ERP Modifications when working with Autistic Clients

This presentation was originally reviewed on May 12, 2025, and live streamed online on May 16, 2025, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET.

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 II credits for Social Workers
  • 1.00 Psychologists
  • 1.00 MNA Contact Hours for Nurses
  • 1.00 Participation
Course opens: 
06/20/2025
Course expires: 
06/18/2027

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 enduring 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.

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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 II credits for Social Workers.

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Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACEP NBCC clock hours
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Category II credits for Social Workers
  • 1.00 Psychologists
  • 1.00 MNA Contact Hours for Nurses
  • 1.00 Participation
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ON DEMAND WEBINAR: FOR BEST RESULTS WATCH USING GOOGLE CHROME

ERP Modifications when working with Autistic Clients

Rebecca Sachs, PhD, ABPP

Owner, CBT Spectrum

Co-Director, Successful School Transitions

New York, NY

Originally reviewed on May 12, 2025.
Originally broadcast live May 16, 2025, from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET.
Enduring Activity Credit Expiration Date: June 18, 2027.

Activity Time: One hour recorded webinar lecture with a 15-minute evaluation process. Total Time: 1:15.

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