THE SERIES IS BASED ON THE OVER DECADE-LONG CLINICAL AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE OF THE SPECIAL GROUP ‘ACT FOR KIDS AND TEENS,’ AMONG THE FOUNDERS OF THE ACTITALY ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (ACBS).
ACT&KIDS
ACT&Kids series aims to provide a range of practical, accessible, and easy-to-use materials and tools derived from years of research and clinical experience. Always scientifically grounded and based on ACT principles, these resources are designed for psychotherapists, psychologists, and professionals working with children and adolescents.
WHAT IS ACT?
WHY ACT IS BENEFICIAL FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS?
Developed within a coherent theoretical and philosophical framework, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a unique empirically based psychological intervention that illuminates the ways that language entangles clients into futile attempts to wage war against their own inner lives.
Clients gain the skills to recontextualize and accept these private events, develop greater clarity about personal values, and commit to needed behavior change. (Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, www.contextualscience.org/act)
ACT enhances the capacity of children and adolescents to creatively address their internal experiences. Clinical sessions based on ACT are characterized by genuine engagement and close collaboration between young patients and psychotherapists.
These sessions integrate playful and experiential activities aimed at fostering awareness and psychological flexibility.
These insights drove the creation of the “ACT&kids” book and tool series.
OBJECTIVE TARGET AUDIENCE
ACT&kids series aims to share and disseminate: ACT-oriented protocols; best practices; methodological insights; experiential activities; materials; tools tailored for children and adolescents.
The series targets not only clinical professionals but also other practitioners regularly engaged with youth, such as teachers.
IL MIO ZAINO P.E.S.C.A.
“Il mio zaino P.E.S.C.A.” is an interactive tool designed to facilitate dialogue and create common ground. It serves as a manipulable, everyday object that helps children and adolescents discover more about themselves.
Why P.E.S.C.A.?
P.E.S.C.A. stands for Pensieri (Thoughts), Emozioni (Emotions), Sensazioni (Sensations), Comportamenti (Behaviors), and Apprendimenti (Learnings).
These are the components of children’s and adolescents’ experience that will be the focus of clinical or psychoeducational work.
The material proposed in “Il mio zaino P.E.S.C.A.” originates from clinical practice, with the aim of providing professionals with a tool that can facilitate the helping relationship and help children and adolescents explore their inner world in a simple way.
BOARDS
SCIENTIFIC
EDITORS
FRANCESCA PERGOLIZZI
Psychologist and psychotherapist since 1980, she has delved deeply into establishing meaningful clinical relationships with young children.
She utilizes play from both cognitive-behavioral play therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy perspectives, engaging parents in awareness-building activities rooted in ACT, mindfulness, the Polk matrix, and the DANCE model.
Additionally, she serves as a lecturer and supervisor at various Clinical Schools in Psychotherapy.
Co-founding Actforkids with Giovambattista Presti in 2010 and Actforwomen in 2020, she continues to contribute significantly to ACTitalia. She boasts a wealth of publications.
SCIENTIFIC EDITORS
GIOVAMBATTISTA PRESTI
Giovambattista Presti (MD, PhD), is Full Professor of General Psychology at the University of Enna Kore. He has held teaching positions as scholar in residence at California State University Stanislaus College (Turlock, USA) and the Jordan University of Science and Technology (Irbid, Jordan). He is past president of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences and an ACT peer review trainer, founding member of the European Association for Behavior Analysis, and member of the Board of Advisors of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies in Boston. He is the President of the Italian Society of Experimental and Applied Behavior Analysts (SIACSA). He is a fellow of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science and of the Italian association CBT-Italia.
He has authored/coauthored more than 100 scientific articles and books on ABA, ACT and RFT.
He directs the Kore University BEhavioral Lab (KUBELab) and his research activities mainly concern Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory (RFT). Research focuses in particular on language development and training for children with developmental delay and applications in intervention with the use of the most advanced technological platforms, including virtual reality and robots. He also works on complex aspects of human behaviour, implicit cognition and choice.
SPRING 2025 AUTUMN 2025 AUTUMN 2026 UPCOMING RELEASES
PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE
An in-depth book exploring the intricacies of ACT across various stages of development, the application of ACT-oriented play, functional analysis, ACT in widespread parenthood, and much more.
CARD DECK
An enjoyable card deck to help children and their families learn and practice the strategies to improve their resilience.
PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE
ACT program for anxious children
Detailed materials description for use in therapy or educational settings
BOARD GAME
To be used in individual therapy, group therapy, classroom, and family settings
For adolescents and adults aged 12 and above
To work on psychological processes of experiential avoidance and cognitive flexibility
3 STEP-BY-STEP CASE EXAMPLES BOOKS
Each book features three case examples within a specific intervention area (e.g., fears and obsessions, school anxiety...)
Step-by-step case conceptualization
Assessment and intervention tools described in detail
Guidelines for generalizing tools and actions
Practical guidelines for clinical practice