ACTing together: Working with acceptance commitment therapy in teams
Date and time: Wednesday May 27th, afternoon
When the stakes are high, elite teams face moments that can jeopardise performance, such as falling behind early, playing to avoid relegation, or competing in a play‑off match. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers an evidence‑based approach to sustaining performance under pressure by strengthening psychological flexibility, defined as the capacity to remain open to aversive internal experiences while engaging in effective, values‑guided behaviour (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999). Although ACT is increasingly employed in elite sport to optimise performance (see, e.g., Henriksen et al., 2020), translation of the model to the team level has received comparatively limited attention.
This interactive workshop extends ACT from an individual intervention to a team‑level performance framework. We begin with a brief introduction to the foundations of ACT. We then demonstrate how shared values and committed actions can be developed in a team setting using several practical tools. We discuss how these values and actions can function as an in‑the‑moment compass that keeps players coordinated during in‑game adversity, and how they can provide a coherent framework across an entire season or championship cycle. Next, we examine the remaining ACT processes (mindfulness, acceptance, defusion, and self‑as‑context) and how they equip players to handle pressure, stress, and uncomfortable emotions so they can re‑engage in helpful, values‑based behaviours when it matters most.
Participants will leave with practical methods for working with the psychological processes specified in the ACT model in a team context. You will gain a clear approach to aligning a team around what matters. The session includes exercises, discussion, illustrative testimonials from athletes using ACT within their teams, and reflections on lessons learned from applied team‑based work.
Who Is This Workshop For?
Designed for professionals working in and around sport, including:
- Sport psychologists
- Performance and Mental Skills Consultants
- Sport coaches
About the Workshop Leader
Dr. Karin Moesch is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Sciences at Malmö University. Her research focuses on applied issues in elite sport, particularly mental health, sport injuries, and mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions. She also works as a sport psychologist for the Swedish Sports Confederation, providing individual counselling, workshops, and psychological support to elite athletes, teams and coaches preparing for major competitions. She has been working with several elite teams in the past years and will provide insight into this work during the workshop.
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