The University of Chester and Maggie’s — a cancer support charity with centres across the UK — have been working together to provide staff at the charity with psychological support techniques, based on cutting-edge research.
Professor Nick Hulbert-Williams and Dr Lee Hulbert-Williams at the University of Chester’s Department of Psychology have completed the delivery of the training, in which centre managers and cancer support specialists from across the country learned about Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) to help those affected by cancer.
Developed over 20 years in USA
The approach has been developed over the last 20 years, principally by Professor Steven Hayes and Professor Kelly Wilson in the USA, and represents the most recent major shift in supporting people going through life transition and psychological difficulties.
ACT is a psychological intervention approach which uses acceptance and mindfulness processes to accept what is out of a person’s control. In the case of cancer, this includes accepting their troubling thoughts and difficult emotional responses; crucially, it is not about accepting the inevitability of illness or death.
ACT encourages people to commit to take action towards living valued lives as a way to improve quality of life despite their experience, psychological distress and suffering.
Its goals can sometimes be explained in more simple terms as Accept, Choose, Take action.
The applicability of ACT to people living through and beyond cancer has been shown by Professor Nick Hulbert-Williams’ work at the University of Chester, over the last six years.
Both Professor and Dr Hulbert-Williams specialise in the use of ACT by non-therapists, and this innovative training package aimed to translate the approach into an enhanced communication skills course.
Professor Nick Hulbert-Williams, who is also Director of the Chester Research Unit of the Psychology of Health (CRUPH) at the University of Chester, said: “I would argue that ACT is the most substantial and evidence-based recent development in the related fields of psychological therapy and coaching.
“We’re excited to see Maggie’s taking a lead in adopting a caring ethos that aligns with the latest scientific evidence regarding how best to support people going through major life events.”
Dr Lesley Howells, Research Lead at Maggie’s Cancer Centres, added: “The training Nick and Lee delivered was engaging and interesting. Their way of teaching the ACT model parallels beautifully the approach Maggie’s takes to supporting people with cancer.
The approach is not about wrestling with depressed mood or anxieties, but with figuring
out how to live a meaningful life given recent changes in life’s circumstances.”
Details about studying psychology at the University of Chester can be found at: http://www.chester.ac.uk/psychology
For further details about Maggie’s please visit: www.maggiescentres.org
