IICP College: ACT with Compassion

The aim of this award is to show participants how to integrate the key skills of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) alongside Compassion Focused Therapy.

Introduction

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based ‘third wave’ CBT approach, which also takes useful philosophical stances from Existentialism and Gestalt frameworks to create powerful counselling and therapeutic tools. ACT is increasingly demonstrating its effectiveness to help clients across a range of psychological issues.

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is a psychological approach that helps individuals cultivate self-compassion and reduce self-criticism, particularly in the contexts of shame, trauma, depression and anxiety.

Who Should Apply

This course will be of interest to various psychotherapists, professionals working within allied fields, counsellors and counselling students who have an interest in this area.

Course Content

This Workshop will cover how to effectively, creatively, compassionately, and flexibly integrate the key skills of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) to help you and your clients create more lasting changes, where you and they can often get stuck!

Practice using the 6 core processes of ACT:

• Contact with the present moment
• Acceptance
• Defusion
• Self-as-context
• Values
• Committed Action

As well as the 3 Circles model of CFT:

• Threat
• Ambition
• Soothing

Participants will also use ‘the Matrix’, as a tool for ongoing assessment, and contextual targeting of ACT processes. The importance of compassion, validation and client collaboration will be discussed throughout the course of the workshop.

Award: CPD Certificate of Attendance

CPD: 6 hours and participants receive a CPD certificate of attendance

Cost: €95.00 (15% Discount for IICP Students/ Alumni and VCS Counsellors)

Date: Saturday 16^th May 2026

Delivery:  Onsite

Time: 9:30am to 4:30pm

For further information, call 01 466 4205 or to get further details, visit: https://iicp.ie/course/acceptance-commitment-therapy-act-compassion-course-ireland/