Event Calendar
Prev MonthPrev Month Next MonthNext Month
Friday Forum Encore: Anxiety, Angst and Autism: Creative Behavior Support and Treatment Options
Metropolitan State University, Midway Campus (Lower Level, Room P)
1450 Energy Park Drive
St. Paul, MN 55108
Friday, November 10, 2017, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Category: Friday Forum Encore (CE)

Anxiety, Angst and Autism: Creative Behavior Support and Treatment Options

November 10, 2017
Registration: 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Program: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Friday Forums are cosponsored with the
Metropolitan State University Psychology Department

About the program:

Please note: You must attend the full 3-hour program to get continuing education credit for the event.

This session qualifies for 3.0 continuing education credits.

Children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders often present with obsessive thinking, impulsive actions, high levels of anxiety, and fluctuating patterns of attention and engagement.   Parents and educators often struggle with their difficulties with self-regulation, limited tolerance for frustration, perceived “oppositional” and non-compliant patterns of behavior.   One of the challenges experienced by parents and educators is that students on the “ASD” spectrum often repeat the same behaviors over and over again, deriving limited benefit from  consequence oriented interventions.

This interactive video illustrated forum will provide the participants with an overview of the co-morbid mental health conditions that contribute to the complexity of the symptoms of this population of children and adolescents. The majority of the session will be supported by case studies and use video examples for demonstrating practical strategies for identifying the underlying variables that are contributing to the anxiety, difficulties in attention regulation, and/or oppositional response of these individuals. The participants will learn how to use informal assessment tools to differentiate issues of “compliance” from issues of “comprehension” and to identify as well as demonstrate the processing and reasoning differences in their clients or students. Finally, the workshop content will include information relative to providing therapeutic and behavioral support to the parents of these children

This program is at the intermediate level and is designed for psychologists, social workers, speech clinicians, occupational therapists and special education staff.   

Participants will be able to:

  1. List at least three overlapping psychiatric comorbidities impacting the functioning of children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  2. Describe and/or demonstrate at least three practical informal strategies for obtaining information relative to the information processing and reasoning style of individual students or clients.
  3. Describe a treatment strategy and/or proactive behavior support that is based on identified information processing and/or reasoning deficit.
  4. Discuss with parents at least four practical tips for improving their child's behavioral/coping skills.

About the presenter:

Sheila Merzer, M.A., LP, began working in the field of Autism as a graduate student in 1972, when little was known about the disability and it was considered a "low incidence disorder." She became an Instructor at the U of M and co-directed a training program in 1974, when the passage of PL94-142 (currently known as IDEA) initially made the public schools responsible for the education of all students including students with Special Education Needs. Sheila was licensed as a psychologist in 1976 and co-directed a training and treatment program for children with Autism and related needs at Minneapolis Children's Medical Center from 1978 until 1990, when she opened her private practice. In her private practice, Sheila and six colleagues provide assessment, consultation, and training   designed to support schools, families, and other agencies in meeting the needs of this complex population of individuals. Several of her colleagues also provide individual therapy for children, adolescents and their families. Sheila is a well-known professional in the field of Autism and has presented at local, regional, national and international conferences. 

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

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS:  If you need disability related accommodations, including parking, to make this event accessible, please contact the Metropolitan State University Center for Accessibility Resources, 651-793-1549, or [email protected].


To Register:

Click here to register.

Walk-up registrations are welcome the day of, but pre-registration is preferred.

Click here for a PDF Forum flier with Registration Form to fill out and send in via mail.


MPA Event Refund Policy:  A 100% refund will be made if the event is cancelled.  Refunds, less a $5 handling fee, will be given if a written cancellation is received at least two working days before the scheduled program begins.  Transfer of fee to another program is granted if written cancellation notice is received at least one day before the program.  No refund or transfer is given the day of the program.


Contact: [email protected] or (952)928-4657