Browse
Health Pages
Categories
Menu

How Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Help People With Autism?

by — 2019-12-15 in Mental Health
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most popular forms of talk therapy around. How and when can it help people on the autism spectrum, and what should you watch out for?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT for short) is a really popular kind of talk therapy, to the point that anyone randomly seeking out psychotherapy is rather likely to end up with a therapist who practices CBT. It's been shown, through scientific studies, to be able to help people with a wide variety of mental health struggles. 

How can cognitive behavioral therapy help someone on the autistic spectrum, and why might you seek this kind of talk therapy out?

What is cognitive behavioral therapy, and why is it so popular?

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a modern kind of talk therapy. Based on the idea that we get trapped in unhelpful and often actively harmful thought patterns that contribute to psychological, social, and mental health problems, it seeks to identify what those patterns are. Armed with new knowledge and under the guidance of the therapist, the client can adopt new behavioral patterns that work better for them, in turn improving their mood and mental health. 

Unlike some other forms of talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on present problems rather than delving deep into underlying baggage from the past. The fact that it's widely available, doesn't go on for years, and is relatively cheap makes it popular, but those are not the only reasons CBT is ubiquitous. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also popular because it works. 

Most popular for anxiety and depression, CBT has also been employed to help people with bipolar disorder, phobias, eating disorders, panic disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among many other mental health struggles. It can even help you if you're not struggling with any diagnosable mental health disorder, but just want better coping techniques and someone to talk to. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be beneficial for many people, though some will find out that they prefer other kinds of talk therapy. 

Is cognitive behavioral therapy suitable for you if you are autistic?

Quite possibly — just like any random neurotypical person, you may find it helpful or not.

Autistic people are more likely than others to face mental health struggles, however, including depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (because autistic people have a higher risk than others of being exposed to traumatic events). Since these are all things cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be able to help people with, you may benefit from CBT if you're facing one of these struggles. By the same token, if you're the parent of an autistic child who struggles with or you suspect struggles one of these diagnoses, cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful to them. 

Most research about the benefits autistic people may reap from CBT has focused on people who have both autism and anxiety, but that doesn't mean CBT won't "work" for an autistic person suffering from any of the other struggles research has identified as being a good fit for cognitive behavioral therapy. Once again, CBT may also be helpful if you simply want to improve your coping mechanisms, or talk through what it's like to be autistic in an overwhelmingly neurotypical world. 

Some things you may like to know before you start looking for a therapist include:

  • CBT is basically centered on the idea that you definitely have maladaptive thought patterns. This is probably true, but they're not necessarily the ones the therapist identifies. (When I attended CBT, my therapist insisted that I need to work on forgiving my abuser, which I didn't agree with.)
  • CBT can help you understand how other people in your life function, and why. This can be quite helpful if you struggle to understand why people act the way they do. It can help you reach a more "zen" mental state.
  • CBT can equip you with healthier problem-solving skills, which is nice. This can include learning how to face difficult situations and coping with fears — and we all come across both fears and difficult situations!
  • If you suffer from low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness, CBT can help you with this, but how well depends on the therapist. A therapist who isn't right for you can cause damage, too. 
  • Role-playing is quite common in CBT, and some people, including autistic people, may find this really annoying or just aren't able to connect to it. Let your therapist know if you don't want to try this.

You will, however, want to seek out a therapist who is familiar with autism — whether you're looking for therapy for yourself or your child. A therapist who doesn't understand the nature of autism may see as pathological traits that are simply normal in autistic people, and develop the wish to "therapy them out of you". They may also find it hard to understand some of your needs or reactions, such as stimming and meltdowns. Therapy is hard work and while it can improve your life in the long-term, you can bet that it's going to be stressful at times, or even often. This may mean that an autistic person finds it almost impossible to keep any "neurotypical mask" they've learned to present to the world on during sessions, and you don't want a therapist who has a problem with that. 

If cognitive behavioral therapy appeals to you, you can look for autism-friendly therapists and give this form of talk therapy an honest go. You may find it's exactly what you need, or you may decide it's not for you and instead explore one of the many other forms of talk therapy out there. 

Sources & Links

  • Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth

Post a comment