Tailoring DBT for Autistic Clients

Amara Brook, PhD, ABPP (they/them), is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and has a private practice providing neurodiversity-affirming assessment and therapy. Dr. Brook's past roles include serving as Director of Postdoctoral Training and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Team Coordinator at Kaiser and providing assessment and DBT in VA medical centers and schools. Their research and clinical interests include improving assessment for Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to be more accurate, affirming, and accessible, and tailoring DBT and related therapies to be more affirming and effective for Autistic and ADHD clients. Dr. Brook has published widely and frequently provides training and consultation to other clinicians around the world. Their website is www.flowps.com.Rachel Leah Kraus, LCSW-C (she/her), is a clinical social worker in private practice in Maryland. She offers neurodiversity-affirmative, DBT-informed treatment to individuals who struggle with complex trauma, dissociative disorders, borderline personality disorder, and/or obsessivea'compulsive disorder on top of an Autistic, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or co-occurring Autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) neurotype. Additionally, she offers executive function coaching to clients, as well as professional training, supervision, and consultation to clinicians around the world. Ms. Kraus has been providing DBT-informed treatment since 2008 in a variety of contexts, including schools, residential treatment facilities, hospitals, and community mental health clinics. Her website is www.krauspsychotherapy.com.