Understanding & Working With Autistic Clients in Therapy from Udemy

As well as being autistic, the course tutor, Dan Jones, has worked as a psychological therapist and worked supporting children/teens and families for over 20 years.

Between 1 in 68 and 1 in 100 people are autistic, many autistic adults are undiagnosed and may not even realise they could be autistic. Any counsellor or other psychological therapist in full-time practice is likely to encounter diagnosed and undiagnosed autistic clients. It could be that the client doesn't realise they are autistic and most counselling and therapy training doesn't cover autism, so the therapist also may not realise that the client could be autistic, yet knowledge of this could lead to better outcomes for that client and greater awareness of what support and guidance would be helpful.

This course may also be of interest to those who don't do psychological therapy but who want to know more about how autism presents and what the world is like for autistic people and how autism can impact on problems people have and better understanding behaviours you observe. This course focuses more on working with autistic adults rather than on working with autistic children.

Included with this course are:

11 PDF supporting documents totalling over 18,000 words of additional content
A PDF of my autobiography 'Look Into My Eyes' about being autistic which is over 68,500 words
A PDF Sussex Hypnotherapy Centre certificate of completion which you can print out for Continued Professional Development

"I am autistic and I have over 20 years of experience working with autistic individuals of all ages and working within a variety of contexts from care homes for adults, care homes for children and teens, to working with families, couples and individuals in private practice. In this course I share my knowledge and insights around autism as a professional and an autistic individual.

I share the different challenges and traits autistic people have and how these can manifest and impact on the problem the client is presenting with, how they can manifest and impact on the therapy and how you can work with the client and present your therapy to get the best results. You will also have an idea of the kinds of things which clients may say and do that lead you as a therapist to feel that they could be autistic."

This isn't a course teaching you how to do therapy, the expectation is that you are already trained to do therapy if you are working as a therapist. This course teaches you about the traits, challenges and strengths of autistic clients and how the client being autistic can impact on their life and on how they respond in therapy to give you ideas about understanding autistic clients better and have ideas for how you can best help them.

The course doesn't teach you how to 'treat' autism as autism isn't something you can cure. Autistic people are born autistic and can't be 'cured' of the autism, but I am open about my own personal experiences within the course and share my own examples and examples of experiences of people I have worked with to illustrate what behaviours others might see and what is going on for the autistic person in that moment, and what things can help the autistic person, like what skills they might need to be taught to reduce the impact of certain challenges the client may have on the presenting problem.

Throughout this course you can ask any questions you may have and I will answer them as best I can. I am happy to be open and answer questions from my personal perspective as an autistic individual, or from a psychological therapist perspective.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn about what autism is and the thoughts around what causes autism
Understand autistic traits, challenges and strengths and how these can relate to a client's presenting problem and in therapy

Learn ways you can interact with autistic clients and what you can do to help and support the client therapeutically

Learn about what autism is and the thoughts around what causes autism
Understand autistic traits, challenges and strengths and how these can relate to a client's presenting problem and in therapy
Learn ways you can interact with autistic clients and what you can do to help and support the client therapeutically

Syllabus

By the end of this section you will know what the course will cover and will know what autism is

In this introduction I give an overview about what this autism awareness course covers.

Resources and About Taking This Course

In this lecture I share about what autism is

In this lecture I share about the causes of autism and what doesn't cause autism.

In this lecture I share about diagnosed and undiagnosed autistic clients.

By the end of this section you will have insight into autistic traits and challenges and ideas and knowledge about how you can help understand and support autistic clients

This lecture introduces you to what this section on autistic traits and challenges will be covering

This lecture explains about interests and routines

This lecture is the first lecture on flexibility of thought.

This lecture continues on the topic of flexibility of thought

The final lecture on flexibility of thought

This lecture is about the social communication aspects of being autistic

This lecture is part one of two about the emotional aspects of being autistic.

This is the second and final part on the emotional aspects of being autistic

This is the first part of three on the language and communication aspects of being autistic.

This is the second part of three on language and communication aspects of being autistic

This is part three of three on the language and communication aspects of being autistic

This lecture is about the sensory aspects of being autistic

This lecture is about the attention aspects of being autistic

By the end of this section you will have recapped what this course has covered

This is the final video of the course rounding up what you have learned throughout the lectures of this course. If you require the Sussex Hypnotherapy Centre certificate of completion for your continued professional development you can download it, print it off and add your name and course completion date to your certificate. Attached to this lecture is also the PDF copy of my autism autobiography 'Look Into My Eyes'

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines autism and its nuances, crucial knowledge for professionals interacting with autistic individuals and families

Taught by an autistic psychological therapist with over 20 years of experience, bringing firsthand knowledge and insights

Provides practical guidance for therapists working with autistic adults, addressing challenges and strengths to enhance outcomes

Includes comprehensive supporting materials and resources, such as PDFs and a certificate of completion

Relevant for counselors, psychological therapists, and individuals seeking a deeper understanding of autism

Reviews summary

Autistic therapy basics

According to students, this course is insightful and interesting.

Learners find this course engaging and interesting

"Extremely insightful and interesting!"

The instructor is approachable and supportive.

"The instructor is approachable and willing to help."

"The instructor provides timely and helpful feedback."

"The instructor is passionate about the subject matter and makes the material interesting."

This course lacks the structure to be effective

The materials and homework are disorganized

"The course does not provide adequate structure for learners to succeed."

"The homework assignments are given with little instruction."

"The course materials are difficult to navigate and understand."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Understanding & Working With Autistic Clients in Therapy with these activities:

Volunteer at an autism support organization

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This activity will allow you to gain hands-on experience working with autistic individuals and learn from other professionals.

Browse courses on Autism

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Find an autism support organization in your area.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer at the organization and assist with their programs and services.

