Autism-Affirming Care: Ethics, ABA, and Clinical Responsibility

Affirming care is easy to support in principle, but navigating its ethical complexities in practice is another matter. When does helping an autistic client navigate social expectations become encouraging them to mask? How can clinicians ensure meaningful informed consent when communication styles and processing needs differ? What ethical responsibilities arise around accommodations, documentation, and diagnostic disclosure? And how should clinicians approach applied behavior analysis (ABA), given its complicated history, reported harms, and continued use?

This workshop explores the challenging questions at the heart of autism-affirming care, moving beyond good intentions to examine the ethical decisions clinicians face in everyday practice. Through clinical examples, discussion, and practical frameworks, participants will develop strategies for navigating difficult decisions, respecting client autonomy, and providing thoughtful, ethically grounded care.

This introductory continuing education ethics webinar is designed to help mental heatlh professionals:

1. Distinguish between supportive clinical interventions and practices that may reinforce autistic masking or undermine client autonomy.
2. Apply ethical principles of informed consent, self-determination, and reasonable accommodations to clinical decision-making with autistic clients.
3. Identify key ethical concerns surrounding applied behavior analysis (ABA) and strategies for discussing these concerns with clients and families.

Declaration identifying any potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support: No conflict of interest indicated.

Statement of accuracy, utility, and most common risks: This training draws on current research, ethical principles, clinical literature, and autistic perspectives to support ethical decision-making in autism-affirming care. Evidence and perspectives on autism interventions, including ABA, continue to evolve. Clinicians should consider individual client needs, professional standards, and applicable laws when applying these concepts. The material is educational and does not replace individualized clinical judgment or supervision.

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact GoodTherapy here.

How the Web Conference Works

Before the scheduled event, all registered attendees will be sent a reminder email from GoodTherapy with specific instructions on how to log in to the webinar, as well as links to optional handout materials if applicable.

To attend the event, registered attendees will log in to the Microsoft Teams web conference center using a computer or device with internet access and/or call into the teleconference line on a phone. Attendees will be able to submit questions during the webinar via text chat in the Microsoft Teams web conference center and will be able to see the live streaming video and/or document sharing. At the conclusion of this event, participants will receive an email with information about how to request a CE certificate in your GoodTherapy Account. To confirm attendance, participants must enter the start code and end code announced at the beginning and end of the live presentation. Participants will also be prompted to complete an online survey evaluating the event. Participants will need to complete this online survey within six days after the event. Once completed, participants will be able to download a copy of their CE certificate right away by logging in to their GoodTherapy account.

For additional information about this event or our CE grievance procedures, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE ethics contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2025 – 3/30/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education ethics credits.

GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0395. GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

• Register NowPlease Login to Member's Area
• Not a Member?Click here for information on membership