Association for Contextual Behavioral Science

A worldwide online learning and research community, and a living resource for anyone interested in #ACT, #RFT, and #CBS

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

One registration, double the learning!

When you sign up for the ACBS Virtual Summit, your registration includes full access to all Virtual Summit sessions—PLUS select bonus recordings from the 2026 World Conference!

Catch top-tier presentations on your own time, revisit key insights, and expand your clinical toolkit with both live and recorded content. 🎥✨

🗓️ Registration is open now!
🔗 See what’s included and register today: https://t.co/0Hs9QsPZE5

#ACBS #ACBSWC26 #ACT #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

What if goals aren't the point—but give our values a way to come alive?

In his latest Psychology Today piece, @StevenCHayes explores how goals can give values “a body,” using the world of sport to illuminate psychological flexibility, play, competition, and what it means to care deeply without losing sight of how we want to show up.

A thoughtful read on values, goals, and the game of life.
https://t.co/GDJgkEi7lF

#ACBS #ACT #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

"Perhaps every client we see is an unfinished poem. Perhaps you and I are unfinished poems.” - Kelly Wilson, Ph.D. on the place of poetics in contextual behavioral science at #ACBSWC26 in Lyon.

Missed the live session? Get the recording when you register for the 2026 ACBS Virtual Summit. Learn more: https://t.co/izCyrXQ4zo

#ACBS #ACT #Psychology #MentalHealth

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

Can ACT help us navigate the digital world?

A new review maps the growing research on ACT interventions for digital technology-related issues—from problematic social media use and gaming to smartphone use, online pornography, and cyberbullying.

The review identified 21 interventions across 20 studies, with values and experiential avoidance among the most common ACT targets. But there’s still work to do: researchers call for clearer intervention protocols, stronger study designs, and greater attention to mechanisms of change.

Where does ACT fit in an increasingly digital world? Read the full review: https://t.co/KsfCsPQSwz

#JCBS #ACBS #ACT #DigitalMentalHealth #mentalhealth #PsychologicalFlexibility #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

Could the thoughts we repeatedly dwell on shape not only how distressed we feel each day, but also whether we act on what truly matters to us during pregnancy and beyond?
https://t.co/g7cvebmskM
#EmotionalDistress #PregnancyResearch #ValuedAction

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

What does volunteering with ACBS look like? For Molly England, it’s a chance to find community, share her voice, and contribute to something bigger.

In our latest Volunteer Spotlight, Molly shares her journey with ACBS, the experiences that have meant the most to her, and her advice for anyone thinking about volunteering: “Do it!”

Read her story and discover where getting involved might take you.
https://t.co/E9lIHRwJDx

#ACBS #ACT #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

Contrary to popular belief, 'taking a deep breath' can actually intensify anxiety rather than calm it."

Join Alicia Meuret at the ACBS Virtual Summit: ACT & The Body for her groundbreaking session examining the science of respiration, interoception, and panic disorder.

Dr. Meuret will debunk common myths about breathwork, explore how overbreathing leads to hypocapnia and panic-like symptoms, and present clinical trial findings on Capnometry Assisted Respiratory Training (CART)—as well as research on guided breathing apps like the Apple Watch "Breathe." Learn how to evaluate the physiological risks and true benefits of breathwork interventions in clinical practice.

🗓️ Registration is open now!
🔗 Secure your spot today: https://t.co/8n4798BCDi

#ACBS #ACT #Anxiety #Biofeedback #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

🌍 Now Open: ACBS Diversity Award Applications & Nominations

Do you know someone advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through contextual behavioral science? Or is that someone you?

The ACBS Diversity Award recognizes members whose work is creating meaningful impact through research, teaching, clinical practice, and/or community service across diverse communities.

🏆 Award recipients receive a certificate and the choice to:
• Attend one of the next two ACBS World Conferences free, or
• Donate that registration in their name to a DEI Scholarship recipient.

Applications are open through September 30. Help us celebrate the people moving our field—and our community—forward. https://t.co/bEQxXe68QE

#ACBS #ContextualBehavioralScience #DEI #MentalHealth #ACT #Inclusion

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

What if the psychological processes driving distress aren’t universal—but instead reveal distinct patterns across countries, reshaping how personalized therapy should target change?
https://t.co/CO70n6OCLJ
#ProcessBasedTherapy #NetworkAnalysis #CrossCountryComparison

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

"Psychological flexibility isn't just a mental concept—it’s a lived, relational, and embodied process."

Join Manuela O'Connell at the ACBS Virtual Summit for her experiential workshop: Embodiment and Therapeutic Presence in ACT.

Learn how to use somatic awareness, posture, gesture, and embodied metaphors as direct pathways to foster openness, connection, and values in real time. Dr. O'Connell will guide participants through practical ways to deepen therapeutic presence and integrate the body directly into clinical practice.

🗓️ Registration is open now!
🔗 Reserve your spot today: https://t.co/9ZD3NIJP2X

#ACBS #ACT #Mindfulness #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

How do we measure psychological inflexibility in adolescents—and know the measure works across contexts? 📊

A study of 885 Finnish adolescents finds that the AFQ-Y8 has strong psychometric properties, good reliability, and promising clinical screening utility. Scores were comparable across gender, over time, and across Finland, Spain, and Portugal—with a cutoff score of 8 optimally distinguishing depression cases.

