Treating anxiety and mood problems in autistic patients: Targeting emotion dysregulation at the root

Please note that all registrations have to be paid in full before the event takes place - otherwise you will miss out on receiving the Zoom link. This event will be recorded for all those who are registered on the day. Recording is available for three weeks.

In this presentation, Dr. White will share current research on the prevalence, behavioral presentation, and treatment of mood and anxiety problems in autism, in clients across the lifespan. The primary focus will be on clinical tools and strategies that can be used with clients to effectively reduce the impact of difficulties with anxiety and mood disturbance. In addition to sharing and modeling some of the most well-supported strategies based in mindfulness and cognitive-behavior therapy, Dr. White will conceptualize how many mental health concerns in autistic children, teens, and adults are rooted in emotion dysregulation.

PRESENTER: PROFESSOR SUSAN WHITE (USA)

Dr. Susan White is Professor and Doddridge Saxon Chair in Clinical Psychology at The University of Alabama, where she directs the Center for Youth Development and Intervention (CYDI). Her research spans multiple areas in developmental psychopathology, with primary focus on mechanism-driven intervention for co-occurring and core problems in autism.

She is dedicated to the dissemination and implementation of clinical science and evidence-based practice to rural, diverse, and underserved communities. She has worked as a clinician in private practice and in residential inpatient settings, cementing her belief in the importance of research and evidence-based practice being mutually informative. She has been recognized publicly for her dedication to mentoring and inclusive education efforts. She is a Fellow of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), the American Psychological Association (APA), and Division 53 of APA, the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (SCCAP). Dr. White is also board-certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Dr. White was the 2023 President of the Society for the Science of Clinical Psychology (SSCP), and the 2021 recipient of the SSCP Distinguished Scientist Award.

Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Defense, and several foundations. She is co-author of several treatment curricula for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) including the Emotion Awareness and Skills Enhancement (EASE) Program, and developer of the Multimodal Anxiety and Social Skills Intervention (MASSI) and Stepped Transition in Education Program for Students with ASD (STEPS). She is also widely published in high-impact scientific journals and has authored or co-edited several books, including the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.