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Dawn Johnson ACBS Board Member - UK And Ireland Chapter

Tell us a bit about yourself

Jim Lucas

I live and work in Birmingham, the city of 1000 trades. I moved here in 1996 from Kent, where I grew up. Having spent my youth rambling the countryside, I was eager to taste city life, and London felt too busy and close to home. I was keen on a new adventure.

Jim Lucas

I studied for a degree in Sociology and worked various jobs supporting people experiencing homelessness.  I trained as an Addictions Counsellor and completed a post-graduate course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at the University of Birmingham in 2005.  I’ve worked in several NHS roles and now earn a living in private practice.

I am married (not legally), have two children (a boy and a girl), plus a friendly cat. I like being outdoors, running, cycling and swimming. I love going on new adventures and discovering local and faraway places. I try to be creative and courageous every day.

When I’m uncomfortable, I try to be curious to keep learning, growing and becoming the best possible version of myself. I fail often, and I make the same mistakes. I hope to be the change I want to see, moving my feet one day at a time.

I studied for a degree in Sociology and worked various jobs supporting people experiencing homelessness.  I trained as an Addictions Counsellor and completed a post-graduate course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at the University of Birmingham in 2005.  I’ve worked in several NHS roles and now earn a living in private practice.

What do you do?

1

In 2016, I set up a Birmingham-based psychology enterprise called Openforwards.  I’ve grown the team from me to nearly ten practitioners and spend most of my time delivering supervision and training.

2

I am an ACBS peer-reviewed ACT Trainer, and I’ve taught 1000s of people how to integrate ACT into their therapeutic toolkit.  In 2021, I set up the ACT Practitioners Community. This online space brings together therapists who want to learn ACT by practising it, sharing ideas and discovering as much as possible to become highly skilled ACT clinicians.

3

I regularly deliver ACT training around functional analysis, case conceptualisation and becoming more experiential.  I am eager to help people become better ACT practitioners and continue to develop my teaching and supervisory skills.

Why are you a member of ACBS?

I joined ACBS in 2012, shortly before attending my first ACT conference in London.  I was made to feel welcome and got the chance to connect with other people around the UK and Ireland.  Several of us started a regional peer support group called ACT Birmingham Interest Group (ACT BiG), and are still going strong. ACBS continues to feel like a professional and spiritual home. 

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