Autistic-Affirming Couples Therapy

Couples therapy requires a neutral stance by the therapist in order to maintain rapport with both parties. Yet therapists have often regarded autistic partners as stunted in their ability to love or deficient in their communication skills.

Current research demonstrates autistic clients’ interest and motivation in finding connection and developing healthy relationship habits. This event will provide you with new insights and perceptiveness about helping partners better understand and communicate with one another.

After attending this intermediate-level program, participants will be able to:

• Identify 3 ways autistic partners demonstrate affection.
• To name 2 techniques non-autistic partners can use to make effective bids for attention.
• To discuss 2 ways mixed-neurotype couples can mutually accommodate one another’s neurological needs.

This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.1: Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach.

This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 2: Program will enable psychologists to keep pace with the most current scientific evidence regarding assessment, prevention, intervention, and/or education, as well as important relevant legal, statutory, leadership, or regulatory issues.

This program meets AASECT Core Knowledge Area for:

B – Developmental sexuality from a bio-psycho-social perspective across the life course.

C – Socio-cultural factors (e.g. ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socio-economic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.

E – Intimacy skills (e.g., social, emotional, sexual) and family dynamics.

H – Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality i.e. illness, disability, mental health, safer sex.

N – Learning theory and its application.

This program meets AASECT Sexuality Counseling training for:

B – Theory and methods of sexuality counseling approaches to specific populations.

C – Theory and methods of different approaches to intervention in relationship systems.

This program meets AASECT Sexuality Therapy training for:

A – Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.

C – Theory and methods of approach to intervention in relationship systems experiencing sex and intimacy problems.

General Admission: $30

The Chicago School Faculty/Staff/Alumni: $20*

The Chicago School Students: $15*

(*Please email [email protected] for coupon code)

Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.

Kate McNulty, LCSW

Kate McNulty has worked with issues of trauma and sexual victimization since 1980 and has been in private practice since 1999. She is an AASECT certified Sex Therapist and a Gottman certified Relationship Therapist and Trainer.

Strunz, S., Schermuck, C., Ballerstein, S., Ahlers, C. J., Dziobek, I., & Röepke, S. (2016). Romantic relationships and relationship satisfaction among adults with Asperger Syndrome and High‐Functioning Autism. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73(1), 113–125. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22319 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pere.12397

Smith, R., Netto, J., Gribble, N., & Falkmer, M. (2020). ‘At the End of the Day, It’s Love’: An Exploration of Relationships in Neurodiverse Couples. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(9), 3311–3321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04790-z

Yew, R. Y., Hooley, M., & Stokes, M. A. (2023). Factors of relationship satisfaction for autistic and non-autistic partners in long-term relationships. Autism, 136236132311602. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231160244

Target Audience: Therapists who have some couples therapy skills and want to learn to support couples where one or both partners are autistic. Therapists who see autistic clients and want more effective skills for couples work.

Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. 

Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159

Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036

MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 2.0 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.

Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 2.0 CE credits. The Office of Continuing Education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has been approved as an AASECT Provider of continuing education credits! Provider number 23-519-CW. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. Completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification. For further information please contact [email protected].

Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.

*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.

If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.