Speakers
Steven C. Hayes
The originator and “rock star” of ACT. Witness the brilliance of the man who started a revolution in behavioral science.
Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor Emeritus in Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and President of the Institute for Better Health, a nearly 50-year-old charity dedicated to enhancing mental health care quality. He has authored 48 books and over 700 scientific articles, focusing on human language and cognition to alleviate suffering.
Hayes earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University in 1977, followed by a clinical internship at Brown University under David H. Barlow. His academic journey led him from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, to UNR in 1986, where he served as Director of Clinical Training and later Chair, retiring in 2023.
He has been a prominent figure in behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy, leading several major psychological associations, including the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). Hayes has secured about $15M funding for research and served on the National Advisory Council for Drug Abuse in the NIH.
His contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy and the James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science. He is recognized globally as one of the most influential and highly cited psychologists, ranked by Research.com and AD Scientific Index as among the top 5 clinical psychologists and among the top 25-75 o.
Hayes’s personal battle with panic disorder and agoraphobia catalyzed his development of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the early 1980s. His work on ACT and Relational Frame Theory (RFT) has since transformed clinical psychology, leading to bestsellers like “Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life” and “A Liberated Mind”. Over the last decade, he has pioneered process-based therapy, culminating in three influential books, yet to be encapsulated in a self-help format until now.
Robyn Walser
Her mastery of the therapeutic relationship and “softness” in the room is legendary.
Robyn D. Walser, Ph.D. is Director of TL Consultation Services and and works at the National Center for PTSD. She is the Co-Director of Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services and Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. As a licensed psychologist, she maintains an international training, consulting, and therapy practice. Dr. Walser is an expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and has co-authored seven books on ACT, including a book on learning ACT.
She recently wrote the book The Heart of ACT- Developing a Flexible, Process-based, and Client-centered Practice Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Walser has expertise in traumatic stress, depression, moral injury, and suicide; and has authored a number of articles, chapters, and books on these topics. She has been doing ACT workshops since 1997; training in multiple formats and for multiple client problems. Dr. Walser’s workshops feature a combination of didactic and experiential exercises designed to provide a unique learning opportunity in this state-of-the-art intervention.
Gijs Jansen
The bridge between theory and the “real world.” His direct, humorous, and deeply human approach shows you how to find your own ACT voice.
Gijs Jansen is a psychologist, author, and international trainer in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Process-Based Therapy (PBT). He is the founder of ACT Guide and has developed a widely recognized training platform for professionals seeking to integrate evidence-based, experiential approaches into their clinical work. As a clinician and speaker, he maintains an international practice focused on training, consulting, and developing innovative tools that make psychological science practical, accessible, and deeply human.
Gijs is the author of numerous books on ACT and psychological flexibility, written for both professionals and the general public. His work emphasizes a process-based approach to therapy, helping clinicians move beyond diagnostic labels and focus on the underlying processes that drive human behavior and change. He collaborates with leading figures in the field, including Steven C. Hayes, and is known for translating complex therapeutic models into clear, engaging, and usable frameworks.
His upcoming book, Making ACT Happen, brings together years of clinical experience, research, and training into a practical guide for therapists who want to apply ACT and process-based principles in a flexible, client-centered way. In addition to his writing, Gijs delivers workshops and trainings worldwide, known for their combination of clarity, depth, and experiential learning, offering clinicians not just knowledge, but transformation in how they work and relate to their clients.
