How much does ACT training cost in the UK?

A Complete Breakdown

Introduction

If you’re thinking about training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the UK, one of the first questions on your mind is probably: How much is this going to cost me? Training is an investment — of time, money, and effort — and knowing what to expect can help you plan well and avoid surprises.

In this post I’ll take you through:

• What “ACT training” really means (levels, forms)
• A breakdown of typical price ranges
• How to spot misleading claims about “accreditation”
• Example UK training providers and what they charge
• How to get more value (discounts, funding, lower-cost paths)
• Tips for choosing the right fit

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What is ACT training (in this context)?

Before diving into prices, it helps to clarify what kinds of training people typically refer to when they talk about “getting ACT training.” Here are some variations:

• Introductory workshops — 1–2 day events to introduce core ACT theory and exercises
• Intermediate/advanced workshops — deeper dive into specific processes and more practice opportunities (e.g. defusion, values, ACT for particular populations)
• Extended programmes — multiple sessions over weeks or months, combining practice, reflection, supervision
• Online / self-paced courses — video lectures, recorded webinars, modules you can work through on your own
• Supervision / consultation — coaching or mentoring to help you apply ACT in your own context
• Conference / intensives / retreats — immersive events, often with role-plays, experiential labs, group practice

Each of these has different cost structures and what you “get” (hours, feedback, live practice, etc.).

One additional note that’s particularly important in the UK: there is currently no truly independent, external accreditation or certification of ACT training. Any provider claiming “certified ACT training” should be viewed with caution, since that can introduce a conflict of interest: the trainer is effectively certifying themselves or their own framework. It’s wise to dig into who is endorsing the course, what standards they use, and what independence exists. In other words: accreditation claims should raise questions, not close doors.

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Cost breakdown: What you might expect to pay

Below is a rough guide to price ranges you’ll see in the UK, to help orient expectations. Your actual cost may vary depending on the trainer, location, group size, and included extras (materials, supervision, follow-up).

Type of ACT training	Typical price range (GBP)	What that usually includes / caveats
Introductory workshop (1 day)	~£120 – £300	Basic ACT overview, light practice, no follow-up supervision
Introductory workshop (2 days)	~£250 – £600	More time for exercises, group work, feedback
Intermediate/advanced workshop (2–4 days)	£400 – £1,200+	More experiential work, deeper skill practice
Extended programme	£1,000 – £5,000+	Multiple modules, assignments, supervision, ongoing support
Online / self-paced modular courses	~£50 – £500+	Depends on depth, interactivity, tutor support
Supervision / consultation (hourly)	£60 – £120+ / hour	May be cheaper for groups or block bookings
Conferences / intensives / residential retreats	£200 – £800+ (or more)	Depends on duration, location, accommodation, trainer reputation

Again: these are ballpark figures, not guarantees. Always check what is actually included (meals, materials, feedback, recordings, etc.).

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📅 Selected ACT / ACT-adjacent Training Options (2025 / 2026)

• PsychFlex – ACT Two-day Introductory Skills Intensive
  📍 London, 25–26 Sept 2025
  💷 £330
  Includes 16 hours CPD, manual, certificate of attendance.
  👉 psychflex.co.uk
• ACTivate Your Practice (AYP)
  📍 Online / hybrid, rolling dates
  💷 Some modules/workshops from as little as £35
  Community-based model with practical workshops, courses, and ongoing membership.
  👉 activatingyourpractice.newzenler.com
• Rikke Kjelgaard — 2-year ACT Specialist Training
  📍 Hybrid (Copenhagen + Zoom), March 2025 – Dec 2026
  💷 48,000 DKK (~£5,600–£6,500 depending on exchange)
  Includes 90 hours of ACT training. Optional extra: supervision programme (32,000 DKK).
  👉 rikkekjelgaard.com
• Praxis Continuing Education & Training (PraxisCET)
  📍 Online, live and self-paced (global audience)
  💷 Prices vary — e.g. ACT for Anxiety Disorders is $449 USD (~£350)
  Wide catalogue of ACT and process-based therapy trainings.
  👉 praxiscet.com
• Contextual Consulting – ACT Training
  📍 UK & online (live and on-demand)
  💷 Prices vary depending on workshop length and format
  Offers introductory, intermediate, and advanced workshops, plus on-demand modules.
  👉 contextualconsulting.co.uk
• Openforwards ACT Learning Centre
  📍 Online (with community & live events)
  💷 Different prices depending on format (monthly or annual)
  Offers modular ACT skills training, supervision, practitioner community, and resources for ongoing learning.
  👉 openforwards.com

