Last updated: 12 December 2025 (reviewed for 2026 intakes and listings).
If you’re searching what are the best ACT beginner courses online, you’ll get the best return on your time (and your CPD budget) by choosing training that teaches the psychological flexibility model and gets you practising: demos, guided exercises, roleplay, and therapist language you can actually use in-session.
This guide recommends a short list of reputable beginner-friendly options, including: Psychwire (Russ Harris), Contextual Consulting, ACTivating Your Practice, Praxis, ACT Courses, Foundations of ACT (Diana Hill), and Rikke Kjelgaard I’ll also include ACT Courses at Openforwards as a UK-based, skills-first option for people who want practice and feedback—not just information.
Quick note: this is a training guide for practitioners. It’s not therapy advice for the public.
What “beginner ACT” should actually give you
A good beginner ACT course should help you do three things:
1) See the process: spot what’s happening in terms of psychological flexibility (or stuckness).
2) Choose a move: pick an intervention that fits the function, not just the worksheet.
3) Say it like a human: use ACT language that lands with real people, in real sessions.
If a course only leaves you with a handful of exercises and lots of PDFs… that’s interesting, but it’s not necessarily usable.
How I chose these courses (so you can trust the list)
I prioritised courses that are:
- Clearly ACT-focused (not “ACT-ish” as a side dish)
- Designed for clinicians (or at least clinically transferable)
- Explicit about format, structure, and what you’ll practise
- Run by trainers with a strong ACT track record
Where platforms host lots of trainers (e.g., Praxis), I treat the platform as an option—but encourage you to check the presenter and the learning design.
How to choose the right beginner ACT course online
1) Live vs on-demand
- On-demand: flexible, repeatable, good if you’ll actually schedule practice.
- Live/cohort: better for accountability, feedback, and the confidence boost of trying things out loud.
2) Is it experiential?
Look for:
- therapy demos (real or roleplay)
- guided exercises
- structured practice and feedback (or at least peer discussion)
You can’t “think” your way into good ACT. (Trust me, many of us have tried.)
3) Do you want foundations or an intensive?
- Foundations: hexaflex awareness + core methods (usually best first)
- Intensive/immersion: deeper, broader, sometimes faster—great if you want that pace
Quick comparison (high level)
| Provider | Format | Best for | Main watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychwire (Russ Harris) | Structured online course w/ forum | Clear foundations + excellent clinical teaching | Less personalised feedback unless you add it elsewhere |
| Contextual Consulting | Live + on-demand pathways | Strong contextual grounding + progression | Lots of choice—pick an intro step first |
| ACTivating Your Practice | Intro course + further training | “Training not workshops”: practice + feedback emphasis | Choose the true beginner entry point |
| Praxis | On-demand CE courses | Straightforward ACT basics + CE structure | Easy to jump too advanced—start with ACT Basics |
| ACT Courses | Online courses | Deeper learning w/ strong ACT lineage | Can be more immersive than some beginners want |
| Rikke Kjelgaard | Structured online 2 year programme | Throrough, recognised international trainers | Check if required to attend in-person |
| Foundations of ACT (Diana Hill) | On-demand modules | Warm, modern, self-practice + skill development | Ensure enough clinician-translation for your work |
| Openforwards | Integrated pathway | Practice, feedback, community | Coming soon in 2026 |
Mini-reviews: best ACT beginner courses online
1) Psychwire — ACT for Beginners (Russ Harris)
Best for: therapists who want a clear, practical introduction with strong teaching and high production value.
Format: structured online intake with weekly releases (with community forum).
What you’ll get: step-by-step ACT foundations, demonstrations, exercises, quizzes, and a forum to learn alongside others.
Why it’s on the list: Russ is exceptionally good at making ACT simple without diluting it’s philosophy.
Consider if: you learn best with direct feedback—pair this with a consult group/supervision to build fluency.
Good next step after this: focused ACT training for specific presentations + supervision.
2) Contextual Consulting — The ACT Pathway (and on-demand ACT training)
Best for: clinicians who want a solid contextual foundation and a clear progression beyond “intro.”
Format: pathway-style programme plus a large on-demand library.
What you’ll get: structured training over multiple sessions/modules, plus optional Q&As and resources.
Why it’s on the list: strong emphasis on functional analysis, processes, and building real clinical flexibility. Trusted training from Dr Joe Oliver and co.
Consider if: you want something smaller/cohort-based—there’s a lot to choose from, so pick an intro-level entry point.
Good next step after this: intermediate workshops + group supervision/consultation.
3) ACTivating Your Practice — introductory training (Part One)
Best for: therapists who want to be trained (with practice) rather than attend a “nice workshop.”
Format: online course designed as an introduction for beginners, with options to go live or self-paced depending on intake.
What you’ll get: teaching + demonstrations + an emphasis on practice (and often feedback).
