Anxiety Management and Autism Taming The Anxiety Beast
Anxiety Management and Autism Taming The Anxiety Beast michaeluram. com Using CBT to manage Anxiety in Relation to Autism Michael Uram, MA, LMFT, LPCC
Anxiety and Autism – Youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are substantially more likely to have anxiety disorders than typically developing (TD) youth (e. g. , Bellini, 2004; Guttmann-Steinmetz, Gadow, De. Vincent, & Crowell, 2010; Russell & Sofronoff, 2005) – Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for TD youth with anxiety disorders, and there is emerging evidence that, with adaptations, it can be effective for youth with ASD as well. (Attwood, 2013)
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is essentially a process of having an outside observer differentiate between your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. https: //beckinstitute. org/getinformed/what-is-cognitive-therapy/ – The therapist then helps you see the world as realistically as possible through identifying Cognitive Distortions and biases. – Then therapist helps you plan how to change your behaviors to match the feelings that you would prefer to have through choosing which thoughts you would like to emphasize, and which thoughts you would prefer to decrease in intensity and frequency. – I have passed out a handout explaining the basic principles.
How do you adapt Cognitive Behavioral therapy for Autism? – My interventions are specific to the individuals level of perspective taking ability, mindsight, outsight, emotional range, and emotional intensity. (Theory of Mind) – For Example, Tony Attwood developed a program called Exploring Anger and Exploring Anxiety specifically for individuals diagnosed with Autism and Asperger’s: http: //www. tonyattwood. com. au/books-by-tony-m/englishbooks/65 -exploring-feelings – It simplifies the process of how a thought morphs into a feeling and becomes a more stable core belief. – It then examines how we can change our beliefs based on literal experimentation.
Changing a Belief while accommodating for Theory of Mind (To. M) Difficulties – By not (fully) understanding that other people think differently than themselves, many autistic individuals may have problems relating socially and communicating to other people. That is, they may not be able to anticipate what others will say or do in various situations. In addition, they may have difficulty understanding that their peers or classmates have differing thoughts and emotions, and may thus appear to be self-centered, eccentric, or uncaring. – https: //www. autism. com/understanding_theoryofmind
Utilizing the Visual Cortex – CBT modification using visualized language throughout the entire sessions makes the conversation systematic and concrete and can make it easier for ASD clients to follow a conversation and be part of it, thus avoiding misunderstandings and confusions. “Ordinary conversation” in social interaction may contribute to ASD clients’ confusion and may increase the level of anxiety. (Ekman 2015)
Does it Cure Autism? – Autism is a diagnostic criteria that we are as yet uncertain of its biological origins or how to define that one has been cured, although there have been great leaps in progress over the past few years. – I work on the secondary aspects of Autism, that may lead someone to no longer meet criteria for diagnosis, but I would not call it a cure. – Recently, to measure gains in treatment, I have explored using the ATEC, a measure of treatment progress for individuals diagnosed with Autism. – http: //www. surveygizmo. com/s 3/1329619/Autism-Treatment -Evaluation-Checklist-revised
Increasing emotional Awareness – Through using the Atlas of Emotions, I have found that there is a scientific manner to explore emotions: http: //atlasofemotions. org/ – If the client has difficulty understanding a wide range of emotions, which is often, I focus on six basic emotions and we role play, use Affectiva’s Affdex. Me App, and guess what emotions a person would experience. i. OS only https: //itunes. apple. com/us/app/affdexme/id 971529011? mt=8 – Reading a detailed description of emotions in a book such as Paul Ekman’s Emotions Revealed, Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence and Karla Mc. Laren’s The Language of Emotions helps higher functioning adolescents and adults understand the emotional complexities in a cognitive manner that suits their learning strengths.
Anxiety Management for Caregivers – I have found using a mind map decreases feeling overwhelmed. If there is a topic that you are stuck on, write it in the center of a sheet of paper or on the apps or websites that offer the tools, and then research how many ways we can actually accomplish the goal, you will notice where you are stuck and how to proceed. If still stuck, show it to someone else and gain their different perspective. – Coggle: https: //coggle. it – Mindmeister: https: //www. mindmeister. com – Mindnode: https: //mindnode. com/ – Simple. Mind on Android: https: //play. google. com/store/apps/details? id=com. modelmakertool s. simplemindfree&hl=en
Treatment Flow Charts – There is an interactive Flow Chart that helps map out what the best intervention would be for an individual diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, although it is designed for the UK. – https: //pathways. nice. org. uk/pathways/autism-spectrumdisorder
Resources – https: //beckinstitute. org/an-introduction-to-cbt-for-people-with-anautism-spectrum-disorder/ – https: //www. disabilityscoop. com/2018/02/02/autism-journalabandons-puzzle/24668/ – Wrong Planet’s forum on Patience and Flexibility for individuals diagnosed with Asperger’s: https: //wrongplanet. net/forums/viewtopic. php? t=336593 – Asperger’s Experts definition of Defense Mode: https: //www. aspergerexperts. com/defense-mode-adifferent-perspective-on-understanding-helping-someone-withaspergers/ – CBT for Individuals with High Functioning Autism, Attwood, Tony,
Research Articles – Ekman, E. , & Hiltunen, A. J. (2015). Modified CBT using visualization for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), anxiety and avoidance behavior – a quasi-experimental open pilot study. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 56(6), 641– 648. http: //doi. org/10. 1111/sjop. 12255
For More Info – Michael Uram, MA, LMFT, LPCC – www. Michaeluram. com – 949 -777 -6694 – Michael@michaeluram. co – 1000 Quail St. , Suite 130, Newport Beach, CA 92660 – 145 W. Main St. , Suite 240, Tustin, CA 92780 – Twitter: @Michael. Uram. MFT – Facebook: www. facebook. com/michael. uram. 7
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