Experiential Introduction to Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Martin Wilks became an ACBS recognised internationally peer-reviewed ACT trainer in 2014, having developed and taught the experiential ACT introduction course for London based “Mindfulness training UK” since 2007. His membership of the BABCP ACT SIG dates back to 2008 - he has been Chair of the SIG for the last 4-5 years.

Martin has been a mindfulness teacher since the late 80’s; it was his interest in mindfulness that, for him, bridged the gap between his humanistic person-centred training and behavioural change science as ACT began to emerge in the UK in the early 2000’s. As an independent practitioner, 1994, he set up counselling services in HMP Brixton that incorporated ‘the mind/body workout group’ for all the many people on the waiting list. The prison counselling services progressively embraced the ACT model until he left in 2011.

He is now living in Suffolk where he is director of Flexible Psychological Solutions, FPS and co-director of “Being well in Suffolk” - BWIS, a community interest company. Here he has taught 8 week mindfulness courses since 2005 and throughout each year facilitates a variety of monthly drop-in practice groups, day and residential mindfulness retreats. He continues to teach regular two day ACT experientials in London, and elsewhere with a couple of recent trips to teach ACT in south-east Asia.