Why it’s on the list: it’s explicitly designed as a beginner starting place, not an advanced “cool techniques” bundle. Excellent trainers in Dr Richard Bennett & Dr Dawn Johnson.
Consider if: you prefer a highly standardised curriculum—check how the learning is structured in the current intake.
Good next step after this: skills consolidation via peer practice / consult group.
4) Praxis — ACT Basics (Matt Boone)
Best for: clinicians who want a clean ACT fundamentals course with CE hours and a self-paced format.
Format: on-demand course.
What you’ll get: fundamental ACT concepts with experiential exercises and demonstrations.
Why it’s on the list: practical, structured, and easy to fit around work.
Consider if: you want live interaction—this is primarily self-paced.
Good next step after this: a live cohort training or focused population-specific ACT.
5) ACT Courses — ACT online learning (including “ACT in Practice” style courses)
Best for: therapists who want to go deeper into applying ACT across cases, with strong lineage and clinical demonstrations.
Format: online courses with a strong emphasis on applying ACT in practice.
What you’ll get: conceptualisation support + demonstrations/real-play/roleplay exercises (depending on course).
Why it’s on the list: helps bridge the “I get ACT” → “I can do ACT” gap. Training with Dr Steve Hayes.
Consider if: you want bite-sized basics—some people prefer a gentler on-ramp.
Good next step after this: deliberate practice + supervision focusing on therapist behaviour in-session.
6) Rikke Kjelgaard – 2 Year Programme
Best for: people who want to commit to a longer programme.
Format: in-person and online programme based in Denmark.
What you’ll get: a broad overview of the ACT model plus practical tools and resources.
Why it’s on the list: Facilitated by world-reknowned ACBS Peer-reviewed ACT Trainers.
Consider if: you want deep clinical skills practice—check how much experiential/feedback is included.
Good next step after this: a more advanced cohort training or consult group.
7) Foundations of ACT — Diana Hill
Best for: therapists who want a modern, warm foundations course with strong self-practice (and a mind-body flavour).
Format: 6-module on-demand course.
What you’ll get: psychological flexibility skills across the six processes, with practices to deepen learning.
Why it’s on the list: very accessible, and self-practice can meaningfully improve your clinical “feel” for ACT.
Consider if: you want heavily clinical/roleplay-based learning—pair with skills practice or supervision.
Good next step after this: clinical application training + deliberate practice.
8) Openforwards — ACT Basics (UK-based, skills-first)
Best for: therapists who want ACT to become a practical craft: language, timing, functional focus, and supported practice.
Format: live online training when dates run (plus community options for ongoing practice).
What you’ll get: foundations taught in a clinician-friendly way, with an emphasis on “what do I do next in session?”
Why it’s on the list: many clinicians don’t need more information—they need practice, feedback, and repetition that sticks. Training with ACBS Peer-reviewed ACT Trainer, Jim Lucas.
Consider if: you want instant access today—Openforwards trainings run periodically, so check the latest schedule.
Good next step after this: the ACT Training Community / consult-style practice to build fluency.
Suggested learning paths (choose your route)
Route A: “I want foundations that translate into sessions fast”
- Pick one solid foundations course (Psychwire / Praxis / Contextual intro)
- Add a practice group (even monthly) to build fluency
- Use supervision to tighten case formulation and therapist language
Route B: “I’m busy; I need flexible on-demand”
- Choose one on-demand foundations option (Praxis / Foundations of ACT / Act Online Training)
- Schedule 30 minutes a week for deliberate practice
- Add a community or supervision so you don’t stay in “watching videos” mode
Route C: “I want immersion and depth”
- Foundations first
- Then a deeper application/immersion (e.g., ACT Courses)
- Ongoing consult group + supervision to make it your own
FAQs
What are the best ACT beginner courses online for therapists?
A good beginner ACT course teaches psychological flexibility clearly and gets you practising. Look for demos, guided exercises, and a structure that helps you build fluency—not just knowledge. Options in this guide include Psychwire (Russ Harris), Contextual Consulting, ACTivating Your Practice, Praxis, ACT Courses, and others.
How do I know if an ACT course is truly “beginner”?
Beginner courses should cover the hexaflex, core methods (defusion, acceptance/willingness, values, committed action, present moment, self-as-context), and show you how to use them in-session. If it assumes you already know how to formulate functionally and flex interventions, it may be intermediate.
How long does it take to get competent at ACT?
You can start using ACT principles quickly, but clinical fluency typically comes from repeated practice across cases—especially with feedback (consult group or supervision). To identify where you are on the ACT Practitioner Developmental Path, read this article.
Do I need ACT supervision after a beginner course?
Not “need,” but if you want ACT to become reliable in your work (rather than a concept you admire from a distance), supervision or consult groups are one of the quickest ways to build competence.
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