Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Adults Provider Training (CBT-AAPT)
Mar
28
to Jun 27

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Adults Provider Training (CBT-AAPT)

  • Stanford Medicine CME (via Zoom) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Adults Provider Training (CBT-AAPT) is a curriculum composed of 14 modules, 90 minutes each, designed to improve the attitudes of mental health providers towards autistic adults, increase their knowledge about autism, and acquire clinical skills specific to autistic adults. It will be taught across 14 weekly sessions, with alternating live and pre-recorded sessions. The target learner for CBT-AAPT are MHPs without formal clinical training in autism. 21 hours of continuing education credit is available for physicians (AMA), psychologists (APA), and social workers (ASWB). Click on the workshop title for more details.

Dr. Gaus will co-teach the course with Dr. Lawrence Fung, Director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project. Dr. Fung specializes in the phenomenology, neurobiology and novel interventions of autism spectrum condition.  He serves as Director of the Adult Neurodevelopment Clinic, and Assistant Professor (University Medical Line) in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

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Clinicians Transitions: Adapting Your Skills to Treat Autistic Clients 
 

Mar
15
8:00 AM08:00

Clinicians Transitions: Adapting Your Skills to Treat Autistic Clients 
 


  • Catalight, Walnut Creek, CA via Zoom (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Dr. Gaus will speak at Catalight’s “Enhancing Your Impact 2024” conference. As part of an all-day array of virtual on-demand CE workshops, Dr. Gaus’s 2-hour session will focus on how mental health providers can meet the needs of autistic clients. Click on the event title to learn more.

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Delivering CBT with Autistic Clients to Improve Mental Health
Nov
14
8:30 AM08:30

Delivering CBT with Autistic Clients to Improve Mental Health

  • Bespoke Mental Health, London, UK (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Dr. Gaus will present with Dr. Lawrence Fung, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, director of the Neurodiversity Clinic, and principal investigator at the Fung Lab.

Autistic people have a higher likelihood than non-autistic people to experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives, especially anxiety or depressive disorders (Lai et al., 2019).  Many will present for treatment of those co-occurring disorders in “mainstream” mental healthcare centers (Maddox et al., 2021; Maddox & Gaus, 2018).  Practitioners who are not autism experts can treat these problems using the same evidence-based CBT approaches they use for their non-autistic clients.  Recognizing some unique factors and adapting techniques where necessary can make effective treatments available to autistic clients across the lifespan and in a variety of settings.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Adults Provider Training (CBT-AAPT) (Copy)
Jun
8
to Sep 7

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Adults Provider Training (CBT-AAPT) (Copy)

  • Stanford Medicine CME (via Zoom) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Adults Provider Training (CBT-AAPT) is a curriculum composed of 14 modules, 90 minutes each, designed to improve the attitudes of mental health providers towards autistic adults, increase their knowledge about autism, and acquire clinical skills specific to autistic adults. It will be taught across 14 weekly sessions, with alternating live and pre-recorded sessions. The target learner for CBT-AAPT are MHPs without formal clinical training in autism. 21 hours of continuing education credit is available for physicians (AMA), psychologists (APA), and social workers (ASWB). Click on the workshop title for more details.

Dr. Gaus will co-teach the course with Dr. Lawrence Fung, Director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project. Dr. Fung specializes in the phenomenology, neurobiology and novel interventions of autism spectrum condition.  He serves as Director of the Adult Neurodevelopment Clinic, and Assistant Professor (University Medical Line) in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

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KBT för personer med autismspektrumtillstnd (CBT for Autistic People)
May
29
to May 30

KBT för personer med autismspektrumtillstnd (CBT for Autistic People)

Dr. Valerie Gaus, ABPP

This live, in-person workshop is aimed at psychologists and other professionals in Sweden who want to deepen their knowledge of how to adapt standard cognitive behavioral therapy so that patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can more easily participate in the treatment and have an increased quality of life.

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Living Well on the Spectrum: Incorporating a Positive Problem-Solving Approach To Meeting Your Goals in Adulthood
Nov
10
11:00 AM11:00

Living Well on the Spectrum: Incorporating a Positive Problem-Solving Approach To Meeting Your Goals in Adulthood

Workshop to be presented at the YAI Hudson Valley Autism Conference: https://hvac2022.funraise.org

Adults on the spectrum, young and old, find some situations difficulty while navigating a world designed by neurotypical people. Understanding ones own strengths and capitalizing on them, while also being aware of challenges and compensating for them, are fundamental concepts that can be found in positive psychology. During this talk, participants will be introduced to the ideas behind positive psychology. Examples of how these can be applied by adults on the spectrum while setting goals for a meaningful and satisfying life will be provided.

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Neurodiversity and Anxiety: Mental Health Panel
Oct
24
6:00 PM18:00

Neurodiversity and Anxiety: Mental Health Panel

Moderators: Greg Yates, AASCEND and Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford Neurodiversity Project

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify varieties and causes of anxiety in neurodivergent as compared with neurotypical populations.

