Clinical Psychologist
Board Approved Supervisor
Emma Spencer is a Clinical Psychologist based in Sydney, Australia. She has worked with children, adolescents, and families for over two decades and has been practicing ACT since her first training in 2004.
Emma identifies as an ACT therapist and is known for her gentle, neuroaffirming approach. She is the developer of the Low Demand Approach to Therapy™ and the ACT-Action Path — frameworks grounded in compassion, flexibility, and developmental sensitivity.
Her teaching style is warm, practical, and engaging, with a strong focus on giving clinicians tools they can use right away.
This practical, intermediate-level workshop is designed for health professionals who use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in their work with children and early teens — particularly those navigating grief, loss, or significant life changes.
Led by experienced ACT therapist and Clinical Psychologist Emma Spencer, the session introduces the ACT-Action Path — a developmentally appropriate framework for teaching ACT processes to young clients. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and experiential exercises to help kids build flexibility and meaning during tough times.
Whether your clients are dealing with bereavement, family separation, school transitions, moving home or other emotional upheaval, this workshop will equip you with practical ACT tools to support their healing.
What you'll learn
✔️ How grief and loss show up in childhood and early adolescence✔️ How to adapt ACT for younger developmental stages✔️ Introduction to the ACT-Action Path framework✔️ Tools to help kids engage with values, defusion, self-as-context and more✔️ Creative, compassionate ways to explore big feelings without bypassing✔️ Activities you can use immediately in the therapy room
This workshop is live and interactive — come ready to participate, share, and reflect.
📹 Note: Live training only – no recording available due to the experiential nature of the session.
Who should attend?
This training is ideal for:
- Psychologists
- Mental health clinicians
- School counsellors/psychologist
- Allied health professionals…who have a basic understanding of ACT and want to build confidence applying it with children and adolescents experiencing grief, loss, or transition.