Live Webinar: Research Driven Adaptations to DBT Skills for Autistic Clients: Converging Results Across Contexts
April 10, 2026 @ 9AM-10:30AM PT, 11AM-12:30PM CT, 12PM-1:30PM ET
(Registration will open a month before the webinar date)
As has become exceedingly clear in the past several years, DBT therapists are highly likely to work with Autistic clients in their practice due to high rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as well as chronic emotion dysregulation. Integrating findings from both their own research and the broader DBT and autism literature, Dr. Alana McVey and Philippa Hood will highlight key empirical insights and present evidence-informed adaptations to DBT skills for Autistic clients that DBT therapists can immediately apply in their practice.
Learning Objectives | By the conclusion of this event, participants will be able to:
- Define the concept of Minority Stress and explain its relevance to the experiences of Autistic people.
- Describe how the Biosocial Theory applies both generally and uniquely to Autistic clients experiencing chronic emotion dysregulation.
- Identify and apply at least three evidence-informed adaptations to DBT skills training that address the needs of Autistic clients.
Presenters:
Alana J. McVey, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Center for Behavioral Medicine (CBM; www.cbm-dbt.com) in Brookfield, WI. She received her MS and PhD from Marquette University (APA accredited) and completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at the University of California Los Angeles (APA accredited). She completed post-doctoral training at the University of British Columbia, the University of Washington, and Seattle Children’s Autism Center. Dr. McVey has published more than 30 empirical papers on autism. Her research uses implementation science and human-centered design methods to adapt Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Autistic clients, and she was awarded the 2022 ISITDBT Student Research Award for this work. Her work has been funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Dr. McVey offers training and consultation on adapting empirically supported treatments (CBT and DBT) for Autistic clients with co-occurring mental health concerns.
Philippa Hood, M.A. is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology in the psychology department at Simon Fraser University (CPA accredited), currently completing her predoctoral internship at Child and Youth Mental Health in British Columbia. Under the supervision of Dr. Alexander Chapman, Philippa’s research has focused on adapting dialectical behavior skills training for autistic people, improving the diagnostic assessment process for autistic adults, as well as examining mechanisms of change in DBT more broadly. Her work has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research at both the Master’s and Doctoral levels, and she received the 2021 ISITDBT Student Research Award. Philippa also serves on the Boards of Autism Canada and Autism BC, advocating for improved services and accessibility for Autistic people.