  • Detail strategies to cope with anxiety, their advantages and disadvantages, and how their effectiveness is measured.

  • Learn the elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as it is applied therapeutically and how CBT affects the lived experience of neurodivergent persons.

 

Valerie Gaus, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Gaus is a psychologist, licensed by New York State, who has been a practicing psychotherapist since 1994. She specializes in individual psychotherapy for adults of all ages, from 18-98, with extensive experience serving people with disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma and stress-related problems. She approaches therapy using a cognitive-behavioral framework. She has written numerous articles, chapters and books on these subjects, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2nd Edition, published in 2018 by Guilford Press and Living Well on the Spectrum: How to Use Your Strengths to Meet the Challenges of Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism, published in 2011 by Guilford Press. 

David Elsner

Coinciding with my mom's diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, at the age of 2 I was diagnosed with PDDNOS, pervasive developmental  disorder not otherwise specified. Through intensive early intervention I  developed from a child with delayed speech and other delayed milestones to who I am now. Verbal abilities are my strength as well as self advocacy and advocacy for those of us stigmatized by society for being "different."  Throughout my younger years particularly in middle and the beginning  of high school, I was bullied.  I was viewed as different with few friends.  Eventually, I had the courage to stand up and empower myself. Being on  the spectrum and having OCD has been exceptionally difficult  at times however; I continue to persevere and am looking forward to  sharing with you my life struggles from disability to ability.

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Individualized Autism-Related Therapy: A Web-Based Specialist Course for Psychologists
Sep
1
to Jan 16

Individualized Autism-Related Therapy: A Web-Based Specialist Course for Psychologists

This is a web-based course that opens on September 1, 2022 and closes on January 16, 2023. Through 24 hours of instruction, the course provides a comprehensive picture of the literature and research available on mental health treatment for autism. It is tailored to the needs of psychologists in Sweden to fulfill requirements for a specialist certification. The course is open to psychologists outside of Sweden, as well.

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Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults - Part II
Apr
21
9:30 AM09:30

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults - Part II

  • Krasner Psychological Center (via Zoom) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Stony Brook University Consortium Internship Didactics

In the second of a 2-part seminar, Dr. Gaus will continue her presentation to interns and trainees about the fundamentals of providing mental health services to autistic adults using a cognitive-behavioral approach. This week the focus will be on mindfulness-based CBT.


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Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Autistic Adults
Apr
9
7:15 PM19:15

Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Autistic Adults

  • Suffolk County Psychological Association (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Adults with autism spectrum disorder often present in psychotherapy settings, seeking help for problems that may be related to the core symptoms of ASD and/or for the co-morbid mental health problems, such as mood and anxiety disorders. This workshop will give an overview of the common presenting problems psychotherapists may encounter, as well as a model for individualized case formulation and treatment planning. Evidence-based CBT approaches relevant to presenting problems will also be described.

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Adapting CBT to Treat Anxiety and Depression in Adults with Co-Morbid Autism Spectrum Disorders
Mar
27
9:00 AM09:00

Adapting CBT to Treat Anxiety and Depression in Adults with Co-Morbid Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • PsychConsulting in Melbourne, Australia (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Attendees will be able to describe …
1) the variety of ways ASD symptoms can appear in more cognitively able, independent adults
2) typical presenting problems seen in adults with ASD who seek mental health services
3) considerations in formulating an individualized treatment plan for an adult with ASD and co-morbid mental health problems
4) practical applications and adaptations of CBT for clients with ASD

For more about PsychConsulting visit https://www.psychconsulting.com.au

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Individualized Autism-Related Therapy: A Web-Based Specialist Course for Psychologists
Feb
3
to Jun 14

Individualized Autism-Related Therapy: A Web-Based Specialist Course for Psychologists

This is a web-based course that opens on February 3, 2020 and closes on June 14, 2020. Through 18 hours of instruction, the course provides a comprehensive picture of the literature and research available on mental health treatment for autism. It is tailored to the needs of psychologists in Sweden to fulfill requirements for a specialist certification. The course is open to psychologists outside of Sweden, as well.

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KBT för personer med neuropsykiatrisk problematik (CBT for People with Neuropsychiatric Problems)
May
13
to May 14

KBT för personer med neuropsykiatrisk problematik (CBT for People with Neuropsychiatric Problems)

Dr. Valerie Gaus

This comprehensive two-day workshop for mental health professionals will cover the topic of providing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to people with autism spectrum disorders and related conditions. Adaptations of CBT to treat co-morbid mental health problems will be described and illustrated.

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Book Signing at AHA's Annual Spring Conference: Improving Communication Strategies for Individuals with Autism
May
4
8:30 AM08:30

Book Signing at AHA's Annual Spring Conference: Improving Communication Strategies for Individuals with Autism

Spend the day at this conference which focuses on communication strategies for individuals, families, and professionals in employment, healthcare and in the community.

Dr. Gaus will be there signing her books during the lunch hour from 12:00-1:00 PM, including her new title, “Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder” and “Living Well on the Spectrum”

Click here for program description and online registration.

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