OCD & Anxiety Lecture Series: ERP Modifications when working with Autistic Clients

May 16, 2025

This presentation will be an ONLINE VIRTUAL LIVE broadcast on May 16, 2025, from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET. While this activity is LIVE and can only be viewed during the time specified, the evaluation will be available online until June 13, 2025. Go to the Register tab above to learn how to participate for continuing education credit, watch the broadcast and download the slides.

The views and opinions expressed by this presenter in this lecture are their own, and do not represent the views of Sheppard Pratt.

The real “autism epidemic” is not that one in 36 children are identified with autism (CDC, 2023), but rather that autistic individuals are often unable to access mental healthcare, including Cognitive Behavior Treatment (CBT). Autistic individuals across the lifespan experience higher rates of anxiety, OCD, depression, and other mental health conditions compared to the general population (Braconnier et al., 2022; Maddox et al., 2017).  While many clinicians want to use CBT to address mental health needs, such as anxiety and OCD in autistic clients, they incorrectly believe that CBT's use with autistic individuals is inherently different (vs. a modified/tailored approach), and that treating this population is out of their competency. Research suggests that CBT is efficacious in reducing psychiatric symptoms in those with autism (Benevides et al., 2020, Braconnier et al., in press; Wang et al., 2021, Wood et al., 2020), and the reality is that most CBT practitioners will encounter autistic clients—diagnosed or not— within a therapy setting at some point in their career. This talk will bridge gaps for CBT practitioners who want to increase their knowledge and confidence in working with autistic clients. Attendees will learn about relevant autism information-processing differences that may impact symptom presentation and treatment, along with some practical strategies and modifications for both behavioral and cognitive interventions of CBT for this population. 

Target Audience

This activity is intended for physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and other mental health professionals. 

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, attendees will be able to:

  1. Identify core features and individual differences of autism.
  2. Summarize the importance of listening to autistic lived-experiences and be able to collaborate with autistic patients to integrate this into CBT.
  3. Apply behavioral and cognitive interventions (e.g. exposure, differential reinforcement of behavior, family reinforcement, cognitive restructuring) to treat co-occurring OCD/Anxiety in autistic clients more confidently implement CBT treatment interventions to autistic patients

 

 

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACEP NBCC clock hours
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Category I credits for Social Workers
  • 1.00 Psychologists
  • 1.00 MNA Contact Hours for Nurses
  • 1.00 Participation
Course opens: 
03/13/2025
Course expires: 
06/24/2025
Event starts: 
05/16/2025 - 1:00pm EDT
Event ends: 
05/16/2025 - 2:00pm EDT

There is no commercial support for this activity.

About the speaker

REBECCA SACHS is a licensed psychologist and an expert in the top recommended treatments for Anxiety and OCD, and in the assessment and modification of treatment for neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan. She believes in empowering individuals and their families with knowledge and skills. Board Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology, Dr. Sachs has a private practice in New York and is co-director of Successful School Transitions, a comprehensive program for school refusal. In addition to these roles, Dr. Sachs is mom to an energetic and determined 2nd grader and step-mom to the coolest 16 yo around.

Disclosure Statements

Sheppard Pratt holds the standard that its continuing medical education programs should be free of commercial bias and conflict of interest. In accord with Sheppard Pratt's Disclosure Policy, as well as standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the American Medical Association (AMA), all planners, reviewers, speakers and persons in control of content have been asked to disclose any relationship he /she has with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 24 months. All planners, reviewers and speakers have also been asked to disclose any payments accepted for this lecture from any entity besides Sheppard Pratt, and if there will be discussion of any products, services, or off-label uses of product(s) during this presentation.

Rebecca Sachs, PhD, ABPP,  reports she is the owner of E&R Psychology PC, RES Clinical Psychology, PC, & Successful Transitions Coaching. She is a consultant for NYS OMH and a BTTI instructor with IOCDF. She will not discuss any products, services, or off-label uses in this presentation. All relationships have been mitigated through review.

Event Planners/Reviewers Disclosures: The following event planners and/or reviewers are reported as having no financial interest, arrangement or affiliation with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 24 months: Jon Hershfield, LMFT, Todd Peters, MD, Michael C. Hann, MD, MBA, Ronald Means, MD, Rajeev Krishna, MD, PhD, MBA, Louis Marino, MD, Devi Bhuyan, PsyD, Faith Dickerson, PhD, Carrie Etheridge, LCSW-C, Tom Flis, LCPC, Paula Bostwick, MSN, RN, CENP, Alfredo Sagisi, DNP, MS, RN, FACHE, Maggie O'Neill MSN, RN, PMH-BC, Lisa Illum, MLIS, MEd, and Jennifer Tornabene.

Physician Statement: Sheppard Pratt is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.  Sheppard Pratt designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Statement: Sheppard Pratt is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. This activity provides 1.0 contact hour for nurses.

Psychologist Statement: Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists as a sponsor of continuing education. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CE activity.  Sheppard Pratt designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 contact hour for Psychologists.

Social Worker Statement: Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners of Maryland to offer continuing education for Social Workers.  Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CE activity. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour in Category I credits for Social Workers.

