Register Now

Duration: 11 hours
Cost: $875; $35 add-on for CEs (group rates available; tuition remission available for qualified Drexel employees)
Start Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
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
  • June 25, 2025, 12:00-1:00 PM ET, live session (learn with the instructors and other learners)
  • Week of June 26 – July 8, on-demand session (learn on your own time)
  • July 9, 2025, 12:00-1:00 PM ET, live session 
    
• Module 2: Modifications to Behavior Approaches
  • Week of July 10  – July 22, 2025, on-demand session
  • July 23, 2025, 12:00-1:00 PM ET, live session 
• Module 3: Modifications to Cognitive Approaches
  • Week of July 24 – August 5, 2025, on-demand session
  • August 6, 2025, 12:00-1:00 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. 

Allison Nahmias, MEd, PhD (she/her): Co-Developer and Instructor
Dr. Allison Nahmias is a NY and PA licensed clinical psychologist who has worked in the field of autism science and practice for nearly 20 years in a variety of clinical and research settings across the US (including schools, hospitals, and outpatient clinics). She has expertise in empirically-supported treatments targeting anxiety, OCD, tics, executive dysfunction, and social challenges, as well as co-occurring mental health disorders in autistic individuals. In both her clinical work and research, she is passionate about expanding access for autistic individuals to evidence-based interventions that are effective and sustainable in community settings.

Tamara Rosen, PhD (she/her): Instructor

Registration is now open, and the last day to register is June 20, 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.