Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Adults with intellectual disabilities can often have their views and needs overlooked and are frequently not sufficiently involved in their own care or behaviour support plans.

The central focus on values in ACT helps people identify what matters to them, allowing the practitioner to instead truly support the values-based goals of the individual with intellectual disability. This first-of-its kind guide adapts an ACT model to ensure a meaningful, person-centered therapeutic approach for this group.

Readers are supported to understand the lifelong impact of cognitive difficulties, including trouble regulating or understanding feelings and distress from disability related trauma. With case studies, advice on session structure and ideas for exercises, this guide contains a wealth of resources for practitioners, supporters and wider networks.

Author Biography

Dr Sarah Tomlinson is consultant clinical psychologist in Manchester NHS Foundation Trust and the founder of PATH North West. She has worked in the NHS with adults with learning disabilities and/or autism for 26 years and trained in ACT in 2018. She co-chairs a local ACT and Learning Disabilities Special Interest Group.

Dr Jonathan Williams is a consultant clinical psychologist specializing in intellectual disabilities. He has over 20 years’ experience in the field of psychology and has been using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy since 2006. Jonathan is the Professional development lead for the British Psychological Society Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities and has previously served on two committees for the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science.

Dr Natalie Boulton is a Senior Clinical Psychologist specializing in intellectual disabilities. Natalie works within an NHS specialist learning disability and autism service in the North West of England and has worked alongside people with intellectual disabilities and their supporters in a variety of settings for almost twenty years. Natalie trained in ACT in 2014. Natalie co-chairs a local ACT and intellectual disability special interest group.