Review 'Autism Spectrum Disorders'

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of autism spectrum disorders and will help you better understand the concepts covered in this course.

View Lewis's Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A... on Amazon

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Read the first three chapters of the book.
Take notes on the key concepts discussed in each chapter.
Summarize the main points of each chapter in your own words.

Watch tutorials on how to work with autistic clients

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This activity will allow you to learn from experts in the field and develop your skills in working with autistic clients.

Browse courses on Autism

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Search for tutorials on YouTube or other online platforms.
Watch the tutorials and take notes.
Apply the techniques you learn in your work with autistic clients.

Six other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all nine activities

Practice identifying autistic traits in clients

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This activity will help you to develop your skills in identifying autistic traits in clients.

Browse courses on Autism

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Review the DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder.
Watch videos of people with autism.
Take a quiz on autism spectrum disorder.

Create a case study of an autistic client

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This project will allow you to apply the concepts you learn in this course to a real-world scenario.

Browse courses on Case study

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Choose a client who you believe may be autistic.
Interview the client and their family to gather information about their symptoms and history.
Write a report that includes your diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis.

Join a support group for therapists who work with autistic clients

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This activity will allow you to connect with other therapists who work with autistic clients and share your experiences and learn from each other.

Browse courses on Autism

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Search for a support group in your area or online.
Contact the group and inquire about joining.
Attend the group meetings and participate in the discussions.

Attend a conference on autism

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This activity will allow you to connect with other professionals in the field and learn about the latest research on autism.

Browse courses on Autism

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Find a conference on autism that is relevant to your interests.
Register for the conference and attend the sessions.
Network with other professionals and learn about their work.

Write a blog post about your experiences working with autistic clients

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This activity will allow you to reflect on your experiences and share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Autism

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Choose a topic that you are interested in writing about.
Research the topic and gather information from reputable sources.
Write a draft of your blog post.
Edit and revise your blog post.
Publish your blog post on a relevant platform.

Develop a training module on autism for other therapists

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This activity will allow you to share your knowledge with other professionals and help them to better understand and work with autistic clients.

Browse courses on Autism

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Identify the learning objectives for the training module.
Develop the content for the training module.
Create the materials for the training module.
Deliver the training module to other therapists.

Career center

Learners who complete Understanding & Working With Autistic Clients in Therapy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Autism Therapist

Autism Therapists help support individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They often work with autistic children, as well as their families, to help build the necessary social and communication skills they need to live fulfilling and prosperous lives. Furthermore, they may work with autistic adults to help manage their symptoms and develop independence. This course is particularly relevant for those seeking to work with autistic adults, as opposed to children, as the curriculum focuses more on assisting adult individuals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Autism Therapist

Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Pathologists assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic communication patterns, challenges, strengths, and how they relate to presenting problems in therapy. Such insights can be valuable when treating autistic individuals or individuals with communication disorders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speech-Language Pathologist

Psychologist

Psychologists study the mind and behavior, helping people understand and overcome mental health challenges. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic traits, challenges, and strengths, as well as how they relate to presenting problems in therapy. Such insights can be valuable when treating autistic individuals or individuals with mental health disorders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Psychologist

Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapists help people of all ages live their lives to the fullest by helping them participate in the activities of everyday life. This course can be useful as it provides insights into autistic sensory and attention aspects, as well as their strengths and challenges. Such insights can be valuable when treating autistic individuals or individuals with sensory or attention-related disorders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Occupational Therapist

Social Worker

Social Workers help people navigate problems that are rooted in societal structures and interpersonal relationships. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic social communication aspects, as well as their strengths and challenges. Such insights can be valuable when treating autistic individuals or individuals with social or interpersonal challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Behavior Analyst

Behavior Analysts study and change behavior to improve the lives of others. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic flexibility of thought, as well as their strengths and challenges. Such insights can be valuable when treating autistic individuals or individuals with behavioral challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Behavior Analyst

Learning Disability Nurse

Learning Disability Nurses provide care and support to people with learning disabilities. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic social communication aspects, as well as their strengths and challenges. Such insights can be valuable when caring for autistic individuals or individuals with similar social or communication challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Learning Disability Nurse

Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic emotional aspects, as well as their strengths and challenges. Such insights can be valuable when treating autistic individuals or individuals with mental health disorders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Psychiatrist

Teacher

Teachers help students learn and grow, both academically and personally. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic interests and routines, as well as their strengths and challenges. Such insights can be valuable when teaching autistic students or students with similar learning styles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Counselor

Counselors help people cope with personal, social, and mental health challenges. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic social communication aspects, as well as their strengths and challenges. Such insights can be valuable when counseling autistic individuals or individuals with similar social or communication challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Counselor

Educational Psychologist

Educational Psychologists help children and young people with learning and behavioral difficulties. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic language and communication aspects, as well as their strengths and challenges. Such insights can be valuable when working with autistic students or students with similar language or communication challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Psychologist

Forensic Psychologist

Forensic Psychologists work with the criminal justice system to assess and treat offenders and victims. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic emotional aspects, as well as their strengths and challenges. Such insights can be valuable when working with autistic offenders or victims.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Psychologist

Pediatrician

Pediatricians are medical doctors who specialize in the care of infants, children, and adolescents. This course may be useful as it provides insights into the causes and early signs of autism.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pediatrician

Neurologist

Neurologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the nervous system. This course may be useful as it provides insights into the causes of autism and how it affects the brain.

See salaries and explore the career path for Neurologist

Psychiatric Nurse

Psychiatric Nurses provide care and support to people with mental health disorders. This course may be useful as it provides insights into autistic emotional aspects, as well as their strengths and challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Psychiatric Nurse