High Functioning Autism

Proven & Practical Interventions

Presented by Jay Berk, Ph.D.

Friday, November 23, 2018  |  Halifax, ns

Date & Location

This intensive, full-day workshop provides proven intervention strategies, essential treatment tools, and behavioural techniques to help you analyze behaviours and actions, identify consequences for behaviours, and teach new skills to children, adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA). Walk away with practical intervention techniques for social success, behaviour changes and overcoming challenging co-occurring behaviours that deliver success through adulthood. The challenging co-occurring issues to be addressed include:

• Social skills
• Communication
• Sensory
• Anxiety/Rigidity
• Depression
• Meltdowns & tantrums
• ADHD
• OCD
• Psychotropic medications
• Non-compliance

Gain valuable insight into common psychotropic medications, including both the helpful effects and potentially problematic side effects, that these individuals are prescribed. We will explore HFA and the new DSM-5® diagnosis of Social-Pragmatic Communication Disorder. You will receive the necessary tools to gain effective collaboration between clinicians, educators and parents. Don’t just manage these individuals; provide interventions that lead to successful independence into their adult years!

Who Should Attend

Education and Clinical Professionals: All education and mental health or healthcare professionals who work with children or youth including, but not limited to K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors, Learning Assistance/Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers • All other professionals who support behavioural challenges and complex learning needs including but not limited to: Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Clinical Counsellors, Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Addiction Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Probation Officers and Community Police Officers.

Agenda

DSM-5® and ICD-10 Updates

• Social-Pragmatic Communication Disorder
• Impact on service delivery (school/community)
• Successfully link home, school and therapy
• Co-morbid disorders: Why the difference is important

Social Skills Interventions

• Improve social skill deficits
• “Kid Cop” behaviours and why other kids get angry
• How to get peers to recognize them in positive ways
• Group activities that have a proven track record
• Early intervention programs that deliver long-term success

Communication Interventions

• Conflict resolutions that are effective in multiple settings
• Help peers, siblings and parents relate
• Verbal interventions that overload processing
• Pragmatic language and other abstract issues

Sensory Interventions

• Self-stimulation (appropriate & inappropriate)
• Sensory strategies to avoid
• Coping/calming techniques that reduce meltdowns
• Sensory Diet

Anxiety Interventions

• Anxiety reducing activities
• How anxiety impacts rigidity
• Help them “self-regulate”
• Successful transitions

ADHD Interventions

• ADHD vs. hyper-focus
• How medications are often prescribed wrong
• Specific triggers and what fuels the rage
• Reduce aggressive and disruptive behaviours
• Mistakes that escalate defiant behaviours
• Overcome refusals to comply with even simple requests

Depression Interventions

• Low mood vs. irritability in youth
• Impact on flexibility and change
• Therapy that works for people with HFA
• Emergence in adolescence
• Solitude vs. loneliness

Learning Objectives

• Utilize several social skill interventions to improve long-term success for children/adolescents with HFA
• Employ specific coping and calming techniques for children/adolescents with HFA
• Identify medication side effects that can mimic behavioural issues and may even cause behavioural issues
• Design effective strategies for successful transitions for children/adolescents with HFA
• Select specific behavioural interventions that target the most difficult behaviours in children/adolescents with HFA
• Summarize the DSM-5® diagnosis of Social-Pragmatic Communication disorder and design treatment interventions for each

Your Presenter

Jay Berk, Ph.D.

Jay Berk, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and an internationally recognized expert in the child/adolescent behavioural field who brings both a clinical and education perspective to his work with children, adolescents and their families. For over 25 years, Dr. Berk has been treating clients with ODD, ADHD, autism, anxiety and stress, depression, learning disabilities, Tourette’s Syndrome and individuals who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. He conducts 15 social skills/mental health groups for children and adolescents and works daily with school and community professionals, families and parents. Dr. Berk continually consults for several school districts. In his private practice, in Beachwood, Ohio, he provides therapy for children, adolescents, families, testing and evaluation, school consultation as well as designed and facilitates alternative educational program.

 

Testimonials

“I was engaged ALL day! That is a rare quality in PD. Humour was fantastic, topics were great, he met our level of understanding, covered so much, gave practical strategies, used real life examples, was relatable.. AMAZING! I wrote 7 pages of notes and was asked by several colleagues for notes because they could not make it.”
– Lethbridge, AB | October 31, 2019

“Jay is very knowledgeable and I loved how he shared all of his effective strategies and personal stories/experiences. Would be amazing to attend more workshops from Jay, also looking forward to his new book coming out.”
– Saskatoon, SK | October 28 – 29, 2019

“Excellent speaker, knowledgeable, kept audiences interest and gave practical usable suggestions. I have never been at a session in which I was so engaged for the entire 2 days”
– Edmonton, AB | May 23 – 24, 2019

“Excellent instructor – never found it boring for one moment. Learn a lot and feel more/better informed. Thank you!”
– Edmonton, AB | May 23 – 24, 2019

“This was great. Very good speaker, clear and kept all engaged. I would like to take more from Jay Berk”
– Edmonton, AB | May 23 – 24, 2019

“Great approach/style by Jay – good mix of humour/serious material. Dynamic speaker.”
– Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Enjoyed. I was engaged. Felt it was relevant, realistic, practical.”
– Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Dr. Berk is an exceptional presenter. This is the first workshop that I have attended and felt like the presenter has lived and worked with the material! Fantastic presenter and workshop!!”
– Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Thanks! You were funny and made learning fun! You did a great job!!”
– Angie Helder | Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Loved the humour he used throughout. Loved the format of audience participation, chatting with the group, slides, videos, and how open Dr. Berk is to questions. Could listen to him all day!!”
– Oakville, ON | November 24, 2017

“Presenter was very knowledgeable on the subject matter. He was entertaining and kept the audience focused and engaged.”
– Winnipeg, MB | November 23, 2017

“Dr. Berk was very funny and engaging in his presentation. I would recommend going to one of his workshop. Everything we learned will be useful in my practice.”
– Winnipeg, MB | November 23, 2017

“I thoroughly enjoyed the presenter, he was very interesting to listen to and appreciated his humour throughout the day.”
– Winnipeg, MB | November 23, 2017

“Presenter was connected to the audience. Paid attention to what was going on with the group – engaging. The clear presentation with the humour made this workshop very successful and enjoyable. Probably the most enjoyable workshop I have attended. The time went fast. Good practical strategies offered.”
– Phil Canning | Regina, SK | November 22, 2017

“Excellent delivery; humour appreciated.”
– Gwen Knoll | Regina, SK | November 22, 2017

Registration & Fees