CBT for Children and Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

This book helps clinicians harness the benefits of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for children and adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Leading treatment developers describe promising approaches for treating common challenges faced by young people with ASD:

• anxiety and behaviour problems,
• social competence issues, and
• adolescent concerns around sexuality and intimacy.

Chapters present session-by-session overviews of each intervention program, review its evidence base, and address practical considerations in treatment. The book also discusses general issues in adapting CBT for this population and provides a helpful framework for assessment and case conceptualisation informed by DSM-5.

Table of Contents

I. Theoretical Background

1. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Children and Adolescents: History and Principles, Angela Scarpa and Jill Lorenzi
2. Modifications of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adolescents with High-Functioning ASD and Their Common Difficulties, Tony Attwood and Angela Scarpa
3. The Role of Assessment in Guiding Treatment Planning for Youth with ASD, Carla A. Mazefsky and Susan Williams White

II. Anxiety and Behavior Problems

4. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Youth with ASD: Emotional, Adaptive, and Social Outcomes, Shulamite A. Green and Jeffrey J. Wood
5. Parental Involvement in Treating Anxiety in Youth with High-Functioning ASD, Judy Reaven and Audrey Blakeley-Smith
6. Multimodal Treatment for Anxiety and Social Skills Difficulties in Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, Susan Williams White, Lawrence Scahill, and Thomas H. Ollendick
7. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Stress and Anger Management in Young Children with ASD: The Exploring Feelings Program, Angela Scarpa, Nuri Reyes, and Tony Attwood

III. Social Competence

8. Multimodal Intervention for Social Skills Training in Students with Asperger Syndrome: The Secret Agent Society, Renae Beaumont and Kate Sofronoff
9. A Manualized Summer Program for Social Skills in Children with High-Functioning ASD, Christopher Lopata, Marcus L. Thomeer, Martin A. Volker, and Gloria K. Lee
10. Cognitive-Behavioral-Ecological Intervention to Facilitate Social-Emotional Understanding and Social Interaction in Youth with High-Functioning ASD, Nirit Bauminger-Zviely

IV. Sexuality and Affection

11. Expressing and Enjoying Love and Affection: A Cognitive-Behavioral Program for Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome, Tony Attwood
12. Understanding Relationships and Sexuality in Individuals with Asperger Syndrome, Isabelle Hénault

V. Concluding Remarks

13. What Do We Know about Psychosocial Interventions for Youth with High-Functioning ASD, and Where Do We Go from Here?, Susan Williams White, Angela Scarpa, and Tony Attwood

"A truly wonderful addition to the literature. Practical, well written, and easy to use, this book will be a standard for years to come."
- Fred R. Volkmar, MD, Irving B. Harris Professor and Director, Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine

"An extremely valuable book for clinicians, educators, and researchers. It fills a tremendous need for comprehensive information about empirically validated treatments that can address anxiety and the social challenges that many children and adolescents with ASD face. By describing both the treatment approaches and the science behind them, the volume provides practical information that can be useful today, while also setting the stage for future research."
- Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Chief Science Officer, Autism Speaks; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Scarpa, White, and Attwood have done a brilliant job of assembling a team of authors who could together construct this timely resource. Each contributor successfully bridges the gap between the literature on CBT for neurotypical children/adolescents and the literature on ASD. The volume informs both practitioners and researchers who are trying to understand and serve these unique youngsters. It is a complete, invaluable tool for anyone seeking to improve the lives of young people on the spectrum and prepare them to be healthy and productive adults."
- Valerie L. Gaus, PhD, psychologist, Spectrum Services, New York City

"This much-needed book fills a void. It covers CBT principles, research, program planning, interventions and modifications, and myriad related topics. Chapters provide examples of instructional programs that focus on CBT and discuss the role of parents/caregivers in using CBT. While the term 'must have' is overused, I feel it accurately describes this well-written book. The psychosocial approach has the potential to change the lives of many on the autism spectrum."
- Brenda Smith Myles, PhD, State and National Partnerships, Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI)