Bourdeau, Alison

Cunningham Abbott, Ali

English

Lynn University: SPIRAL (Scholarly Publications, Institutional Repository and Archives at Lynn)

10 EVIDENCE-BASED TIPS FOR COUNSELING ADULTS WITH AUTISMAli Cunningham Abbott, PhD, LMHC, QS, Assistant Professor at Lynn UniversityAlison Bourdeau, MSEd, Clinical Support Specialist, Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at Florida Atlantic UniversityRetrieved from succeedonthespectrum.comRationale• Importance of early recognition and accurate diagnosis• Understanding the common comorbid conditions (CCCs)• Choosing an effective approach, assessment and interventionsSplintered skill setsCommon strengths & limitationsProcedural versus declarative knowledge Personal power, agency and a voicePerson-first language and approachClinical interventions:Rapport building: Assessing for strengths and interests Engaging through Socratic questioning1. Presume competence & capabilityBellini, 2008; Bilken & Burke, 2006Social support-Family structure and dynamics-Friends, partners, spouseClinical interventions:Reciprocity in social supportAssist in identifying a “social coach”2. Understand the support systemDevoldre et al., 2010; Laugeson, 2013“Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional”Caregiver pessimism is one of  the strongest predictors of  problems in adulthood; optimism promotes a person’s ability to:identify alternatives to past behaviors, increases problem-solving skills, decreases helplessness, increases coping skills, and promotes a positive worldviewClinical interventions:Thoughts quizSelf-Talk Journal: tracking, disputation and reframing3. Increase optimismDurand, 2011Treatment goals to address the core symptoms of  ASDThe power of  adult self-report & third-party reportingClinical interventions:Social Responsiveness Scale 2- Useful in distinguishing from common comorbid conditions- Designed to help inform treatment outcomes & progress- Five subscales: social awareness, social cognition, social communication, social motivation, and restricted interests and repetitive behaviors 4. Assess & plan for treatmentConstantino, 2012; Constantino, et al., 2003How interested are they in the social landscape?Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivationClinical interventions: Explore intrinsic & extrinsic social motivations and expectationsIdentify common interests and build upon success as a way to foster social interactions or relationship(s)5. Treat social motivationChevallier, et al., 2012Navigating the social landscape starts with identificationPresentation can range from hyper to hypo sensitivitiesClinical interventions:Utilize direct instruction with concrete rules to aid in identificationProvide opportunities for practice with visual cues (written, photographic or video) for real world application and generalization6. Treat social awarenessMyles, Trautman, Schelvan, 2004 Interpreting and predicting the social landscapeTheory of  mind (TOM)Clinical interventions:Examine social errors and successes through questioning:1. What was that like for the other person?2. What did that other person think about you?3. Does the person want to interact with you again?7. Treat social cognitionEdelson, 2016; Senju et al., 2009Expressing oneself  successfully in the social landscapeAll social communication involves verbal and non-verbal elementsClinical interventions:Role-play to demonstrate errors & model effective strategiesRehearsal in session for practice & corrective feedback8. Treat social communicationASHA, 2016; Laugeson, 2013Preoccupation with restricted patterns of  interest, adherence to nonfunctional routines and unexpected motor mannerismsClinical interventions: Applied behavior analysisIdentifying alternativesUtilize current interests as a means to further develop and broaden skill set and interests9. Treat restricted interests & repetitive behaviorsKim & Lord, 201010. Promote independence 28%28%11%22%11%Gerhardt & Lanier, 2011; Baker, 2006 References & ResourcesAmerican Speech Language Hearing Association.  www.asha.orgBaker, J. (2006). Preparing for life: The complete guide for transitioning to adulthood for those with autism & asperger’s sydrome. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons. Bellini, S. (2008). Building social relationships: A systematic approach to teaching social interaction skills to children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and others with social difficulties. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing Co. Bilken, D., & Burke, J. (2006). Presuming Competence. Equity & Excellence in Education, 39:2. 166-175.Chevallier, C., Kohls, G., Troiani, V., Brodkin, E. S., & Schultz, R.T. (2012). The social motivation theory of autism. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Volume 16, Issue 4, p231–239, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2012.02.007Devoldre, I., Davis, M. H., Verhofstadt, L. L., & Buysse, A. (2010). Empathy and social support provision in couples: Social support and the need to study the underlying process. The Journal of Psychology, 144, 259-284. doi: 10.1080/00223981003648294Edelson, S. M. (2016). Theory of Mind. Retrieved from https://www.autism.com/understanding_theoryofmindGerhardt, P. F., & Lainer, I. (2011). Addressing the needs of adolescents and adults with autism: A crisis on the horizon. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 41, 37- 45.        doi: 10.1007/s10879-010-9160-2 Kim, S. H., & Lord, C. (2010). Restricted and repetitive behaviors in toddlers and preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders based on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Autism Research, Volume 3, Issue 4, pages 162–173, doi: 10.1002/aur.142Laugeson, E. (2013) The science of making friends: Helping socially challenged teens and young adults. San Fransisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Myles, B. S. Trautman, M. L.,  Schelvan, R. L. (2004). The Hidden Curriculum: Practical Solutions for Understanding Unstated Rules in Social Situations. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing Co. Senju, A., Southgate, V., White, S., & Frith, U. (2009). Mindblind Eyes: An Absence of Spontaneous Theory of Mind in Asperger Syndrome, Science, Vol. 325, Issue 5942,pp. 883-885. DOI: 10.1126/science.1176170

10 Evidence-Based Tips for Counseling Adults with Autism

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10 Evidence-Based Tips for Counseling Adults with Autism

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Lynn University: SPIRAL (Scholarly Publications, Institutional Repository and Archives at Lynn)