Counselor Statement:  Sheppard Pratt has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5098.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Sheppard Pratt is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.  This activity is available for 1.0 NBCC clock hours.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACEP NBCC clock hours
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Category I credits for Social Workers
  • 1.00 Psychologists
  • 1.00 MNA Contact Hours for Nurses
  • 1.00 Participation
Please login or register to take this course.

This presentation will be an ONLINE VIRTUAL LIVE broadcast on May 16, 2025, from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET. While this activity is LIVE and can only be viewed during the time specified, the evaluation will be available online until June 13, 2025. Go to the Register tab above to learn how to participate for continuing education credit, watch the broadcast and download the slides.

NEW PROCESS***REGISTER TO WATCH THE BROADCAST***NEW PROCESS

There is a separate registration that you must complete to attend the live broadcast. Click on the Registration link located in the Register/Take Course tab. Enter your first name, last name, and email address. You will receive a confirmation email that you have registered to attend the broadcast. When it is time for the live broadcast, you can use the link in the confirmation email or click on the registration link again. Only when you have pre-registered, can you click on the Already Registered button and enter the email address you registered under to enter the broadcast. The link to watch the broadcast will be live at 12:30 pm ET. 

https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=F07BF750-403F-4207-AB0F-F4BFCA63D775

The codeword will be announced during the live event. The codeword is used to prove you attended the event. You will not need it to access the broadcast.

The broadcast can not be accessed through cme.sheppardpratt.org. You will need to use the link provided below to watch the broadcast.


DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT.

Use this link to download the handout. This handout will be available for download on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 12:00 pm ET.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iwYpV23h6aCxwDk0PyMtDY1pEiWkQCd4/view?usp=sharing

EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE

PRIOR TO THE EVENT: Log into your Sheppard Pratt Ethos account and register by taking the pretest. Select the activity by series, title or speaker name. Go to the last tab, REGISTER and select the GREEN RECTANGLE, TAKE COURSE, and follow the prompts. Complete the Pretest. You will not be able to work further until you are marked attended by entering the codeword. You do not need the codeword to watch the live broadcast. The link for the broadcast is located on the Register/Take Course tab of the course page.

REGISTER TO WATCH THE BROADCAST: There is a separate registration that you must complete to attend the live broadcast. Click on the Registration link located in the Register/Take Course tab. Enter your first name, last name, and email address. You will receive a confirmation email that you have registered to attend the broadcast. When it is time for the live broadcast, you can use the link in the confirmation email or click on the registration link again. Only when you have pre-registered, can you click on the Already Registered button and enter the email address you registered under to enter the broadcast. The link to watch the broadcast will be live at 12:30 pm ET. 

https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=F07BF750-403F-4207-AB0F-F4BFCA63D775

DURING THE EVENT: Because you will view this event online, there will not be a sign in sheet. Instead of signing in, a codeword will be given during the lecture for you. The codeword will be announced during the live broadcast. There are two ways to enter the codeword: by text/SMS & through the website. To use the website to enter the codeword to be marked attended, you will go to https://cme.sheppardpratt.org/code and enter the codeword there. To use SMS to enter the codeword, you will text the codeword to 410-291-8061. To save time, add this phone number to your contacts. Once you enter the codeword, you can click on the My Account> Pending Courses tab and you will see the course listed there. From this tab you will be able to complete your course.

**A note regarding entering the codeword. Our codeword process is open for almost 4 weeks. Due to rising attendance numbers at our events, our website is more prone to experience high volumes and slow down as a result. It is recommended that you wait to enter the codeword and log back into the website after the broadcast is over to avoid any issues. If you notice the system is slow, please try again later.**

AFTER THE LECTURE: Once you enter the codeword, you can click on My Account > Pending Activities and you will see the course listed there. From this tab you will be able to complete your course. Select the last tab, TAKE COURSE, and select the GREEN RECTANGLE, TAKE COURSE and follow the prompts. Please use the navigation button located in the lower right corner to continue throughout the course for best results. Complete the posttest, evaluation, and credit designation to earn continuing education hours or credits. You must complete each component of the COURSE PROGRESS BAR to earn credit for the activity. Your transcript will reflect all completed events.

Questions? Please look at our FAQ page https://cme.sheppardpratt.org/content/faq  or email [email protected].

Required Hardware/software

Optimal System Configuration

Flash Player: Adobe Flash Player 10.1+
Browser: Firefox 3+, Internet Explorer 8.0+, Safari 4.0+, or Google Chrome 7.0+
Operating System: Windows XP+ or Mac OS X 10.4+
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher

Minimum Requirements

Windows PC: 500-MHz Pentium II; Windows XP or higher; 128 MB RAM; Video Card at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card at least 16-bit; Macromedia Flash Player 10 or higher, audio playback with speakers for programs with video content; Firefox 1.1+, Internet Explorer 7.0+, Safari 1.0+, Google Chrome, or Opera
Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.3 or higher with latest updates installed; 1.83MHz Intel Core Duo or faster; RAM: 128MB or more; Video Card: at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card: at least 16-bit

Hardware/Software Specifications

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using Internet Explorer 8+, Mozilla Firefox 3+, Safari 4+. This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.