Book now: https://contextualconsulting.co.uk/live-training/the-self-and-parts-in-act/
Many clients struggle with difficult relationships with themselves, such as harsh self-criticism, inner conflict, or feeling pulled in different directions.
In therapy, this often shows up as different “parts”, for example a critical voice, an anxious part that wants to avoid, or another part pushing hard to cope or perform.
In ACT, we aim to help clients step back from these experiences through self-as-context. However, many practitioners find it hard to move beyond talking about thoughts and feelings, and into something more experiential and effective in the room.
This workshop centres on the ACT DEPOT method (Differentiate, Enact, Process, Observe, Transform), a structured framework for working step by step with parts and their functions. You will learn how to:
- help clients separate and distinguish between different parts of their experience
- bring these parts into the room in a clear and tangible way including chairwork and enactment
- support clients to step into an observing perspective and relate more flexibly to what shows up
- transform the “self-to-part” relationship through a compassionate functional analysis
You’ll see demonstrations, take part in exercises, and practise the method in pairs, so you leave with skills you can use straight away.
Background to the workshop
Working with the “self” is central to many difficulties clients bring to therapy, from rigid self-judgements to feeling overwhelmed by internal experiences or caught between competing inner pulls. ACT offers a powerful model of self-as-context, yet without clear ways to bring it to life in practice, this process can remain abstract.
Approaching these experiences as “parts” offers a practical way forward. By helping clients differentiate between parts, give them space, and explore the relationships between them, therapists can support meaningful shifts in how clients respond, without needing to challenge or eliminate the content itself.
This workshop integrates these experiential approaches with ACT, grounded in relational frame theory (RFT), while keeping a strong focus on what actually happens moment-to-moment in therapy.
What you will gain from this workshop
You will leave with:
- A clearer, more usable understanding of self-as-context, and how it comes alive when working with parts
- A structured method (DEPOT) for guiding work with parts in session
- Skills in helping clients differentiate, contact, and relate differently to parts of their experience
- Greater confidence in organically facilitating defusion and acceptance via perspective-taking and metaphor
- Ways to link this work to values and yearnings, so clients can move towards what matters rather than getting stuck in inner struggle
About this workshop
The workshop combines teaching with experiential learning. Participants will engage in demonstrations, guided exercises, and practice in pairs to build confidence in using the DEPOT method.
There will be a strong focus on moment-to-moment therapeutic process, helping participants translate ACT concepts into practical, usable interventions. The aim is to provide a clear and flexible approach that can be integrated into a range of clinical settings.
Lou has been facilitating ACT, mindfulness and integrative mental health workshops since 2012, and his sessions have a reputation for being practical, heartfelt and grounded in real clinical application. As ACBS Training Committee Chair and a Peer-Reviewed ACT Trainer, he brings both depth of practice and a strong eye for what actually helps clinicians in the room.
Who will benefit from this workshop?
This workshop is designed for psychologists, therapists, and other mental health professionals with an interest in ACT.
It is particularly suited to clinicians who:
- Want more practical ways to shape self-as-context repertoires
- Work with clients who experience strong inner conflict or self-criticism
- Are interested in using experiential methods, such as chairwork and enactment, to bring therapy to life
Some familiarity with ACT will be helpful, but the workshop focuses on building practical skills that can be applied across different levels of experience.