Effective Care for ASD: Redefining the Therapist’s Role

CE Credit Hours: 4
APA, CAMFT, BRN

With the current prevalence of diagnoses along the autistic spectrum, many therapists will find themselves working with the ASD population in practice. However, the traditional model of one-on-one therapy is not often effective with ASD clients. In this online course, a new model of therapy will be introduced, which stresses community resource building and practical application of skills. As case manager, learn how to build a treatment team which oversees each aspect of client care in the key areas needed (education, mental health and life skill management), establish a treatment plan, and include appropriate referrals to better serve their clients’ needs. The use of technology will also be discussed in the context of developing effective treatment plans.

Prerequisite Required: Familiarity with Autism Spectrum Disorder OR CE1227W: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: Assessment & Treatment of Children & Adults

Recommended Texts: Adults on the Autism Spectrum Leave the Nest by Nancy Perry and Helping the Child with Asperger’s Syndrome or Nonverbal Learning Disorder by Kathryn Stewart

Learning Objectives

After taking this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify three to five areas of support for individual ASD clients based on an interview and case review.
• Explain the Case Manager Model and define the clinician’s role for working with ASD young adults and adults, and their families.
• Explain the key areas of need and appropriate interventions for adults with ASD

Instructor Bio

Kathryn Stewart, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in child, adolescent and family therapy. Her interest and experience has focused on complicated child and adolescent diagnosis, assessment and treatment. Currently, Dr. Stewart is the Executive Director of the Orion Academy, a specialized high school she designed for adolescents with neurocognitive disorders – Nonverbal Learning Disorder, Tourettes Syndrome and Asperger Syndrome. She has extensive experience and great interest in providing continuing education for professionals and parents and past experience as a special education teacher. In addition, she is knowledgeable in child custody, mediation and Special Mastery work, as well as, assessing and treating child abuse victims and children involved in Parental Alienation Syndrome. She is the author of a book, published in March of 2002 – Helping the Child with Nonverbal Learning Disorder or Asperger’s Syndrome: A Parents Guide. The 2nd edition of this book was published in August 2007.

JFKU-CE is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists, by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to provide continuing education for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs & LEPs and by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) to provide continuing education for RNs. JFKU-CE maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Online Course Registration and Login

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You will have 90 days to complete the course. Extensions are available if needed, please e-mail: conted@jfku.edu.

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Technical Requirements:

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Course Completion Time Limit

You will have 90 days to complete the online course from the date of registration. You may request 30 day extensions for a fee of $35. E-mail (conted@jfku.edu) or call us (800.557.1384) to begin this process. Extensions take a few days , an email will be sent to you when the extension access has been granted.

Accessing Certificate

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