Anna Robinson

Emotion-focused therapy for clients with autistic process

ABSTRACT The person-centered approach has paid little attention to persons with autistic process, in spite of their often experiencing high levels of psychological distress. We present the main arguments for a group therapy adaptation of emotion-focused therapy for people on the autistic spectrum (EFT-AS). The principles of this approach are described here. A novel form of interpersonal process recall as a process guiding method is presented. The primary change processes include improving access to and symbolizing one’s own and others’ painful emotional experiences. EFT-AS uses video playback of social–emotional interpersonal reciprocity difficulty task markers to help clients activate, deepen and transform emotions via accessing core pain and associated unmet needs, which in turn point to adaptive emotions such as compassion for self and others. The beginning, middle and ending phases of treatment, showing shifts in client emotion processing, are presented with illustrative session transcripts. EFT-AS appears to be an innovative and promising approach to working with this client population but replication and further research are required.

Emotion-focused therapy for autism spectrum disorder: a case conceptualization model for trauma-related experiences

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report painful experiences through emotional misunderstandings with typically developing peers. There are limited intervention methodologies for ASD on the impact of emotional injuries and how to work with resulting trauma. This paper presents a rational-empirical model of trauma-related experiences with the first presentation of a new case conceptualization model for emotion-focused therapy for ASD. It describes the transformation of problematic emotion schemes through a sequence of emotional processing steps illustrated with a case example. These steps include: overcoming differentiation of core painful feelings (such as loneliness, shame, and fear); autobiographical memory recall of distanced trauma, using a novel method of video Interpersonal Process Recall; and articulation of the unmet needs contained in core painful feelings. This is followed by the expression of an emotional response to those feelings/needs; typically, self-soothing, protective anger and compassion responses offered interpersonally by group members. These emerging adaptive emotions facilitate mentalization of self and other that strengthens intrapersonal and interpersonal agency. This rational-empirical case conceptualization acts as a hypothesis for testing in subsequent trials.

Correction to: Brief Report: An Observational Measure of Empathy for Autism Spectrum: A Preliminary Study of the Development and Reliability of the Client Emotional Processing Scale

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. There was an omission to the original acknowledgement. The acknowledgement should have read: We would also like to express our gratitude to the rater, Mary Hamilton for her expertise and time commitment given freely to this project.