Many therapists either struggle with therapy with autistic clients or use a diagnosis of autism as a basis for exclusion from all “talking therapies”. Difficulties with theory of mind, articulating emotions and a failure to understand the unique experiences of autistic clients often make therapy a challenge for both client and therapist.
This is a major problem. Nearly 80% of autistic clients suffer from a mental health problem at some stage in their lives, 40% have symptoms of at least one anxiety disorder and 30% suffer from depression. 35% have thought about or attempted suicide. Additionally, research indicates that between 10-30% of all drug users have autism.
Socially, only 16% of people with autism have full-time jobs, more than 60% rely on their family for all their financial support and nearly 40% still live with their parents.
To make matters worse however, many autistic adolescents and adults are undiagnosed and unrecognised. Their autism is mislabelled by both therapist and family as a personality trait “eccentric”, “clumsy”, “odd” “emotionally inexpressive” or “concrete thinking”. It is now estimated that around 1% of the adult population has “undiagnosed autism” with the rate being up to 9 times higher in women than men. Placing this with the high incidence of mental health problems and you can come to only one conclusion:
A sizeable minority of your clients will have problems relating to autism.
Such clients often find it difficult to use any talking therapy in its classic forms and either do not engage in therapy in the first place or drop out during the process. They are often classified as “resistant”, “difficult to engage” or “not psychologically minded”.
This Masterclass with the world-renowned expert, Professor Tony Attwood, will teach you how to work successfully with autistic adolescents and adults in your CBT and counselling work.
You’ll learn how autistic clients think and see the world so you can communicate with them more effectively
You’ll be able to explore issues important to your clients which are the direct result of autism
You’ll learn how to help autistic clients identify and label emotions
You learn how to use special interests and autistic characteristics as strengths that your clients can use to manage their problems more successfully
You’ll understand how to adapt CBT techniques and strategies so that your autistic clients can respond effectively with them as well as learning which CBT techniques are most useable with this client group.
Your accreditation extends accordingly after this training.
Course Tutor
Prof Tony AttwoodClinical Psychologist, Professor at Griffith University in Australia and Strathclyde University in Scotland
Dr Tony Attwood, Clinical Psychologist, is the acknowledged world expert on therapy with autistic clients. Professor at both Griffith University in Australia and Strathclyde University in Scotland, he’s worked with an estimated 8000 clients with some form of autism diagnosis. He is author of innumerable peer reviewed studies and book chapters on autism. He’s also published 15 books in the field with sales topping 1 million, and titles translated into 28 languages. These include CBT to Help Young People with Asperger’s Syndrome to Understand and Express Affection: A Manual for Professionals (2013) and Exploring Depression, and Beating the Blues: A CBT Self-Help Guide to Understanding and Coping with Depression in Asperger’s Syndrome (2016).
I’d been wanting to train with Tony Attwood for years. I’d read so many of his books as well as recommending them. The experience of training with him was no disappointment. Apart from his phenomenal knowledge, his manner as a clinician was breath taking. I knew I had to try and persuade him to come to the UK and train for SDS. The fact that he not only agreed to, but was willing to do so, so quickly, makes this event one of the highlights of my career.
I love Dr Tony Attwood. I find him a joy to listen to, and I'm so glad he continues to champion the plight of those whose voices would otherwise go unheard.
This is the first time I have described a book as life changing. For anyone attempting to understand individuals with Asperger's syndrome this is an eye opener and a life line.
This is an incredible tool that increases communication opportunities and emotional metacognition. In addition, it allows individuals with ASD begin to develop perspective which is fundamental to critical thinking.
