Meeting the mental health needs of autistic college students: a survey of university and college counseling center clinicians.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

OBJECTIVE: University and college counseling centers (UCCCs) are a front-line support for the mental health needs of autistic students, though little is known about clinician attitudes, comfort level, and training in autism. PARTICIPANTS: 89 UCCC clinicians were recruited via email listservs. METHODS: The authors developed a survey which assessed attitudes, comfort level, and training in autism. RESULTS: The majority of clinicians (82.0%, n = 73) had interacted with autistic students in the past year, and reported high levels of comfort with treating anxiety and depression. However, a smaller number reported confidence in their ability to diagnose autism. Training on autism emerged as an important deficit, as 31.5% of the clinicians denied receiving training either in their educational program or the UCCC. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, clinicians reported a discrepancy between self-reported levels of comfort with autistic college students and past training, highlighting continuing education as an important area for future intervention.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Chandrasekhar, T; Hu, Q

Published Date

  • December 14, 2021

Published In

Start / End Page

  • 1 - 7

PubMed ID

  • 34905721

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1940-3208

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1080/07448481.2021.2013239

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States