Identify and describe type of research design Population sample (i.e. sample size, sampling techniques, procedure and forms Plan of Data collection Development of Questionnaire What items will be incl
IntroductionCognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, has grown in popularity in recent years as more people become aware of its efficacy in treating common problems such as anxiety and depression. CBT is not a novel therapy, and it has a practical structure that allows it to be easily measured. The link between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors is investigated in cognitive behavioral therapy. It evolved from two distinct schools of thought in psychology: behaviorism and cognitive therapy. Behavioral treatment for mental illnesses has been available since the early 1900s. Skinner, Pavlov, and Watson were all early supporters of behavioral therapy. It is predicated on the notion that behaviors can be measured, trained, and even altered. Alfred Adler, an Austrian psychotherapist, was one of the first therapists to address cognition in psychotherapy in the early 1900s, thanks to his concept of basic mistakes and their involvement in unpleasant feelings. Although CBT is frequently regarded as the "first line treatment" for many psychiatric illnesses in adolescents, more effort is required to address treatment non-responders and to ease the diffusion of effective CBT treatments (Benjamin et al., 2011). Cognitive Behavior Therapy originated as a logical synthesis of behavioral and cognitive theories of human behavior, causative and sustaining processes in psychopathology, and therapeutic goals. CBT goes on to incorporate social learning and cognitive theories' modeling and cognitive limiting methods (Benjamin et al., 2011). The therapist, the person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and/or the parents work together to develop precise goals for the course of therapy. Throughout the sessions, the autistic person learns to recognize and adjust thoughts that contribute to problematic moods or behaviors in specific situations. Cognitive behavior therapy is divided into phases of treatment. It is, however, tailored to the patients' specific strengths and shortcomings. According to research, this therapy can assist people with some types of ASD with anxiety. It can also help some persons with autism manage with social circumstances and understand emotions more effectively (Danial, J.T., & Woods, 2013).
Statement of Problem
Several attempts have been made in recent years to adapt CBT for children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. Because anxiety is so common in people with ASD, the focus has often been on those who also have it. One problem was determining whether children with ASD possessed the required abilities to succeed in CBT. However, it looks like they do. A research published in 2012 compared the cognitive abilities of children with ASD to those of regular youngsters. In almost every case, the children with ASD possessed the necessary skills for CBT. They were able to differentiate between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and work on changing their thoughts. Their main issue was distinguishing emotions (Lickel, A., Maclean, W. E.,Jr, Blakeley-Smith, A., & Hepburn, S. 2012 ). Furthermore, typical CBT requires strong language and abstract thinking abilities, which can be difficult for those on the autistic spectrum. Recognizing this, researchers have sought to modify CBT to make it more ASD-friendly, such as making it more repetitive, visual, and tangible.
Significance of Study
The randomized controlled clinical trial is the gold standard for showing a treatment's efficacy (RCT). In a randomized controlled trial, children who receive therapy are compared to those who do not. Several clinical trials have looked into the use of CBT for children with ASD, with encouraging findings for anxiety, daily living skills, and anger control (Chalfant, A. M., Rapee, R., & Carroll, L. 2007). Although there has been little study on CBT for adults with ASD, there is every reason to believe that the treatment will be as helpful for them as it is for older children and teenagers.
Implications for Social Work Practice and Policies
Social professionals' primary goal is to build an ideal social environment of free, fair, and justifiable ethical policies that ensure pleasant working conditions. Professionals are actively involved in modifying present policies through legislative means, promoting others, and working toward the abolition of unfair and repressive policies that discriminate against others (Cassidy & Poon, 2019). The purpose of this essay is to determine the implications for social work practices and policies. Professionals in social work who work carefully in policy creation serve as a change mechanism to promote development. Individuals educate people about social justice, community responsibility, and human rights in order to empower and liberate them (Ornellas, Spolander & Engelbrecht, 2018). Individuals are transformed into more responsible citizens as a result of the efforts. Active social work practitioners uphold social change standards on behalf of the underprivileged and poor. This is accomplished by changing and correcting inequitable policies that encourage injustice and discrimination against clients and the underprivileged. Human rights activists that advocate for social justice through social practice development, systemic improvements, and ethical behavior are also targeted (Cassidy & Poon, 2019). As a result, active populations are aware of their social responsibility and social justice rights, and empowered social professionals are actively working to alter their lives and the community by providing their basic needs. Social workers must engage in social work methods and policies that promote healthy living, empower individuals by informing them of their rights and privileges, and duties that contribute to the development of their community. Active participation in policy modifications must address social work traits, ethical practices, and jobs with a clear path to succession.
