New and Familiar Roles for Clinical Psychologists in the Effective Treatment for Children With an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Alongside the increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), there is a greater likelihood of clinical psychologists having a role in the treatment of children with these disorders. Population heterogeneity with respect to ASD-specific symptomatology, comorbid medical and psychiatric issues, level of cognitive functioning, and presence of adaptive behaviors, all add to the complexity of providing treatment to this population. Consequently, psychologists often find themselves in multiple roles in order to effectively manage treatment for children with ASD and their families. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness of three major roles for clinical psychologists working with this population: assisting families with treatment coordination, identifying and treating comorbid psychopathology, and addressing parental stress.