways

  • Work effectively with challenges such as sensory overload, burnout, autistic inertia, BFRBs (Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours), PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), and RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) - and very importantly, Russ will ensure that you…

Do NOT Use A ‘One Size Fits All’ Approach

When you’ve met one autistic person … you’ve met one autistic person! You’ll learn how to tailor ACT interventions to suit each client’s unique strengths, challenges, and context. And how to identify the function of problematic behaviours so you can create unique, targeted, compassionate interventions.

You’ll also explore how to “scaffold” new skills step-by-step, supporting clients to develop everything from emotion regulation to cognitive flexibility skills.

Autism and rigid rules illlustration
Course Structure and Format

This is a 16-hour online course, delivered over 6 weeks. You’ll receive approximately 2.5 hours of new content per week, including video lessons, therapy demonstrations, client handouts, and interactive exercises.

You’ll have 12 months of access, so you can learn entirely at your own pace and revisit key materials anytime. The course also includes an interactive discussion forum, where you can ask Russ questions and exchange ideas with professionals around the world.

Who this course is for

This course is open to all mental health and health professionals, including psychologists, therapists, counsellors, psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, speech therapists, BCBAs, and coaches.

However, this is an advanced level course, which assumes at least a beginners-level knowledge of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. Before enrolling, you must do at least one of the following:

  • 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

  • Thoroughly work through a beginners-level ACT textbook from start to end, such as ACT Made Simple, 2nd edition.

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