A practical, validated tool for identifying and monitoring a core process targeted in ACT.

Read the full study: https://t.co/hJdodCfnAB

#JCBS #ACBS #ACT #PsychologicalFlexibility #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

Can learning to live meaningfully with climate uncertainty reduce eco-anxiety—or is psychological flexibility the missing piece?
https://t.co/wx52xT98bi
#EcoAnxiety #PsychologicalFlexibility #SustainableWellBeing

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

SIG Spotlight: Relational Frame Theory (RFT) Special Interest Group

What happens when we come together to explore, advance, and disseminate Relational Frame Theory? The RFT SIG is building a collaborative, inclusive community where curiosity, kindness, friendship, and playful exploration fuel ambitious ideas and meaningful research.

From networking meetings and reading groups to curated “Top 10” research lists for RFT learners, the SIG creates opportunities to connect, learn, and contribute to the field. As recent recipients of the ACBS SIG Award Grant, the RFT SIG is also using this support to record a series of training webinars in Spanish and Portuguese—helping make RFT learning more accessible to communities around the world.

Interested in RFT? Join the RFT SIG and its listserv and connect with a community working to grow RFT research and its impact around the world. https://t.co/JpWNEzhbLE

#ACBS #RFT #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

Did you know ACBS members get exclusive access to our Research Hub? Members enjoy access to curated summaries and essential resources to support your research in Contextual Behavioral Science, from basic to applied studies across the ACT and RFT landscape. https://t.co/zpjslacVqi

#ACBS #ACT #CBS #RFT #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

"For many, living with a long-term health condition creates a felt dichotomy between managing one’s health and truly living."

Join Joseph Lavelle at the ACBS Virtual Summit for his session exploring brief, low-intensity ACT interventions for chronic physical health conditions like IBD and cardiovascular disease. Drawing from his perspective as both a researcher and someone living with chronic illness, Lavelle will share practical strategies to adapt core ACT processes into brief formats that fit into crowded medical lives, reduce service bottlenecks, and help clients move beyond just managing symptoms to truly thriving.

🗓️ Registration is open now!
🔗 Get all the details and sign up: https://t.co/gpSzuNDkqp

#ACBS #ACT #ChronicIllness #ContextualScience #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

A minute of advice is not ten years of therapy.

In a new Psychology Today article, D.J. Moran explores the difference between understanding psychological principles and actually learning to live them—and why meaningful change takes practice, feedback, repetition, and relationship.

As short-form mental health content continues to grow, this is an important reminder: insight can point us in a direction, but it can't do the work for us.

Read the full article: https://t.co/5qdzdoi5ZM

#ACBS #ACT #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

Congratulations to Sandro Voi on becoming a new ACBS Peer Reviewed ACT Trainer! 🎉

Sandro’s journey with CBS began during his undergraduate studies in Italy, when he discovered ACT through The Happiness Trap. Drawn to the connections between CBS, mindfulness, and Eastern approaches, he continued learning, reading, and connecting with the ACBS community along the way.

Sandro credits the mentors and colleagues who welcomed and supported him throughout his journey, and sees becoming a PRT not as the end, but as “the start” of a new chapter — one focused on continuing to learn, grow, and support others.

Please join us in celebrating Sandro and all his hard work and success! 💙
https://t.co/stBvd96tN2

#ACBS #ACT #psychology #mentalhealth

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

What happens when the rules change—but the rule doesn't?

A new #JCBS study finds that LLMs can show contingency insensitivity, much like human rule-governed behavior. All four models tested showed some degree of rigidity, with GPT 5.2 and Grok 4.1 showing near-complete insensitivity to changing contingencies.

The finding? Contingency insensitivity may not be uniquely human—it may be system-general.

Read the full article and explore what this means for understanding—and applying—LLMs. https://t.co/PwgYLlg31f

#ACBS #LLMs #AI #mentalhealth #psychology

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

"Psychological flexibility is an embodied repertoire that can be observed, evoked, practiced, and shaped through the body and CBS has an opportunity to more fully integrate this dimension into its science and practice" - Manuela O'Connell, LIC. on embodied flexibility at #ACBSWC26 in Lyon.

https://t.co/ErF7Yr5UUc
#ACBS #ACT #Psychology #MentalHealth

[Association for Contextual Behavioral Science @myACBS]

Researchers and clinicians often end up in silos, with little communication flowing between them. But how do we bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and everyday clinical care?

Join Maria Karekla, Ph.D., Rikke Kjelgaard, Staci Martin, Ph.D., Temple Morris, MSW, Jennifer Payne, Ph.D., LCSW, and Jacqueline Pistorello, Ph.D. at the ACBS Virtual Summit for an interactive panel diving into the real-world challenges of the researcher-clinician divide. Learn how to overcome implementation barriers, integrate evidence-based methods seamlessly into client sessions, and get an exclusive look at a new network designed for active ACBS collaborations.

Learn more and register: https://t.co/buaOP36pBs

#ACBS #ContextualScience #ACT #Psychology #MentalHealth