[non-CE] Embracing Neurodiversity: Strengths-Based Approaches for Autism in Clinical Practice

Date: Friday, September 6, 2024
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. MST
Location: Virtual, via Zoom

UCEBT is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. UCEBT maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This presentation is also pending approval for CE credit through UPA, NASW-UT, UAMFT, and UMHCA. 

To view this event for CE credit, please return to the events page and register for the [CE] version of this title. 

Home-Study Option: If you want to receive asynchronous CE credit for this event, return to the events page and register for the free, [non-CE] version of this title. Then, make sure you sign up for our mailing list when you register. Within 2 weeks following the event, we'll email you the information for purchasing the home-study version of this presentation for only $60.

Note: Everyone who registers will be emailed the recording and presentation slides within one week following the event.

About the presentation:

“Neurodiversity” is the fact that there are inherent differences in how human minds perceive and interact with the world. The neurodiversity paradigm arose in the 1990s but has been increasingly a focus in the mental health space, especially concerning autistic individuals. That is, this framework rejects the idea of one “normal” or “correct” style of neurocognitive functioning and to stop pathologizing autistic ways of thinking and behaving. The neurodiversity paradigm of autism argues that problems in living stem, in large part, from the societal exclusion autistic people face. This aligns with research that supports autistic mental health is reflected by acceptance and quality of support given, not necessarily with “symptom” severity. However, much of our understanding and interventions in psychology reflect a medical model of autism spectrum disorder, which is inherently deficit focused, therefore often increasing misunderstanding of autistic clients and barriers to them receiving care. From an ethical lens, practitioners should increase their understanding of neurodiversity in order to increase accessibility for a specific population.

This presentation will focus on neurodiversity-affirming principles for clinical practice and attendees will learn specific skills to bring to evidence-based treatments with autistic children and adults. However, it should be noted that there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach and autistic clients have their own needs. The goal is to learn fundamental principles and gather tools to implement in the best way for individual clients. 

Learning Statement:

At the conclusion of this presentation attendees should be able to balance professional ethics with neurodiversity affirming principles with working with autistic clients and use neurodiversity affirming skills to support enhanced relationships and treatment outcomes for autistic clients.

Learning Objectives: 

• Describe how neurodiversity affirming principles align with professional ethics

• Conceptualize cases from a neurodiversity paradigm for autism using strengths-based language

• List at least 3 ways to enhance the therapeutic relationship with autistic clients using neurodiversity affirming principles

• Describe at least 3 skills to incorporate into popular evidence-based treatments in therapy with autistic clients 

References:

Baron-Cohen, Simon. “Editorial Perspective: Neurodiversity - a Revolutionary Concept for Autism and Psychiatry.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 58, no. 6, 19 May 2017, pp. 744–747, https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12703. 

Hunt, Adam D., and Tanya L. Procyshyn. “Changing Perspectives on Autism: Overlapping Contributions of Evolutionary Psychiatry and the Neurodiversity Movement.” Autism Research: Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research, vol. 17, no. 3, 17 Jan. 2024, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38233966/, https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3078. 

Monteiro, M. (2010). Autism conversations: Evaluating children on the autism spectrum through authentic conversations. Western Psychological Services. 

Pantazakos, T., & Vanaken, G.-J. (2023). Addressing the autism mental health crisis: The potential of phenomenology in neurodiversity-affirming clinical practices. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1225152  

Singer, J. (1998). Odd people in: The birth of community amongst people on the autistic spectrum: A personal exploration of a new social movement based on neurological diversity. Sydney: Faculty of Humanities and Social Science University of Technology, Sydney. 

Walker, Nick. “NEURODIVERSITY: SOME BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS – NEUROQUEER.” Neuroqueer, Nick Walker, 2014, neuroqueer.com/neurodiversity-terms-and-definitions/. 

About the presenter:

Laura Rowley, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist. Laura obtained her doctorate from Wayne State University. She completed her APA-accredited internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Primary Children’s Hospital. Laura is currently the Program Director for the Assessment and Testing Team at Utah Center for Evidence Based Treatment. Her expertise in assessment includes assessment of autistic children and adults and treatment of coinciding problems in living.  

Program Notices:

Conflicts of Interest: None.

Commercial Support: None.

CE Credit: Four hours of CE credit is available for attendees who are present for the entire program. We ask that all participants return the post-program evaluation form at the conclusion of the program. Laura Rowley, Ph.D. and UCEBT have not received any commercial support for this program or its contents and will not receive any commercial support prior to or during this program. For additional information or if accommodations are needed, please contact Jennifer at or (801) 419-0139.

Accuracy, Utility, and Risks Statement:

This program discusses ethical codes in clinical practice for psychologists and social workers. It may not include information on all mental health professions. Misapplication of the materials, or errors in the materials, could result in non-compliance with applicable laws or ethics code. This program discusses strategies for enhancing mental health outcomes in autistic populations based on current research. Presenters are not responsible for participants' application of misapplication of intervention strategies, nor patient outcomes for any participant. Presenters encourage further study and training.

If accommodations are needed, please contact Jennifer at or (801) 419-0139.