Compassion-focused therapy with autistic adults
Some autistic adults experience repeated adverse events, including rejection, victimization and stigmatization. They also describe others being critical and negatively judging them, such as for how they socially interact or for expressing passion for particular interests. The impact of these adverse...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media
2023
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| _version_ | 1797112172972605440 |
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| author | Mason, D Acland, J Stark, E Happé, F Spain, D |
| author_facet | Mason, D Acland, J Stark, E Happé, F Spain, D |
| author_sort | Mason, D |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Some autistic adults experience repeated adverse events, including rejection, victimization and stigmatization. They also describe others being critical and negatively judging them, such as for how they socially interact or for expressing passion for particular interests. The impact of these adverse events can be substantial, including increasing vulnerability for poorer mental health, and contributing to development of negative self beliefs (such as “I am different” or “I do not fit in”) and shame-based difficulties. Not all evidence-based psychological therapies are well-received by autistic people, or effective. Given high rates of self-harm and suicidality, finding acceptable and effective therapies for autistic adults is paramount. Here, writing as autistic and non-autistic clinicians and researchers, we outline the theoretical principles of compassion-focused theory and therapy (CFT). We propose that: (1) compassion-focused theory can provide a useful framework for conceptualizing shame-based difficulties some autistic adults experience; (2) CFT can be appropriate for addressing these; and (3) there is an impetus for practitioners to adopt compassion-focused approaches when supporting autistic adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:20:24Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:92ea7225-a8af-4baa-aecd-eec4bafaebdd |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:20:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:92ea7225-a8af-4baa-aecd-eec4bafaebdd2024-01-23T15:33:37ZCompassion-focused therapy with autistic adultsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:92ea7225-a8af-4baa-aecd-eec4bafaebddEnglishSymplectic ElementsFrontiers Media2023Mason, DAcland, JStark, EHappé, FSpain, DSome autistic adults experience repeated adverse events, including rejection, victimization and stigmatization. They also describe others being critical and negatively judging them, such as for how they socially interact or for expressing passion for particular interests. The impact of these adverse events can be substantial, including increasing vulnerability for poorer mental health, and contributing to development of negative self beliefs (such as “I am different” or “I do not fit in”) and shame-based difficulties. Not all evidence-based psychological therapies are well-received by autistic people, or effective. Given high rates of self-harm and suicidality, finding acceptable and effective therapies for autistic adults is paramount. Here, writing as autistic and non-autistic clinicians and researchers, we outline the theoretical principles of compassion-focused theory and therapy (CFT). We propose that: (1) compassion-focused theory can provide a useful framework for conceptualizing shame-based difficulties some autistic adults experience; (2) CFT can be appropriate for addressing these; and (3) there is an impetus for practitioners to adopt compassion-focused approaches when supporting autistic adults. |
| spellingShingle | Mason, D Acland, J Stark, E Happé, F Spain, D Compassion-focused therapy with autistic adults |
| title | Compassion-focused therapy with autistic adults |
| title_full | Compassion-focused therapy with autistic adults |
| title_fullStr | Compassion-focused therapy with autistic adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compassion-focused therapy with autistic adults |
| title_short | Compassion-focused therapy with autistic adults |
| title_sort | compassion focused therapy with autistic adults |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT masond compassionfocusedtherapywithautisticadults AT aclandj compassionfocusedtherapywithautisticadults AT starke compassionfocusedtherapywithautisticadults AT happef compassionfocusedtherapywithautisticadults AT spaind compassionfocusedtherapywithautisticadults |