A practical introduction to ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, pronounced as one word) helps people explore their relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings, identify what they value, and take actions guided by those values.
ACTvet introduces this approach through six structured steps, reflections and exercises. It is a self-directed support app: it does not replace professional care, and we do not promise a particular outcome.
From ACTIVATE to ACTvet
ACTvet is developed by Swansea University and King’s College London.
The research underpinning ACTvet was originally led by Professor Simon Dymond at Swansea University, working with the ACTIVATE study team. The app is now managed and developed by Dr Daniel Leightley at King’s College London through the UK Military Research Group.
The work operates independently of the UK Ministry of Defence. Its aim is to improve understanding of digital support for veterans experiencing gambling-related harm.
Explore the publications
Read the original publications to understand the research, its methods and its limitations.
Recruiting and Retaining Military Veterans with PTSD and/or Gambling Harm for mHealth Interventions: Leveraging Social Media and Crowdsourcing
Conor Heath, Jess M. Williams, Daniel Leightley, Dominic Murphy and Simon Dymond.
JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2025.
Smartphone app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for post-traumatic stress disorder and gambling harm in veterans: A pilot feasibility study
Jess M. Williams, Conor Heath, Daniel Leightley, Dominic Murphy and Simon Dymond.
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 2025.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Co-Occurring Gambling Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans: A Narrative Review
Catherine Hitch, Daniel Leightley, Dominic Murphy, Nora Trompeter and Simon Dymond.
European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2023.
Thinking about taking part?
If you have been invited to a study, your research team will explain eligibility, what participation involves and how your information will be used. Read the participant information and ask any questions before deciding.
To find out about current research opportunities, get in touch with the ACTvet team.
For app or research enquiries, contact [email protected]. Please avoid sending sensitive health information in an initial email.