Autism in Practice: From Assessment to Advocacy
- Topic Areas:
- Adolescent | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Brain Development | Children & Adolescents | Neurodiversity
- Categories:
- Live Webinar
- Speakers:
- Heather Veague, Ph.D. | Melinda Macht-Greenberg, Ph.D.
- Course Levels:
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Duration:
- 7 Hours 30 Minutes
- License:
- Never Expires.
Producer: VPA/Brattleboro Retreat
Description
This program will equip mental health professionals with evidence-based, practical strategies for the assessment and intervention of children, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Participants will develop skills to identify high-quality autism assessments and understand critical diagnostic considerations across developmental stages.
We will discuss how therapeutic approaches should be tailored to the specific needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, targeting communication, social connections, emotional regulation, and daily living independence. We will provide practical suggestions to help therapists adapt their current clinical practices to enhance the quality and efficacy of their work with this population.
Credits
Vermont
6 CE Credits
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists, and is also approved by the Vermont Board of Psychological Examiners to sponsor continuing education for psychologists licensed in Vermont. This course is intended to qualify for specialty mandated credit types as follows:
Ethics: 0
Cultural Competency: 0
Continuing education courses sponsored by the Vermont Psychological Association are pre-approved by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation for continuing education credit for licensed independent clinical social workers in Vermont. This course is intended to qualify for the following specialty mandated credit types;
Ethics: 0
Cultural Competency: 0
Continuing education courses sponsored by the Vermont Psychological Association are pre-approved by the Vermont Board of Allied Mental Health for continuing education credit for licensed clinical mental health counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists in Vermont. This course is intended to qualify for the following specialty mandated credit types:
Ethics: 0
Cultural Competency: 0
Connecticut
6 CE Credits
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Connecticut accepts these credits for continuing education for psychologists in Connecticut pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-191c(b). This course is intended to qualify for specialty mandated credit types as follows:
Veterans' Mental Health: 0
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing educaiton for psychologists. Based on this approval, this course is pre-approved for credit for Connecticut licensed professional counselors under Conn. Agencies Regs § 20-195cc-3(a)(1). This course is intended to qualify for mandated credit types as follows:
Ethics: 0
Veterans' Mental Health: 0
Massachusetts
6 CE Credits for Psychologists & LMHCs
7.2 CE Credits for LCSWs
6CE Credits for LMHCs
The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists accepts credits earned from courses sponsored by APA-approved sponsors as indicated in 251 C.M.R. §§ 4.02, 4.03.
As a course sponsored by an APA-approved CE sponsor, this course qualifies for credit for clinical social workers and certified social workers in Massachusetts under 258 CMR sec 31.04(2)(d).
The Vermont Psychological Association (VPA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7610. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. VPA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
New Hampshire
6 CE Credits
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor live continuing education for psychologists. The New Hampshire Board of Psychologists accepts credits earned from courses sponsored by APA-approved sponsors as indicated in Psyc § 402.01(d)(11). This course is intended to qualify for specialty mandated credit types as follows:
Ethics: 0
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education to psychologists. As a course sponosred by an organization with such approval, these credits are also accepted by the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice for clinical social workers licensed in New Hampshire, as provided in Mhp 402.02(b)(1). This course is intended to qualify for the following specialty mandated credits:
Ethics: 0
Suicide Prevention: 0
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education to psychologists. As a course sponosred by an organization with such approval, these credits are also accepted by the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice for clinical mental health counselors licensed in New Hampshire, as provided in Mhp 402.02(b)(1). This course is intended to qualify for the following specialty mandated credits:
Ethics: 0
Suicide Prevention: 0
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. As a course sponosred by an organization with such approval, these credits are also accepted by the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice for marriage and family therapists; pastoral psychotherapists; and school social workers licensed in New Hampshire, as provided in Mhp 402.02(b)(1). The course is intended to qualify for the following specialty mandated credit types:
Ethics: 0
Suicide Prevention: 0
New York
6 CE Contact Hours
The Vermont Psychological Association is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0210. This course is intended to qualify for specialty mandated continuing education topics as follows:
Ethics: 0
Professional Boundaries: 0
Other States Accepting Credits from APA-Approved Sponsors
6 CE Credits
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor live continuing education for psychologists. The Vermont Psychological Association maintains responsibility for its programs and their content. Psychologists and other professionals licensed in states whose respective licensing boards approve continuing education offered by APA-approved sponsors may earn continuing education credits for this course.
Other States Accepting Credits from NBCC-Approved Sponsors
6 CE Credits
The Vermont Psychological Association (VPA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7610. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. VPA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Speaker
Heather Veague, Ph.D. Related Seminars and Products
Brattleboro Retreat
Dr. Heather Veague obtained her Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University and completed her postdoctoral training in clinical psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She completed psychology internship training at Albany Medical College in Albany, New York, as well as postdoctoral fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychology at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital/Stanford Medical School in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Veague has specialized training and broad experience in the assessment and treatment of the full spectrum of psychiatric conditions affecting children, adolescents and young adults. She has published books for young readers about mental health topics, as well as several peer-reviewed journal articles. In her work as a clinician at the Brattleboro Retreat and in her private practice, Dr. Veague takes a developmental approach to mental health and illness, and works with caregivers, schools and outside providers in the service of her patients. The complexity of her caseload necessitates that ethical considerations around working with children and adolescents are a priority.
Melinda Macht-Greenberg, Ph.D. Related Seminars and Products
Tufts University
Dr. Melinda Macht-Greenberg is a licensed psychologist with more than 35 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. As a faculty member at Tufts University and the Tufts University School of Medicine, her research and teaching focus on autism, special education, and comprehensive psychological assessment.
At the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, Dr. Macht-Greenberg teaches courses on assessment models, coordinates the master’s internship program, and mentors graduate students in clinical and research settings. She also developed and directs the clinical training rotation in play therapy for children under age six within the child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship program.
In her clinical practice, Dr. Macht-Greenberg provides diagnostic evaluations, intervention planning, and educational consultation for autistic children, teens, and their families. Her work bridges research, clinical practice, and training, with a commitment to fostering neurodiversity-affirming, developmentally informed care.
Course Objectives
Objective 1 Describe current diagnostic criteria and evidence-based assessment tools (including clinical observations, interviews, and standardized testing) for identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.Objective 2 Differentiate between core and co-occurring features of ASD and explain how developmental, cultural, and gender-related factors influence assessment and intervention outcomes.
Objective 3 Apply empirically supported intervention approaches to promote social communication, adaptive functioning, and emotional modulation (factors of emotional intelligence frameworks) in autistic clients.
Objective 4 Integrate trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming principles into psychological practice to support mental health and well-being and minimize the impact of secondary conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Objective 5 Develop strategies for interdisciplinary collaboration and advocacy to enhance access, inclusion, and quality of care for autistic individuals and their families in educational settings and the workplace.