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CBT vs. Autisitc-friendly CBT

Damojo

I've read a bit over the past few months about how CBT does not necessarily work as well for Autistic people unless it is "adapted". I've tried looking that up, but I'm none the wiser. Does anyone have experience or knowledge of CBT with and without such "adaptations"? What's the difference? If I were shopping around for a therapist, what questions would I ask and what answers would I expect to get?

Parents

  • I recently did a "basic level" course with local NHS services.  They had me do some questionnaires picked up on anxiety and depression then somehow ended up focusing on the anxiety bit.   Hmmmm... can't say I was particularly impressed as one of the strategies used was that I was required to identify how I felt under particular circumstances then try some "grounding techniques" and see if that changed how I felt under those circumstances.  I kind of already knew that I struggle to identify cognitively what emotion I am experiencing so can't say I particularly found that easy.... Maybe coincidence but I am getting a little better at working out how I feel now....  Anyway I would suggest doing a little research into alexithymia and it's correlate with autism based on my experience - this might give an insight into one questions to ask and what to expect if this applies to you too.

    I suppose the key thing for them to be able to appreciate and adjust to are the cognitive differences that are broadly characteristic of autism compared to neurotypical.  Google says these are:

    "a preference for detailed vs. holistic processing, differences in speed and depth of intuitive processing, challenges with social cognition and understanding non-literal language, and altered patterns of functional brain connectivity" 

    So at the very least they'd need to understand that there's not much mileage in looking for rapid intuitive processing from an autistic person as part of the therapy unless it is on a topic of special interest that you're already into!

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  • I recently did a "basic level" course with local NHS services.  They had me do some questionnaires picked up on anxiety and depression then somehow ended up focusing on the anxiety bit.   Hmmmm... can't say I was particularly impressed as one of the strategies used was that I was required to identify how I felt under particular circumstances then try some "grounding techniques" and see if that changed how I felt under those circumstances.  I kind of already knew that I struggle to identify cognitively what emotion I am experiencing so can't say I particularly found that easy.... Maybe coincidence but I am getting a little better at working out how I feel now....  Anyway I would suggest doing a little research into alexithymia and it's correlate with autism based on my experience - this might give an insight into one questions to ask and what to expect if this applies to you too.

    I suppose the key thing for them to be able to appreciate and adjust to are the cognitive differences that are broadly characteristic of autism compared to neurotypical.  Google says these are:

    "a preference for detailed vs. holistic processing, differences in speed and depth of intuitive processing, challenges with social cognition and understanding non-literal language, and altered patterns of functional brain connectivity" 

    So at the very least they'd need to understand that there's not much mileage in looking for rapid intuitive processing from an autistic person as part of the therapy unless it is on a topic of special interest that you're already into!

Children
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