Autism and Mental Health, “Core Skills and Adjustments to Practice,”

• A set of core practitioner skills – the PICASSO framework (a holistic and integrative framework for autism responsive practitioners).

• Best practice approaches and a “Framework for adjustments to practice,” when providing services to autistic people with co-occurring mental health conditions including:

  • Preparation for first contacts

  • Environmental adjustments

  • Communication adjustments

  • Adjustments to the way you work.

  • Thinking and information processing differences

  • Family/Carer Communication and Involvement

  • Transitions and change

  • Sensory supports and resources.

  • Language and identity (adjustments)

  • Gender identity

  • Autism and Diversity

  • Gender-specific adjustments

• Ability to spot autistic traits/signs across different ages and stages of development including early years, latency, adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood.

• Awareness of different approaches for supporting autistic people

  across different ages and stages of development.

• Understanding of the current assessment and diagnostic

  frameworks, their strengths and weaknesses, and implications for

  practice.

• Consider the accessibility of autism assessments and screening

  services for girls and women.

• Introduction to the spotting the signs framework and screening tool

  for earlier identification of autism amongst girls and women

  (including the internal presentation).

• Consider the accessibility of services when thinking about gender

  identity, language and identity and diversity (and consider the

  implications for practice).

• Introduced to a Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Model of Initial

  Assessments for Autism and Mental Health

What are the benefits of completing this training?

• Understanding of Autism and Mental Health (using an inside out &

  neuro-affirmative approach)

• Work towards the BPS Approved Certification in Autism and Mental

  Health.

• Ability to adjust practice.

• Specific core skills for supporting Autistic people who experience co-

  occurring mental health conditions.

• Access to supportive resources, skills, and approaches.

• Increased awareness around your own practice.

• Application of learning into practice.