Register Now

Duration: 11 hours (September 16 - October 28, 2025)
Cost: $875; $35 add-on for CEs (group rates available; tuition remission available for qualified Drexel employees)
Start Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 3:00-4:00 PM ET
Continuing Education Credits: up to 11 hours, through American Psychological Association (APA), Pennsylvania State Board of Social Work (PA SBSW), or International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
For group rates or tuition remission, please email the training team.

An estimated 60-70% of autistic children meet criteria for at least one additional psychiatric disorder (Rosen et., 2018), but many clinicians do not feel adequately trained to address the mental health needs of autistic youth, and/or those with intellectual disability.

The Scalable Psychopathology InteRvention Intensive Training for ID & Autism (SPIRIT-ID/A) training program teaches mental health practitioners skills they need to adapt cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat co-occurring mental health disorders in this underserved group. Co-led by psychologists with over 50 years of combined autism clinical and research expertise, as well as autistic providers, SPIRIT-ID/A covers understanding autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), behavioral modifications, and cognitive modifications. Throughout the course the content takes a neurodiversity-affirming approach and incorporates lived-experience perspectives.

Learning Concepts:
Participants who complete the program will be able to:

Identify core features and individual differences of autism that can impact mental health treatment Articulate key differences and similarities in how to apply CBT to treat co-occurring mental health conditions in those with autism and/or ID Demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge to the treatment of mental health conditions among those with autism and/or ID

Format: SPIRIT-ID/A is a fully online training with three (3) learning modules, totaling seven (7) sessions of alternating live and on-demand learning content.

• Module 1: Welcome and Introduction to Autism and IDD
  • September 16, 2025, 3:00-4:00 PM ET live session (learn with the instructors and other learners)
  • Week of September, on-demand session (learn on your own time)
  • September 30, 2025, 3:00-4:00 PM ET live session 
    
• Module 2: Modifications to Behavior Approaches
  • Week of October 6 - October 10, 2025, on-demand session
  • October 14, 2025, 3:00-4:00 PM ET, live session 
• Module 3: Modifications to Cognitive Approaches
  • Week of October 20-24, 2025, on-demand session
  • October 28, 2025, 3:00-4:00 PM ET, live session 

Course Prerequisites:
Familiarity with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy principles

This upcoming SPIRIT-ID/A cohort will be led by:
Dena Gassner, PhD, MSW (she/her): Co-Developer and Instructor
Dr. Dena Gassner is a Senior Research Scientist at Drexel University and is a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) aiding the White House in identifying and addressing autism research. Her research has focused on barriers to accessing Social Security Disability for first time, late diagnosed autistic applicants. She has also participated in multiple other projects including co-chairing the AIR-P autistic researcher’s team, research on mental and physical health challenges for autistic and other IDD populations. She identifies as an autistic researcher and is the parent to two neurodivergent adults. 

Tamara Rosen, PhD (she/her): Instructor
Tamara Rosen, PhD, is a clinical psychologist at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute and assistant professor at the Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Her interests are in expanding access to evidence-based assessment and mental health services for neurodivergent individuals. Dr. Rosen is also passionate about increasing neuroaffirming care in medical settings. Dr. Rosen is a licensed clinical psychologist. She has expertise in providing CBT to autistic and neurotypical individuals and differential diagnostic assessment of autism and co-occurring challenges. Her research examines the efficacy and effectiveness of CBT for autistic individuals with anxiety. In addition, her research examines the phenomenology and assessment of co-occurring psychiatric symptoms in autism, with a focus on depression and anxiety.  

Ashley Dubin, PhD, BCBA (she/her): Instructor
Ashley Dubin, PhD, BCBA is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst in the Clinical Core of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. She has expertise in assessment and intervention for individuals with a range of developmental, social-emotional, learning, and behavioral diagnoses and differences, including autism spectrum disorder. She has experience providing clinical, supervision, and training/consultative services as well as assisting with research and program evaluation initiatives focused on ways to best support neurodivergent individuals and their families across academic, medical, and community settings.

Registration is now open, and the last day to register is Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

If you are interested in SPIRIT-ID/A, but unable to attend this scheduled cohort, please complete the interest form and the SCTL team will follow up with you.