A Live, Interactive Webconference
Wednesday, June 3, 2026, via Zoom Interactive Webconference
8:25am-12:35pm
Children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, already at risk, become exceptionally vulnerable when the family is struggling to function, relationships are fragile and negative emotions are rampant. For caregivers to effectively parent the child or for therapists to effectively help the family with the child, actions must be grounded in an understanding of the psychology of the child on the spectrum. This workshop, therefore, provides an in-depth overview of what autism is, how it impacts social-emotional processing and emotion regulation, and the challenges this can create for children, the siblings and the caregivers. Also identified are common negative family patterns that can exacerbate the social-emotional and behavioral problems of the child on the Spectrum.
Although the primary focus of this workshop is on how the family therapist can facilitate more functional family relationships and improve parenting functions, a review of evidence-based interventions currently used to support children on the Autism Spectrum will be provided. The child is likely to have an IEP at school and be involved with other service providers. Video examples of therapy with a couple after receiving the diagnosis of ASD for their child will be reviewed.
As a result of participating in this training, attendees will be able to:
- Describe the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum
- Explain the link between common behavioral problems and the psychology of the child on the Spectrum (cognitive rigidity, difficulty with perspective taking and emotion processing, etc)
- Identify individually focused supports and services that have evidence of being helpful to the child on the Spectrum
- Identify common negative family interactional patterns that escalate and undermine the functioning of a child who is on the Spectrum
- Utilize various interventions to increase a social relationship with family members on the spectrum.
- Describe strategies for supporting caregivers to become more effective in de-escalating and soothing the child who is having a meltdown
Agenda
- 8:25am-10:30am: Focus on Objectives 1-3
- 10:30am-10:40am: Break
- 10:40am-12:40pm: Focus on Objectives 4-6
This is an intermediate level course. The target audience is behavioral health professionals working within an Ecosystemic Family Therapy Model. This is a live synchronous distance learning activity conducted in real time, allowing for simultaneous participation of participants and instructors from different locations.
About The Trainer
Dr. Browning is a professor in the Department of in the Department of Professional Psychology at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. He is a noted authority on psychological treatment with stepfamilies, families of homicide, and families on the spectrum. He has published numerous books, chapters and articles on these topics, as well as on the genogram. Dr. Browning is a diplomat in couple and family psychology and is part of the clinical training team of the National Stepfamily Resource Center. In 2017 Dr. Browning was given an award for Distinguished Contributions to Family Psychology by division 43 of the American Psychological Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FBMHS Policies & FAQs on Live, Interactive Webconferences for additional information regarding CFBT live interactive workshops, accommodations for disabilities, reporting problems with the training, instructions for registering for a training, etc.