Understanding Autism and Mental Health

Are you a practitioner supporting autistic people with co-occurring mental health conditions?

This two day online training course introduces you to an “inside out model” of supporting autistic people who may be experiencing co-occuring mental health conditions.

You can take this course as a stand alone module or as Module 1 in the BPS Approved Certificate and Diploma in Autism and Mental Health.  All course materials are available online via a learning management platform so you can complete at your own pace and time.  

What will I learn on this course?

• Why high numbers of autistic people experience co-occurring mental health conditions.

• Understanding of the lived experiences of autistic people seeking mental health support

• An inside out model for supporting autistic people (including the double empathy problem, monotropism, splinter skills, the spiky profile and sensory hyper and hypo-sensitivities).

• Knowledge, awareness, and skills for supporting autistic people with co-occuring mental health conditions (with access to resources and tools).

• The types of co-occurring mental health issues experienced by autistic people.

• The different models disability and how this affects the way services are provided (e.g. the social model and neurodiversity).

• The role of special interests and self-stimulatory movements and speech and how to use the supporting resource packs (SPINS and STIMS).

• Read and reviewed current research and articles on autism and mental health.

• Use the reflective practice worksheets to deepen your own self-awareness and application of learning into practice.

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 supproting 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 pracitce.

What else will I take away from this training?

• PDF Course Handouts.

• 12 weeks access to 12 Tutor led videos and 2 Podcasts.

• 7 workbooks.

• 7 Downloadable Articles.

• 2 Spotting the Signs Tools/Skills Based Resource Packs.

• 10 Worksheets

• 2 Sets of Printable Visuals.

• 2 Psychoeducation Tools.

• 7 Downloadable Reflective Practice Worksheets.

• Further reading/reference list.