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Why the wide variation (and what drives cost)

Understanding why ACT training prices vary helps you judge offerings better. Some of the factors:

1. Duration and intensity
   Longer, experiential trainings with more practice, supervision, and feedback cost more.
2. Trainer expertise & reputation
   Trainers with strong record, peer-review credentials, or ACBS involvement (or who are well known) may charge more.
3. Group size & format
   Smaller groups allow more individual attention — but that tends to push up the cost per person.
4. Inclusion of supervision, follow-up support, peer consultation
   Some workshops are “stand alone”; others are embedded in longer programmes or include ongoing support.
5. In-person vs. online / hybrid
   Travel, venue costs, accommodation (for retreats) can add large overheads. Online can reduce cost, but high-quality interactivity and feedback may still require substantial resources.
6. Materials, licensing, recordings, use rights
   Some training includes rights to reuse scripts, digital assets, recordings, etc.
7. Location & accessibility
   London / major cities tend to be higher cost. More remote regions or online offerings may be cheaper.

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How to get more “bang for your buck” / funding & discounts

• Employer or organisation funding / CPD budget
  If you work in the NHS, in a charity, or a university, they may cover some or all costs of professional development.
• Early-bird pricing
  Many workshops give discounts for registering early.
• Student / low-income / unemployment discounts
  Some trainers offer concessions or sliding scale rates.
• Group bookings
  If you and colleagues attend together, you may be able to negotiate a reduced per-person fee.
• Instalment payments / payment plans
  Some providers allow you to spread payments over time.
• Free / low-cost previews or taster events
  Providers like Contextual Consulting offer free introductory sessions. Contextual Consulting
  These are good for assessing the trainer’s style and whether you want to commit further.
• Peer learning / reading groups
  Complement paid training with a study group, reading ACT texts, reflective practice.  In the Openforwards ACT Learning Centre community, we have a book club and monthly themes we work through.
• Use open resources and communities
  ACBS (Association for Contextual Behavioural Science) and other ACT communities often provide webinars, content, and free or low-cost workshops.

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What to look for when evaluating a training offer

Because there is no independent “certification board” for ACT courses in the UK, your due diligence matters. Here are things you should check:

• Transparency about content and hours
  Make sure you know how many days / hours, how much live vs. recorded / self-paced, how much practice time.
• Trainer credentials & oversight
  Who is teaching, what is their background, is there external peer review or oversight?
• Supervision / feedback / mentorship offered
  Opportunities for guided practice, role-plays, feedback make huge difference in skill development.
• Group size / ratio
  The smaller the group (or the better the ratio of participants to trainers), the more opportunity for individual attention.
• Materials and access rights
  What handouts, slides, recordings, reuse rights are included?
• Follow-up support / community
  After the workshop is over, will there be ongoing group consultation, Q&A sessions, continuity?
• Clear refund / cancellation policy
  Sometimes life intervenes — know your rights if the course changes or you cannot attend.
• No grand claims of “official certification” unless backed by independent body
  Because there is no fully independent accreditation in the UK, claims of “certified” or “endorsed” training should prompt you to ask: By whom, under what standards, and how independent?

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Example scenario: estimating cost for your “ACT pathway”

To help give a more concrete picture, here’s a hypothetical path and its cost breakdown (assuming mid-range providers):

1. Introductory 2-day workshop: £400
2. Intermediate 3-day workshop (1 year later): ~£800
3. Ongoing supervision / consultation (10 hours over year): ~£1000 (at £100/hr)
4. Access to online modules, community, recorded webinars: ~£200
5. Conference or intensive (weekend): ~£300

Total (over ~2 years): ~£2,500

That’s one realistic route. Of course, it’s possible to go higher or lower, depending on choices.

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In Summary

• ACT training in the UK does not (yet) have independent third-party accreditation — be cautious of providers claiming to offer “certified ACT training” without independent oversight.
• Costs vary widely depending on format, depth, trainer, and included support.
• Typical ranges might be a few hundred pounds for short workshops, and several thousand for extended programmes.
• Several UK providers exist (PsychFlex, Contextual Consulting, university modules, our own Openforwards ACT Learning Centre), each with different pricing models.
• To make your investment count, prioritise supervision, small group learning, and ongoing support rather than just cheaper upfront cost.