Brief review of current published works with a direct bearing on the problem.
Autism is often referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is considered not
as a disease but a disorder. Normally shows up in the early years of a child's life. In the United
States, about 1 in 54 children are on the autism spectrum, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)(Nall,2021). Having autism they must stick to a schedule to keep
their minds in order. Doing cognitive behavioral therapy can help a person with autism. Most of
the people who have autism normally do interventions for the child’s well being. Having autism
can really impact a person’s life. It can really give the reason to not treat the person with autism
as if they are a cripple. Once you reach an older age may be hard for them to start conversations,
difficulty making friends or even interacting with others, use repetitive atypical language, be
uncomfortable with changes in their routine, and be extremely passionate about specific topics or
objects
(Nall, 2021). Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social interaction, behavior,
and communication (Nall, 2021). At a young age with autism the signs point to that they are
delayed in milestone, they can not make eye contact, does not respond when people talk to them
but reacts to other sounds, lines up toys or objects excessively, does not want to be cuddled, does
not play with others or play make-believe games (Nall,2021). Autism is something that can
affect a person and make them feel as if they are not like others. One person can figure that they
can get things back to normal but not that normal. Like mentioned before you must never make a
change in a person with autism’s schedule because they can not be used to change. Everything
must always stay the same and a person should never be bad for being a very special person. A
person with autism is a unique individual. They just should never feel like they are different from….. Articles about autism spectrum disorders that use cognitive behavioral therapy say that
they have worked however they would like to do more research. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
has been researched time and time again. Many researchers who have done studies say that it
affects more behavioral than cognitive. Many children who have autism suffer from anxiety and
depression and CBT helps treat them. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help with a variety of
everyday problems, such as learning to cope with stressful situations or dealing with anxiety over
a certain issue. Using this therapy helps patients understand and manage their behaviors,
thoughts, and emotions that affect each other. The mind and the body go hand and hand. You
must first understand what you must see dealing with before you can begin to manage your
illness. Studies have been completed and it has proven that CBT is an effective treatment. A
therapist during a session when using cognitive behavioral therapy maps out a plan and they
want to achieve a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-limited. Many
techniques can be used when you have autism and are using cognitive behavioral therapy. A
technique that can be used is cognitive restructuring, which is when a patient takes a hard look at
negative thought patterns. You can use this technique when you are seeing a situation in a very
negative way and change the view of it. Another technique is journaling, it's when you write
down and keep track of your feelings and what is going on with you. Role-playing is another
technique that can be used. It is when you talk through an event and what leads you to have the
feeling that you experienced. Relaxation is a technique that can be used as a stress reduction.
This can include taking deep breathes, listening to music, or coloring. Cognitive-behavioral
therapy has been proven to be an effective treatment whether it's in therapy role-playing,….. Establish if reviewed findings are consistent or disagree with each other and explain
Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been used to treat autism spectrum disorders. A study
was complete evaluators and therapists worked with at least 40 children and randomly assigned
them to 16 sessions of CBT or a 3-month waitlist. The study tested a modular cognitive
behavioral therapy. Therapists worked with individual families. The therapist had sessions with
each individual family member to assess the extent of the situation. Different evaluators blind to
treatment conditions conducted structured interviews and parents and children completed anxiety
symptom checklists at the beginning and end. The CBT group had a much better improvement
rate than the waitlist group. They also continued to improve at the 4-month follow-up. Many
studies stated that children with autism focus on ways of adapting traditional CBT to help
children access it. The children can use visual aids.
