Implementing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in Working with Clients with Autism
Date: April 24, 2025
Didactics prepared by: Alana McVey – PhD in Clinical Psychology, Licensed Clinical Psychologist at the Center for Behavioral Medicine, Oregon, USA.
???? We successfully held an ECHO supervision meeting dedicated to implementing DBT in working with clients with autism ????
How to support people with autism, especially adolescents who have difficulties with self-regulation, sensory sensitivity or misophonia? How to adapt psychotherapeutic methods to their needs, while maintaining respect for neurodiversity?
???? In our supervision session with Dr. Alana McVay — a clinical psychologist with 12 years of research and practice experience — we had the opportunity to delve deeply into the adaptations of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for autistic people.
✔️ We reviewed the key principles of the neuroaffirmative approach and the social model of disability, which shifts the focus from “fixing” to supporting
✔️ We discussed adaptations of individual and group therapy, including the use of visual agendas, written communication, simplified forms of diaries, and flexible coaching
✔️ We paid attention to misophonia — when sounds cause strong emotional reactions — and clinical strategies for working with this phenomenon
✔️ We received a unique clinical case presentation of a teenager with autism from psychologist and speech therapist @Anastasia Fedoriv
✔️ We discussed the risks of self-harm and increased emotional vulnerability in adolescents and the importance of safe, adaptive therapeutic interaction
This session was an important step towards building a supportive environment for neurodiverse clients. Thank you to all participants for your activity and questions!
