Advances in Evidence-Based Treatment for Autism
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder struggle with social relationships across the lifespan and are often at greater risk for anxiety and mood concerns, particularly as individuals age into older childhood and adolescence. This session will describe how to use evidence-based treatment approaches tailored for the unique profile and needs of individuals with autism. We will review general behavioral approaches that can be incorporated in treatment programs and taught to families or school providers to support rapport, behavior management, executive functioning, and social communication. We will continue to discuss recent research on best practices in addressing social skills and sexuality. We will also focus on specific strategies and resources for working with therapy clients with autism and common co-occurring concerns, including depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Three CE units are available for social workers and counselors.
About the Presenters:
Holly Lechniak, LCSW, is the outreach director for the AARTS Center at Rush. She serves as a clinician to individuals, groups, and families at the center and as a consultant to schools across the Chicagoland area. She is also the administrative coordinator for ongoing genetic studies at AARTS. A graduate of the Social Service Administration Program at the University of Chicago, she completed her training and began her career providing services to children, adolescents, and young adults with autism and other comorbid diagnoses within the educational system. In both public and therapeutic day school settings, she has provided clinical services, family training, and program development for students across the spectrum, as well as clinical staff training.
Cynthia Pierre, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at the AARTS Center. Pierre is a graduate of the clinical psychology doctoral program at Loyola University Chicago. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis with an emphasis on treating children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. She also has extensive experience with behavioral intervention for individuals with anxiety, ADHD, and disruptive behaviors. Pierre provides clinical services in English and Spanish.
Jennifer Moriuchi, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and the associate clinical director of the AARTS Center. She specializes in diagnostic evaluations across the lifespan and works with individuals with autism and their families in therapy and consultations. Moriuchi received her PhD in clinical psychology from Emory University, where she trained at the Marcus Autism Center. She completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Oregon Health and Science University. Her ongoing research uses eye-tracking technology to understand behavioral mechanisms contributing to social disability in autism.