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The NEUROACT® Stress Management Program

stress management program | teens & Adults

Understanding and Responding to the Neurodivergent World

NEUROACT® is an evidence-informed stress management program designed for neurodivergent individuals experiencing stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. Grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and neuropsychology, this structured, manual-based program supports participants to develop psychological flexibility, reduce avoidance, and build practical strategies for navigating everyday life.

Specifically developed for autistic and neurodivergent individuals, NEUROACT® addresses common experiences such as sensory overload, emotional dysregulation, social overwhelm, and difficulty managing change. Through structured sessions, experiential exercises, and guided practice, participants are supported to build awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and physical responses, while developing strategies that can be applied across school, work, relationships, and daily life.

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Young adult finding calm and focus
psychological flexibility
NEUROAFFIRMING
sensory & emotional regulation
resilience

Why This Program Matters

For many neurodivergent individuals, everyday environments can feel overwhelming due to sensory sensitivities, emotional intensity, and social demands. This can make it difficult to engage in daily activities, relationships, and meaningful goals.

NEUROACT® provides a structured and supportive approach to understanding these experiences, while building practical skills to respond to stress, reduce avoidance, and increase engagement in everyday life.

Participation Approach

NEUROACT® is a participant-focused program that emphasises active engagement, discussion, and experiential learning. Participants are encouraged to practise skills between sessions to support real-world application and long-term outcomes.

Program Details

  • Age Range Teens (13-17) and adults (18+)
  • Eligibility Suitable for neurodivergent individuals (Autism, ADHD) experiencing stress, anxiety, or overwhelm
  • Funding options NDIS (Self and Plan-Managed), Medicare and private options available
  • Schedule Saturdays 1:30pm - 3:00pm (Terms 1 and 3)
  • get started Contact our team to learn more, discuss suitability, and secure a place in the next group

Who This Program May Be Suitable For

This program may be a good fit if you:

  • Experience ongoing stress, anxiety, or overwhelm
  • Finds it difficult to manage sensory or environmental demands
  • Avoids situations due to stress or uncertainty
  • Experiences emotional dysregulation or difficulty identifying internal states
  • Want to build practical coping strategies and increase independence
  • Are open to engaging in a structured, skills-based program

Skills Developed

Participants develop practical, real-world skills across key areas:

Emotional Awareness and Insight

  • Identifying stress triggers and patterns of avoidance
  • Recognising thoughts, emotions, and physical responses
  • Building awareness and perspective-taking

Mindfulness and Regulation

  • Managing emotional and sensory overwhelm
  • Learning mindfulness and grounding strategies
  • Building resilience and self-regulation skills

Psychological Flexibility

  • Responding to thoughts and emotions more effectively
  • Reducing avoidance behaviours
  • Strengthening attention and focus

Values and Direction

  • Identifying what is meaningful and important
  • Setting realistic, values-based goals
  • Increasing engagement in daily life and social participation

What Makes This Program Different

  • Evidence-based program grounded in ACT and neuropsychology
  • Specifically designed for neurodivergent individuals
  • Focus on psychological flexibility rather than symptom reduction alone
  • Practical, experiential learning approach
  • Use of visual supports and adapted materials for accessibility
  • Strong focus on real-world application across life domains
  • Targets both emotional regulation and meaningful life engagement

What You Can Expect

This program is designed to support participants to:

  • Reduce experiences of stress, overwhelm, and avoidance
  • Build skills to support emotional regulation and self-awareness
  • Increased confidence and independence in daily life
  • Strengthen engagement in social, academic, or work environments
  • Develop greater clarity around values and direction

Program Structure

  • DURATION 10-week program
  • FORMAT Weekly 90-minute sessions
  • APPROACH Structured sessions incorporating discussion, experiential exercises, mindfulness, and behavioural practice
  • Practice Between Sessions Guided exercises to support the application of skills in everyday situations

Research and Evidence

NEUROACT® has been evaluated through multiple studies conducted at the Karolinska Institute, demonstrating strong outcomes for adolescents and adults with autism and related challenges.

Research in this area has found:

  • Significant reductions in perceived stress, anger, and depression
  • Improvements in emotional regulation and prosocial behaviour
  • Increased psychological flexibility and quality of life
  • Reduced avoidance behaviours and improved engagement
  • Improvements in sleep quality and social motivation

Randomised controlled trials have demonstrated that these improvements were maintained beyond program completion.

Delivery Options

This program is available through flexible delivery options:

  • FACE-TO-FACE (Mascot Clinic) Delivered in a structured, supportive group environment
  • ONLINE (Telehealth) Accessible delivery with guided participation and practical exercises

Finding the Right Support

We understand that navigating stress and overwhelm can feel challenging. Our team is here to guide you through the process, helping you understand your needs and determine whether NEUROACT® is the right fit.

Ready to build skills for Managing Stress?

Contact our team to learn more or secure a place in the next NEUROACT® program.

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Feedback & Complaints

We are committed to providing a high standard of care and a positive experience for all individuals and families who access our services.

If something hasn’t met your expectations, we welcome your feedback. Sharing your concerns helps us understand your experience and make improvements where needed.

You are welcome to raise feedback directly with your clinician or contact our team using the form below. All feedback is taken seriously and will be responded to in a respectful and timely manner.

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