Tailoring DBT for Autistic Clients

How can dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) help Autistic clients, and how should it be modified to do so most effectively? Grounded in the authors' clinical expertise, research, and lived experience, this much-needed book offers concrete advice for tailoring individual therapy, DBT skills training, coaching, and consultation team to meet the needs and characteristics of Autistic clients. Amara Brook and Rachel Leah Kraus describe ways to develop neurohumility as a clinician; support clients' autonomy and counteract chronic traumatic invalidation; and accommodate a range of sensory, communication, and executive function differences. Throughout, illustrative personal and clinical examples bring the principles to life.

Amara Brook, PhD, ABPP (they/them), is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and has a private practice providing neurodiversity-affirming assessment and therapy. Dr. Brook's past roles include serving as Director of Postdoctoral Training and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Team Coordinator at Kaiser and providing assessment and DBT in VA medical centers and schools. Their research and clinical interests include improving assessment for Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to be more accurate, affirming, and accessible, and tailoring DBT and related therapies to be more affirming and effective for Autistic and ADHD clients. Dr. Brook has published widely and frequently provides training and consultation to other clinicians around the world. Their website is www.flowps.com.

Rachel Leah Kraus, LCSW-C (she/her), is a clinical social worker in private practice in Maryland. She offers neurodiversity-affirmative, DBT-informed treatment to individuals who struggle with complex trauma, dissociative disorders, borderline personality disorder, and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder on top of an Autistic, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or co-occurring Autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) neurotype. Additionally, she offers executive function coaching to clients, as well as professional training, supervision, and consultation to clinicians around the world. Ms. Kraus has been providing DBT-informed treatment since 2008 in a variety of contexts, including schools, residential treatment facilities, hospitals, and community mental health clinics. Her website is www.krauspsychotherapy.com.
 

I. Understanding Neurodiversity and Autistic Needs
1. Introducing Neurodiversity
2. A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach to DBT
3. Autistic Traits That Call for Tailoring DBT
4. Overview of Tailoring DBT for Autistic Clients: The ASCENT Model
II. Assessment and Treatment Planning
5. Neurodiversity-Informed Assessment
6. Collaborative Treatment Planning for Autistic Clients
III. Tailoring Individual Therapy
7. Setting Up Your Process and Space for Individual Therapy
8. Finishing Individual Therapy Pretreatment Tasks
9. Tailoring the Working Phases of Individual Therapy
IV. Tailoring Skills Training
10. Overview of Tailoring Skills Training: Things to Tailor
11. Pretreatment and Orientation to Group
12. Mindfulness Skills and Practice
13. Distress Tolerance Skills
14. Emotion Regulation Skills
15. Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills
V. Tailoring Other Components and Future Directions
16. Tailoring Coaching and Consultation Team
17. Conclusion and Future Directions
Appendix. Some of Our Favorite Resources for Learning More about Autism!
Glossary: Neurodiversity Lingo
References
Index
 

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