Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

by Valerie L. Gaus PhD, Tony Attwood Phd (Foreword by)

Overview

Now revised and expanded, this is the leading resource for psychotherapists working with adults who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without significant cognitive and language impairments (also known as Asperger syndrome). Valerie L. Gaus shows how to adapt the proven techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to build clients' social and coping skills, facilitate self-acceptance, and treat comorbid anxiety and depression. Illustrated with detailed case examples, the book is grounded in cutting-edge knowledge about information-processing differences in ASD. It gives clinicians critical guidance for conceptualizing these clients' presenting problems and optimizing the effectiveness of interventions. Reproducible worksheets can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. First edition title: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult Asperger Syndrome.
 
New to This Edition
*Explains the significant terminology changes in DSM-5 and their impact.
*Chapter on mindfulness-based strategies for emotion regulation problems.
*Additional strategies and resources for teaching social and coping skills.
*Describes new and updated assessment instruments.
*Incorporates cutting-edge research on CBT and on clinical problems associated with ASD.
 
See also the author's related self-help resource, Living Well on the Spectrum, an ideal client recommendation. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462537723
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	11/01/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	312
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Valerie L. Gaus, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Long Island and New York City. Her focus is treating mental health problems in adults with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and other learning and developmental disorders. Since receiving her doctorate in 1992, she has approached her work with a cognitive-behavioral orientation. Dr. Gaus serves on the advisory board of the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association and on the grant review committee of the Organization for Autism Research, and she teaches an advanced training course through the Swedish Psychological Association. She has written numerous articles and chapters on mental health issues in developmental disabilities and has lectured extensively in the United States and internationally. She is the author of the self-help resource Living Well on the Spectrum as well as a book for therapists, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Second Edition.
 
 

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Defining Autism Spectrum Disorder in Cognitively Able Adults (Asperger Syndrome)
2. Conceptualization of Mental Health Problems in Cognitively Able Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asperger Syndrome)
3. The Initial Assessment
4. Individualized Case Formulation and Treatment Plan
5. Psychoeducation and Orientation to Treatment
6. Intervention: Increasing Skills to Address the Core Problems of Autism Spectrum Disorder
7. Intervention: Addressing Comorbid Mental Health Problems
8. Intervention: Addressing Emotion Regulation Problems Using Mindfulness-Based Strategies 
9. Adjunctive Therapies and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
10. Obstacles to Treatment and How to Address Them
11. Ending Treatment and Looking Ahead
Appendix. Therapy Resources

Editorial Reviews

"Gaus has made a major contribution....Using case studies from her many years of research and practice, she offers the practicing clinician a readable and helpful window into work with this challenging population....Gaus' frequent use of transcriptions of parts of sessions, anecdotes, and multiple case examples illustrate her ideas and keep us engaged." (on the first edition)

PsychCentral.com

"The second edition of this classic book will be invaluable to clinicians working with adults on the spectrum. It provides a treasure trove of materials to learn from and use in clinical practice. Gaus does a truly fantastic job of integrating research with a patient-centered approach to skill building. The new coverage of 'third-wave' CBT approaches is extremely helpful."—Fred R. Volkmar, MD, Irving B. Harris Professor, Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine

"CBT has long been a preferred therapy for adults on the spectrum—unlike some other approaches, CBT is respectful of who we (spectrumfolk) are as people. In this second edition, Gaus updates her wonderful book with important new knowledge. This book is a manual for success for any clinician who works with spectrum adults."—Michael John Carley, Founder, GRASP (Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership); school consultant; author of Asperger's from the Inside Out

"Any clinician who treats adults for anxiety and mood disorders should read this book. It helps us identify individuals with ASD and provide them with skillful care that is responsive to their unique information-processing styles. Students, trainees, and clinicians at all levels of experience can learn from this valuable volume. Gaus has a deep understanding of individuals with ASD. And she’s an excellent teacher, providing clear explanations illustrated with examples drawn from her rich clinical experience."—Jacqueline B. Persons, PhD, Director, Oakland Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center

"This is the comprehensive and essential guide to understanding and treating this underserved population. Drawing on empirical literature as well as decades of clinical experience, Gaus shares a vast wealth of knowledge, and her compassion for the struggles of clients with ASD is palpable. Gaus shows clinicians how to incorporate treatment components specific to ASD while developing individualized case formulations and using well-established CBT interventions. Her multiple case examples are spot-on and offer concrete, practical clinical guidance. This book is well organized, user friendly, and easy to follow. Since clients seek help for an array of clinical concerns, ASD-related problems may not be immediately evident, making the book highly relevant for all clinicians and trainees."—Joan Davidson, PhD, Co-Director, San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy; Assistant Clinical Professor, University of California, Berkeley

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Michael S. Goldsby, PhD, CCRP (Family Psychiatry of The Woodlands)
Description: Luminary author and practicing psychotherapist of nearly 30 years, Dr. Valerie Gaus has significantly expanded and updated her book to include the latest research and clinical information supporting the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). New research on efficacious treatment modalities for adults with ASD reveal breakthroughs in the use of modified traditional interventions such as CBT. This second edition discusses specific modifications to CBT that psychotherapists can adapt for treating their adult patients diagnosed with autism who are higher functioning and do not have deficits in either cognition or language skills.
Purpose: The purpose of this second edition is to provide a guide for practitioners who are treating adults who have autism spectrum disorder but not cognitive or language impairments. The aim is also to provide guidance or a road map for mental health professionals in both the mainstream mental health community and the autism spectrum community in an effort to increase the number of therapists available to treat this underserved population.
Audience: Practitioners who provide mental health services, such as psychiatrists, psychotherapists, clinicians, clinical social workers, and counselors, as well as others who are involved in direct patient care of adult patients with autism spectrum disorder will find this book to be an invaluable guide to using cognitive behavioral therapeutic interventions.
Features: The second edition is full of new information and a few changes - including the title. The original title included Asperger syndrome, while this second edition title was changed to Autism Spectrum Disorder in keeping with updated diagnostic criteria for autism in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The most noticeable addition to this update is the chapter addressing emotion regulation problems using mindfulness-based strategies. Informative case illustrations provide a better understanding of the practical application of these strategies. The book is thorough in its presentation of the various ways in which traditional cognitive behavioral therapy can be adapted from the standard approach to fit the adult ASD patient population. Through 11 chapters, the book offers new and expanded information on defining ASD, as well as assessing and using cognitive behavioral therapy in a slightly individualized and modified manner in order to accommodate the differences in abilities associated with ASD.
Assessment: This second edition is a monumental, scholarly addition to the field of autism. This timely book connects the dots between clinical research findings and the resulting modified practical application of traditional cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with autism. This edition is poised to be the premier go-to reference for better understanding how providers in the mainstream mental health community and the autism spectrum community can provide effective psychotherapy to adults with ASD. I highly recommend this as a must-read for all mental health practitioners who come into contact with adult ASD patients and wish to learn more about ASD and the benefits of employing modified cognitive behavioral therapy techniques with this underserved patient population.

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