Table 1 Agenda and purpose of each ACAT session
CBT sessions | Session content | Session goals |
|---|---|---|
Pre-session | Learn about your psychological assessment for ASD | The participants will learn about their personal characteristics and autistic traits through the results of assessment tests. |
1st CBT | Learn about the characteristics of your autistic traits | The participants will understand the differences between autistic attributes and typical developmental features. |
2nd CBT | Cognitive changes: learn not only about the “weakness” but also “strengths” of your autistic traits | The participants will discover the “strengths” of ASD, setting aside the “weaknesses” and turning negative perspectives into rational neutral understanding about themselves. |
3rd CBT | Cognitive changes: create “funny nicknames” for your autistic traits | The participants will learn to externalize their autistic characteristics, facilitate self-monitoring skills, and develop metacognition. |
4th CBT | Behavioral changes: create a problem-solving plan for your autistic traits | The participants will learn how they can change and adjust their problematic behaviors to cope with their autistic traits. |
5th CBT | Behavioral changes: plan a functional way to solve easy problems that are caused by your autistic traits with your parents | The participants will make problem-solving plans for their own autistic traits and will also consider how to cope with problems when they execute their plans. They will start with easier problems related to their ASD traits. They will conduct these plans as a homework assignment. |
6th CBT | Behavioral changes: plan a functional way to solve more complicated problems that are caused by your autistic traits with your parents | The participants will make problem-solving plans for their own autistic traits and will also consider how to manage more complicated problems when they execute their plans. They will conduct these plans as a homework assignment (this homework assignment will be checked at a follow-up session). |
CBT follow-up | Check how well you are living with your autistic traits | The participants will review all skills and techniques learned to date. They will check their understanding of their own autistic traits and discuss the progress made in therapy, areas of continued effort, and ongoing challenges. |