Better Conversations with DNA-V: Supporting young people to thrive in life

Better conversations with DNA-V is a training program designed for anyone who wants to work more effectively with young people aged 16-25. About this event Better conversations with DNA-V is a training program designed for support workers, key workers, social care workers, coaches, psychologists and therapists - anyone who wants to work more effectively with young people aged 16-25, in community settings, and guide them towards thriving and vitality in their life. DNA-V (Discoverer, Noticer, Advisor & Values) is the youth model of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a developmental model designed to increase psychological flexibility in young people. The full training course provides you with an understanding of the DNA-V model, the different approaches within the model and how to use it in practice. The training is delivered experientially so you as a learner will be asked to engage with your own thoughts, feelings, behaviours and values as a way of fully understanding the benefits of the practice. You will leave with a good understanding of how to be more psychologically flexible in your own life as well as how to enable the young people you are working with to develop psychological flexibility. Participants will: • Learn foundational principles of the DNA-V model • Learn how and why to use Values to guide effective youth working • Develop an understanding of the Discoverer, Noticer and Advisor skills • Explore common emotional and behavioural situations in youth working through the DNAV toolkit • Consider where DNA-V maybe useful in your service • Work in an interactive, engaging and reflective environment alongside peers for a first hand experience of how this model can be used in everyday life for yourself and others All attendees will receive a DNA-V Toolkit and Values Card Pack in order to embed this way of working in their work with young people and support their continued learning and development post-training. Course Information The training is one full day: • Thursday 26 November 2026, 09:30 - 16:30 Booking terms & conditions can be found here. The training will be delivered by Meghan Joyce. Meghan has over 7 years of experience using the DNA-V model and is a passionate advocate for empowering practitioners to create meaningful change in the lives of young people. As a co-developer of the Better Conversations toolkit, Meghan has helped bridge the gap between clinical models and real-world practice, making DNA-V accessible to community workers, educators, and youth professionals. Meghan has been delivering DNA-V training for 5 years, equipping practitioners with practical tools to use in their day-to-day work. In addition to training, she offers supervision and facilitates reflective practice groups, supporting staff to deepen their understanding of the model and apply it effectively. A key achievement in Meghan’s career is the creation of Reboot West at 1625IP, a highly successful project that uses ACT and DNA-V techniques to support care-experienced young people in building sustainable change in their lives. Bringing a wealth of experience, insight, and a passion for collaborative learning, Meghan using experiential learning in her training to help create training spaces that are engaging, reflective, and grounded in practice.