Dr Debbie Spain

Individual and Group CBT for adults with Autism

Dr Debbie Spain

The focus of Debbie’s presentation will include an overview of the evidence base for CBT for adults with ASD and an outline of some of the practical considerations to take into account in order to enhance treatment accessibility and acceptability. She will illustrate her talk with clinical vignettes which demonstrate the bringing together of both her research and practical experience.

Dr Debbie Spain is an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow at the MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. She is an experienced clinician and has worked with adults with neurodevelopmental conditions in both inpatient and outpatient settings, specialising in ASD, ADHD and a range of mental health comorbidities. The clinical focus of her work has included diagnostic assessments, providing specialist formulation-driven individual and group CBT and family work. She has been involved in qualitative, cross-sectional and intervention research, as a Principal Investigator and collaborator. Her current research focuses on developing an understanding of and treating social anxiety and associated characteristics in adults with ASD.