Providing Effective and Affirming Therapy for Autistic Adults

Title: Providing Effective and Affirming Therapy for Autistic Adults

Date & Time:

May 18, 2024

11:00 am to 1:30 pm with a 30 minute break

Presenter:

Mary (Molly) Martin, IMFT-S, BCBA, COBA

Learning Objectives:

• Objective 1: Learn about the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in adults and gain an understanding of how self-diagnosis is informing current practices.
• Objective 2: Learn about different treatment models for ASD and identify models that Autistic clinicians and clients report as being the most affirming and supportive of their autonomy.
• Objective 3: Explore the social systems Autistic adults interact with, including partners and families, with special attention to the LGBTQIA+ experience of Autistic Adults. 

CEUs:

2 Continuing Education Units for Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Social Workers have been applied for

Program Description:

This program will introduce participants to the basics of understanding how Autism will often present in Autistic adults, the barriers to getting a diagnosis as an adult, and the prevalence and importance of understanding self-diagnosis. This program will review how current research can be used in treatment to help clients better understand themselves and explore how the use of Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy and other models identified by both Autistic clinicians and clients can improve outcomes over approaches such as Applied Behavior Analysis. The program will look at common challenges faced by couples where one partner is neurodiverse and one is neurotypical, as well as how family dynamics may impact an Autistic’s understanding of themselves and their capabilities as an adult. This training will also provide insight into special considerations when working with LGBTQIA+ Autistic adults. The program will include current research in Autism Spectrum Disorder and amplify the shared lived experience of Autistic Adults.

Presenter:

Molly (Mary) Martin (she/her) has spent the last 15 years working with Autistic individuals of all ages. Molly graduated from Duquesne University in 2009 with a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and acquired her BCBA in 2015 after completing a post-masters program at Florida Institute of Technology. Molly maintains her BCBA credential but no longer practices under that licensure after having listened to the concerns of the Autistic community about their experiences with Applied Behavior Analysis. Molly spent nearly a decade in Community Mental Health at Blick Center working in schools, group homes, day treatment centers, and work programs. She was the former Clinical Director of Autism Services at Bellefaire JCB, and oversaw the treatment of children and transition-aged youth in their Monarch Residential Treatment Program. Molly provided supervision and training to clinicians working with parents and families to promote reunification where possible and/or prepare for transition to adult services in the client’s home state. Molly currently sees clients in private practice, and provides trainings and consultation to clinicians and the surrounding communities on working with neurodiverse clients, couples, and families.