Product Detail

1. Explain how missing social emotional milestones manifests into delayed attachment, cognitive rigidity, meltdowns, isolation, anxiety and difficulties in peer relationships with children and adolescents with ASD.
2. Illustrate the importance of play in social emotional development and why drama is indicated as an intervention for those with ASD.
3. Design a treatment plan that meets the developmental needs of your clients while still attending to their chronological age.
4. Demonstrate drama-based strategies to increase social reciprocity, perspective taking, initiate peer interaction and decrease peer conflict.
5. Employ relationship-based approaches and mindfulness to reduce meltdowns, and manage anxiety and anger.
6. Create plans for structuring dynamic individual sessions and experiential social groups using strategies and approaches presented in the workshop.
7. Use the therapeutic relationship to work on social skills in vivo.

The Developmental Roots of Social and Regulatory Issues in ASD

• Disconnection between sensory/motor system and affect
• Learning words before meaning is understood
• Inability to attend to parental mirroring

Social Skills Strategies

• Move from expressive to receptive modes through drama exercises
• Shared attention and conversation through relational strategies
• Take in ideas of others through improv games

Case Examples and Treatment Outcomes

• Break through conflict with socio-drama
• Move from perseveration to reciprocity through role-play
• Gain trust through play and attachment work
• Reduce anxiety by expressing needs through visuals

Perspective Taking and Emotional Problem-Solving Strategies

• Navigate social situations through puppet shows
• Build empathy through role-playing exercises
• Read social cues in context through drama games and movie clips
• Challenge self-absorption through relational approaches

Sensory Regulation Strategies

• Regulate nervous system with developmentally-appropriate sensory strategies
• Increase self-awareness of body and promote sensory integration with mindfulness exercises
• Manage arousal levels with drama-based movement exercises

Emotional Awareness, Expression and Containment Strategies

• Externalize and represent emotions using metaphor
• Express feelings through role-playing animals
• Use role models in literature and media as resources for regulation
• De-escalate anger episodes through relational approaches
• Manage anxiety and anger with CBT and mindfulness

Strategies for Cultivating a Sense of Humor

• Encourage humor in the therapeutic relationship
• Develop sense of humor through drama exercises
• Appropriate vs. inappropriate humor

Design Individual Tailored Sessions/Social Groups and Classroom Lessons

• Global assessment and weekly assessment
• Know which skills to target
• Setting up structure vs. following client’s lead
• Navigate impasses

Liz McDonough, MFT, RDT, has 15 years of clinical experience with a decade of working exclusively with children, teens and young adults on the autism spectrum and their families. She uses her unique therapeutic approach combining drama, mindfulness and attachment with individuals and social groups, in school settings and private practice. Providing consultation and training at Bay Area schools that serve verbal children and teens on the spectrum, as well as individual supervision to graduate interns, Liz is a sought-after expert in the field.

Liz wrote and co-directed two original theater plays performed by Oak Hill School students with ASD, ages 6-22. She is a tireless advocate for students needing IEP services and works with Bay Area schools to accommodate the needs of neuro-diverse students in mainstream schools.

Liz is currently an adjunct professor in the Drama Therapy Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies and is the former clinical director of Autistry Studios. She has taught in the Autism Certificate program at Alliant University and has presented at local and national conferences. Liz was a speaker at the Marin and South Bay Autism Lecture Series in 2011, 2012, and 2014, and has a private practice in San Rafael, CA.


Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Liz McDonough maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: Liz McDonough has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

For U.S. and Canadian customers, CE is available for $20.00 USD per participant. International CE rates may vary; please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details.

Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self study is an acceptable form of continuing education. Please refer to your state rules and regulations.

Certificates of Successful Completion will be emailed, faxed or mailed to participants completing the post-test/evaluation and paying the CE fee.

**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of mental health professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.

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Counselors
This intermediate self-study activity consists of 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

South Carolina Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists and Psycho-Educational Specialists: This program has been approved for 6.0 continuing education hours by the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists. Provider #4540.

Texas Counselors: PESI, Inc. has been approved as a continuing education sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Provider #: 2477. This self-study course qualifies for 6.0 continuing education credits.

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Educators/Teachers
This course consists of 6.25 self-study clock hours. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

Illinois Educators:
6.0 ISBE Professional Development (PD) Clock Hours will be made available through Quincy University. Those requesting ISBE PD Clock Hours will need to complete an Evaluation for Workshop, Conference, Seminar, in order to receive the ISBE “Evidence of Completion for Professional Development” form. Instructions and form will be made available under the “Materials” tab. Expires: 06/30/2024.

Indiana Educators: 6.0 Professional Growth Points are available for full attendance of this self-study package per the Indiana Department of Education standards.

Montana Educators: This self-study package is offered for 6.0 Renewal Units. PESI, Inc. is an Approved Renewal Unit Provider with the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Texas Educators: PESI, Inc., has been approved as a CPE Provider #500-981 for Texas Educators by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBED). This self-study package qualifies for 6.0 CPE clock hours.

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Marriage & Family Therapists
This self-study activity consists of 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

Illinois Marriage & Family Therapists: PESI, Inc. has been approved as a provider of continuing education by the State of Illinois, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation. Provider #: 168-000156. Full attendance at this self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 credits.

Texas Marriage & Family Therapists: PESI, Inc. has been approved as a continuing education sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. Provider #: 503. This self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 continuing education credits.

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Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Clinical Nurse Specialists
This intermediate activity consists of 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please contact your licensing board to determine if they accept programs or providers approved by other national or state licensing boards. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to participants who are in full attendance and who complete the program evaluation.

