Training and Advice Consultancy for Autistic Spectrum Conditions
David Moat is a psychotherapist with over 20 years experience working with people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. He has had responsibility for residential and day care services, Family and Community Support, and the provision of training, assessments and advice to various agencies across the UK.
David is a past joint-chair of CoSPPA - The Confederation of Service Providers for People with Autism, and is an active participant in the Autism Services Accreditation Programme, as a registered Team Leader.
Training, advice and consultancy services, including assessments, can be offered to assist others in providing care, education and support to people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
He runs a psychotherapy clinic in Cambridge.
Courses available are listed below – most are one day courses. Please contact us for prices.
Training Courses
Courses are designed to last for one day, although it may possible to “mix and match” topics – please ask. Bespoke training days can also be discussed. Most courses involve an element of whole-group and small group discussion.
Autism: What You Need to Know
This one-day course will introduce the key traits and core issues in autism. Delegates will gain an understanding of how autism may affect cognition, communication and social development. The sensory world of people with autism will also be explored. It is an ideal course for staff that might be new to the provision of support to people with autistic spectrum conditions. Many parents of newly diagnosed children have also found the course content useful. For staff groups working across the autism spectrum, this course can be combined with elements of the introductory course on Asperger Syndrome. Elements of the course “Approaches to Autism” can also be merged into this day.
Approaches to Autism
This is a one-day course outlining many of the major interventions, treatments and approaches used within the “autism support” industry. It combines early intervention with on-going educational support (including life-long learning), as well as looking at standard therapeutic approaches. Basic support for social and communication development is discussed. The course is ideal for those who wish to further their initial understanding about autistic spectrum conditions. Some elements of the content of this course can be combined with “Autism: What You Need to Know”.
Asperger Syndrome – What You Need to Know
This is a one-day course seeking to introduce the key concepts significant to gaining a working knowledge of Asperger Syndrome. Delegates will gain an understanding of how Asperger Syndrome may affect an individual’s development in terms of their cognitive, social and emotional development. The sensory world of people with Asperger Syndrome will also be explored. It is an ideal course for staff that might be new to the provision of support to people with Asperger Syndrome. Many parents of newly diagnosed children have also found the course content useful. For staff groups working across the autism spectrum, this course can be combined with elements of the introductory course on autistic spectrum conditions.
Understanding Difficult Behaviour
A one-day course, “Understanding Difficult Behaviour” will help delegates in gaining insight into the origins of many of the potential behavioural problems that occur throughout the autistic spectrum. The course looks at:
- the functions of behaviour
- motivation
- assessment
- reporting and recording
- changing behaviour
- improving communication
The course is ideal for those who already have a basic working knowledge of autistic spectrum conditions. Opportunities will be provided for general analysis of actual behavioural examples.
Promoting Social Development
This one-day course is based on an analysis of how social development usually works, with a comparison of how autism or Asperger Syndrome can affect this. Delegates will be introduced to the concept of social assessment tools, and how to use them to design packages of support for individuals. Support for social development through childhood, adolescence and adulthood are all discussed. The practical suggestions made are very easy to introduce into home, school, college and workplace. The course is ideal for those who already have a basic working knowledge of autism and Asperger Syndrome.
Positive Life Planning
This one-day course bridges two gaps – the one between Person-Centred Planning and the world of autistic spectrum conditions; and the one between supported education and adult services. It looks at Effective Lifestyle Planning, especially for adulthood, and considers the barriers to self-determination that may be present for a person with autism or Asperger Syndrome. The effects of the Mental Capacity Act on many aspects of Life Planning are discussed. Delegates will be introduced to the main themes that run through the lives of most adults to see if they can be applied to people with autistic spectrum conditions. The course is aimed at individuals who have key-working or planning responsibilities in the lives of people with autism or Asperger Syndrome. It assumes a working knowledge of these conditions.
Promoting Emotional Well-being for Autism
This is a one-day course exploring the emotional world of people with autism. In a similar way to the course on “Emotional Support for Asperger Syndrome”, it looks at some of the key concepts for providing emotional and psychological support through our day-to-day interactions with people. However, the focus here is on the lives of people with autism and a moderate or severe intellectual disability. Emotional stress and distress are considered, including effective approaches that can be used. The course is not designed as formal training in either counselling or psychotherapy, but identifies the scope within our normal professional relationships for offering essential help. The value of formal psychotherapy for some individuals with autistic spectrum conditions is discussed. The course is particularly useful for those working directly with people with autism. It assumes a working knowledge of these conditions.
Sexuality and Autism
This one-day course assumes a prior knowledge of autistic spectrum conditions. Delegates will explore the effect of autism on the development of ordinary sexuality, as well as the effect of their own value and morality system. Group exercises are designed to facilitate discussion of a sensitive subject in a non-threatening way. The course considers sexuality as an expression of a person’s lifestyle and personality, rather than “behaviour to be managed”. However, behavioural issues, abuse and safety are all discussed. Implications for long-term relationships are considered.
Emotional Support for Asperger Syndrome
This is a one-day course exploring the emotional world of people with Asperger Syndrome. In a similar way to the course on “Promoting Emotional Well-being for Autism”, it looks at some of the key concepts for providing emotional and psychological support through our day-to-day interactions with people. However, the focus here is on the lives of people with what some describe as very high-functioning autism. It looks at some of the key concepts for providing emotional and psychological support through our day-to-day interactions with people. Emotional stress and distress are considered, including effective approaches that can be used. The course is not designed as formal training in either counselling or psychotherapy, but identifies the scope within our normal professional relationships for offering essential help. The value of formal psychotherapy for some individuals with Asperger Syndrome is discussed. The course is particularly useful for those working directly with people with Asperger Syndrome. It assumes a working knowledge of the conditions.
Sexuality and Asperger Syndrome
This one-day course assumes a prior knowledge of Asperger Syndrome. It is similar to the course on “Sexuality and Autism”, but has a different focus in the sense that people with Asperger Syndrome are perhaps considered more likely to enter into relationships where physical intimacy is an issue. Delegates will explore the effect of Asperger Syndrome on the development of ordinary sexuality, as well as the effect of their own value and morality system. Group exercises are designed to facilitate discussion of a sensitive subject in a non-threatening way. The course considers sexuality as an expression of a person’s lifestyle and personality, rather than “behaviour to be managed”. However, behavioural issues, abuse and safety are all discussed. Implications for long-term relationships are considered.
Team Dynamics in an Autism Context
Many people with autism are supported by “teams” – a family “team”, a professional “team”, or both. This one-day course is designed to explore the dynamics of these teams to help them work more effectively. Delegates will learn about the effects of individuals on the team, and vice versa. Experiential group exercises will assist with this. Additionally, delegates will also explore the particular effect on team functioning from operating in an “autism” environment. The course assumes a working knowledge of autistic spectrum conditions.
Stress Management for Carers
This is a one-day course enabling delegates to consider the sources and effects of stress within their daily lives. General lifestyle stress can have an effect on our work, and work-based stress can affect our domestic lives. There are particular stresses pertaining to living or working in an “autistic” environment, and these are discussed. Major stressors are identified, stress management techniques are introduced. The importance of self-image is considered. Group and individual exercises help to provide a good understanding of the positive role of stress in our lives, as well as considering the more negative implications.
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