Summary of literature review
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions
characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal
communication. According to the centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 54
children in the United States today (Autism speaks, 2021). Anyone with autism should always
feel like they can do anything that they want. In this world today their are people who do not
understand a person with autism. You can spot a person with autism becuase they are delayed in
response and they do not interact with others well. Just never treat them any different from others
because they already feel not the same. A person with autism are at risk with a lot of other
conditions such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), gastrointestinal
problems, sleep disorders, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, seizures (Nall, 2022). Autism is
not a disease but it is also a disorder, a disorder that do not make them any differnt from everybody around them. Many things that happen in this world you should always embrace a
person with autism because at the end they are also human. Many things can go wrong if you do
not stick to a schedule because they are very particular when it comes to being precise. A person
with autism is not ready to face many different things that can attack them in life. Alwasy know
that a person with autism is not very different from the person around you. Just always remember
that autism is not a disease it is a disorder that some people face in life
Theoretical or the conceptual framework
Autism is more common in young children. Due to this, most mothers of autistic children go through stress. Most of the family members are exposed to stress, and therefore they are advised to go through cognitive therapy (S.S Maw & C. Haga, 2018). Autistic disorder is described as a pervasive disorder associated with development. A delay and deviance characterize it in developing social, communicative, and other skills. These additional skills include motor mannerisms, resistance to change, and specific interests. In the past years, researchers have indicated that these children's parents have a low level of mental health compared to those with nonautistic children (S.S Maw & C. Haga, 2018). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is typically diagnosed in childhood and has a wide range of symptoms, some being more severe than others. These symptoms consist of communication, socialization, behavioral and interest impairments, as well as minimal social skills. Due to these symptoms, a child with ASD may have trouble relating to peers and forming meaningful relationships. Children diagnosed with autism communicate verbally, nonverbally or a combination of both. Due to this aspect of ASD, school curriculum and special education services may need to be modified in accordance to their communication style. Social workers may encounter children with autism who express restricted and repetitive motor mannerisms in order to self-stimulate such as rocking, banging on objects, biting themselves and spinning. Children diagnosed with autism are often looked at by their peers as being socially awkward. There has been an increase in the diagnosis of ASD over a short period of time. Approximately eleven years ago, the cases of autism ranged from five per 10,000 (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) to 60 per 10,000 (S.S Maw & C. Haga, 2018). A recent study concluded that autism is affecting approximately 1 in every 110 children and is growing at a rate of 10% to 17% per year. ASD is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society with males being affected 4.5 times higher by this diagnosis than females (Rice & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). With that said, social workers with knowledge and experience in this are in high demand with this population as this diagnosis not only affects the individuals themselves, but it affects their families as well. An autism diagnosis can be perceived as a loss for the family; The grieving process associated with the birth of a child with disabilities is complicated by the parents’ grieving the death of the ‘expected’ baby while at the same time trying to accept the ‘imperfect’ baby. Even though they have the joy of being able to hold and love their baby, their life is suddenly and drastically changed.
Theory or model
The parents tend to be more hypersensitive and more anxious as compared to the other parents. Most mothers experience frustration, pessimism, and other characteristics like having schizoid traits and other high traits of aloofness (S.S Maw & C. Haga, 2018). The mothers tend to experience marital distress, and they hate these children or have conflicts with the children. Due to these given behaviors and the mental tortures that they go through, it is advised that the mothers should be given the appropriate interventions that support them. These interventions should help them cope with their abilities towards stress and other mental distress that they might go through. This paper is to research the effectiveness of cognitive therapies on autistic mothers and the outcomes. Many behavioral therapies were done to help with the research question (S.S Maw & C. Haga, 2018).
Relationship to the topic
Overall factors appear to be critical while explaining the importance and reasons for intervention has a positive impact on autistic mothers. The cognitive therapy of the mothers helps them approach and improve their self-awareness in mothers. It allows them to recognize their strengths and weaknesses as mothers and their cause of changes, especially in their attitudes and beliefs towards autism (A. Solish & N. Klemencic et al. 2020). Managing their emotional skills is also essential in the intervention since it effectively enhances the mother's ability to deal with their negative attitude and moods. The therapy helps them when dealing with conflict resolutions. Mothers should be given psychoeducation about the disorder. This will help them consider their children as people who have fewer self-help skills, and they need all the support from their mothers and their family members. The mothers should also make their children's social environment more receptive.
Summary of the theory or model
Cognitive therapy is an essential thing for mothers that have autistic children. The primary goal of this therapy is to teach the mothers how to live with their children without any difficulties or conflicts. The child is also educated about their disorder and how they should positively accept how they are. Although most of the treatment targets are autistic children, parents are also taught some skills that will help them address the emotional problems that their children might be going through. Cognitive therapies are essential in that they help the mother, family, or the parents coexist with the child suffering from autism. Please give them the necessary support and understand their needs at a particular time and point. It is advised that any mother with an autistic child should go through cognitive therapy.
Research Questions:
1.) Is cognitive behavioral therapy for children with autism effective when implemented as a
clinical service?
2.) Does the level of spectrum the child is on determine how effective the treatment is?
3.) Is group therapy or individual therapy best for children with autism?
General Hypotheses:
If cognitive-behavioral therapy is a helpful tool for children with autism, then the therapy should
be implemented in their daily lives because it gives them a way to express how they feel and
interrupt things to people around them.
Independent and Dependent Variables:
IV: Children with autism
DV: The effect of using cognitive behavioral therapy
In research, variables are any characteristics that can take on different values, such as
height, age, species, or exam score (Thomas, 2021).
Concepts are the abstract ideas or phenomena that are studied in scientific research (e.g.,
educational achievement).