California Nurses: PESI, Inc. is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #:17118 for 6.0 self-study contact hours.

You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.

Florida Nurses: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Florida Board of Nursing. Provider #: FBN2858. These materials qualify for 6.0 self-study contact hours.

Iowa Nurses: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Provider #: 346. Nurses successfully completing these self-study materials will earn 6.3 self-study contact hours.

Copies of the evaluation may be sent to the IBON. You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.

Florida Occupational Therapists & Occupational Therapy Assistant: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy. Provider Number 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 6.3 continuing education credits.

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Physical Therapists & Physical Therapist Assistants
This self-study course consists of 6.25 clock hours of instruction that is applicable for physical therapists. CE requirements for physical therapists vary by state/jurisdiction. Please retain the certificate of completion that you receive and use as proof of completion when required.

California Physical Therapists & Physical Therapist Assistants: PESI, Inc. is recognized by the Physical Therapy Board of California as an approval agency to approve providers. This self-study lecture qualifies for 6.25 continuing competency hours.

Illinois Physical Therapists & Physical Therapist Assistants: PESI, Inc. is a Registered Physical Therapy Continuing Education Sponsor through the State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation. License #: 216.000270. This self-study course qualifies for 6.0 CE credit hours.

New York Physical Therapists & Physical Therapist Assistants: PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department, State Board for Physical Therapy as an approved provider for physical therapy and physical therapy assistant continuing education. This self-study course qualifies for 7.6 contact hours.

Texas Physical Therapists & Physical Therapist Assistants: This self-study activity is provided by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners Accredited Provider #2106032TX and meets continuing competence requirements for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensure renewal in Texas. This activity will provide 6.25 CCUs. The assignment of Texas PT CCUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by TPTA or TBPTE. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance.

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Psychologists
This self-study activity consists of 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline and the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity. Contact us for more information on your state board or organization specific filing requirements.

Canadian Psychologists: PESI, Inc. is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the program. This program is approved for 6.0 self-study continuing education hours. Full credit statement at: https://catalog.pesi.com/page/ceinformation#psychologists

Florida Psychologists: PESI, Inc., is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Psychology. Provider Number 50-399. This product qualifies for 6.3 self-study continuing education credits. Please make sure to bring your license number to the seminar so that we can report your attendance to CE Brokers.

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Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists
This course contains 6 hours of self-study continuing education. It was not offered for ASHA CEUs. Please retain your certificate of completion. If audited for ASHA Certification Maintenance, you can submit this certificate of completion at that time. For state licensure, teacher certification renewal, or other credential renewal, contact those agencies for information about your reporting responsibilities and requirements.

California Speech-Language Pathologists/Audiologists: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board, #PDP 319. This course meets the qualifications for 6.0 hours of self-study continuing professional development credit for Speech-Language Pathologists or Audiologists, as required by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board.

Kansas Speech-Language Pathologists: Approved for 7.5 self-study continuing education clock hours for Kansas licensed Speech-Language Pathologists by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.

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Social Workers
PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for this self-study course. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2017 - January 27, 2020. Social Workers completing this course receive 6.25 Clinical Practice continuing education credits. Course Level: Intermediate. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to social workers who complete the program evaluation.

Canadian Social Workers: PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for this self-study course. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2017 - January 27, 2020. Social Workers completing this course receive 6.25 Clinical continuing education credits. Course Level: Intermediate. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to social workers who complete the program evaluation. Canadian provinces may accept activities approved by the ASWB for ongoing professional development.

Illinois Social Workers: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Illinois, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation. License #: 159-000154. Successful completion of this self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 contact hours.

Kansas Social Workers: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. Provider #14-006. This self-study course has been approved for 6.0 continuing education hours.

Minnesota Social Workers: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Minnesota, Board of Social Work. Provider #: CEP-140. This self-study course has been approved for 6.0 continuing education hours. A certificate will be issued upon successful completion of a post-test.

New York Social Workers: PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's (NYSED) State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0008. This self-study activity will qualify for 7.5 contact hours. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance.

California Social Workers/ Counselors/Marriage & Family Therapists/Licensed Educational Psychologists: The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE programs that are approved by other approval agencies, including several that approve PESI and its programs. A full list of approval agencies accepted by the BBS can be found at www.bbs.ca.gov/licensees/cont_ed.html under “Where to find CE Courses.” This intermediate level activity consists of 6.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction.

Florida Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Mental Health Counselors: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Provider Number 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 6.25 continuing education credits.

Ohio Social Workers, Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Provider approval #: RCST071001. Successful completion of this self-study course meets the qualifications for 6.25 clock hours of continuing education credit.

Pennsylvania Social Workers/Counselors/Marriage & Family Therapists: This intermediate activity consists of 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please contact your licensing board to determine if they accept programs or providers approved by other national or state licensing boards. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to participants who are in full attendance and who complete the program evaluation. Full attendance is required, variable credits may not be awarded per the Pennsylvania State Board.

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Other Professions
This self-study activity qualifies for 6.25 clock hours of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

Disclaimer: **Information obtained in this course should be used within your scope of practice.
**It is your ethical responsibility to report accurate hours to your licensing board.
**All self-study participants must complete and pass (80% or better) a post-test and evaluation prior to receiving a certificate of completion. If you require a copy of the test/evaluation for CE purposes, please print at the time you take the test. Or you may call our customer service department and a copy of your test/evaluation will be emailed to you. Please allow 30-45 days.

Counselors, Teachers/Educators, Marriage & Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists & Occupational Therapy Assistants, Psychologists, Social Workers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and other Mental Health Professionals