Abstract
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate, from a lived experience perspective, specialist psychological therapists’ views on therapeutic adaptations to cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for autism that are most helpful for service users and enable best practice. Psychological therapist participants took part in semi-structured interviews led by a researcher with lived experience of autism. A thematic analysis was carried out. Participants (n=8) reported that challenges for service users were anxiety about the therapeutic relationship; communication difficulties with understanding and being understood; emotion recognition difficulties impeding trust and development of the therapeutic relationship; relationships with family interfering with the intervention; information processing impairments, necessitating a slower pace to the intervention; and avoidance of therapy due to anxiety. Goals were forming relationships and building social confidence and skills. Demographic differences were age, with older service users deemed less open to change and younger service users less mature and more often accompanied by family; and gender, with female service users deemed more socially able than males. Therapeutic adaptations were to increase collaboration; support emotional literacy, to help service users understand their own and others’ emotions; focus on special interests; use visual prompts, to improve communication and understanding; be consistent, to build trust and reduce anxiety; accommodate sensory needs, to reduce anxiety and build engagement; avoid metaphors, to reduce communication difficulties; and use role-play, to build and enhance social skills. Therefore, adapting CBT may support clinicians and reduce challenges for people with autism, while lived experience perspectives ensure adaptations meet service users’ needs.
Key learning aims
(1)
To use a lived experience perspective to explore expert psychological therapists’ views of challenges and adaptations when delivering CBT for adults with autism.
(2)
To investigate the benefits of adapting CBT when working with adults with autism.
(3)
To understand the importance of involving people with lived experience in the development and co-production of psychological interventions.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Clinical Psychology,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Cited by
4 articles.
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