Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

by Sarah Tomlinson, Jonathan Williams, Natalie Boulton

Overview

Adults with intellectual disabilities can often have their views and needs overlooked and are frequently not sufficiently involved in their own care or behaviour support plans.

The central focus on values in ACT helps people identify what matters to them, allowing the practitioner to instead truly support the values-based goals of the individual with intellectual disability. This first-of-its kind guide adapts an ACT model to ensure a meaningful, person-centred therapeutic approach for this group. 

From managing the lifelong impact of cognitive difficulties, having trouble regulating and understanding feelings, and experiencing distress from disability related trauma - this guide will help the practitioner adapt ACT for salient issues related to adult intellectual disability. With case studies, advice on session structure, and ideas for exercises, it contains a wealth of resources for practitioners, supporters and wider networks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781805012993
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	10/21/2025
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr Sarah Tomlinson is consultant clinicalpsychologist in ManchesterNHS Foundation Trust and has her own business (https://www.pathnorthwest.co.uk/). She has worked in the NHS with adults with learning disabilities and/or autism for 26 years and trained in ACT in 2018. She co-chairs a local ACT and Learning Disabilities Special Interest Group.

Dr Jonathan Williams is a consultant clinical psychologist specialising in learning disabilities (intellectual disabilities). He has over 20 years' experience in the field of psychology and has been using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy since 2006. Jonathan is the Professional development lead for the British Psychological Society Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities and has previously served on two committees for the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science. Jonathan has published over 20 peer reviewed papers and authored two previous books relating to ACT and intellectual disabilities.

Dr Natalie Boulton is a Senior Clinical Psychologist specialising in learning disabilities (intellectual disabilities). Natalie works within an NHS specialist learning disability and autism service in the North West of England and has worked alongside people with intellectual disabilities and their supporters in a variety of settings for almost twenty years. Natalie trained in ACT in 2014. Creative adaptation of ACT principles to enhance accessibility for people with intellectual disabilities and supporters has become a core aspect of her research and clinical practice since this time. Natalie co-chairs a local ACT and intellectual disability special interest group.