Autistic adults' experiences of cognitive-behavioural group therapy for social anxiety: Relational experiences of participation.
Bruna B Roisenberg, Kelsie A Boulton, Emma E Thomas and 3 others
PMID 41108095WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults described the group setting as the primary source of value.
Connecting with peers reduced isolation and allowed them to lower their guard. However, many found it difficult to transfer skills learned in the safe group environment to unpredictable real-world social situations.
Key findings
01Over 88% of participants highlighted the value of engaging with other group members, citing shared experiences and mutual understanding as crucial to their therapeutic process.
02Approximately 18% of participants encountered challenges when attempting to implement what they learned, noting that behaviour experiments did not fully address the complexities of real-life scenarios.
03Several participants (11%) noted the benefit of practising communication in a supportive, neurodivergent environment, which helped them gain insights into their interactions and revealed the unique challenges of neurotypical social expectations.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was not generalizable to the broader autistic population, as participants had relatively high intellectual abilities (mean IQ 113) and were all help-seeking individuals interested in CBT. Data were self-reported, introducing the potential for recall bias. The 8-week timeframe may have limited participants' ability to reflect on longer-term outcomes. Most participants chose to be interviewed by a group coordinator they already knew, which may have introduced response bias and reduced openness to criticism. The study did not compare the modified CBT intervention to other therapeutic approaches or include facilitator perspectives.
Declared interests
The authors disclosed no potential conflicts of interest. The work was supported by University of Sydney Tuition Fee and International Stipend Scholarships.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high percentage of participants reporting improved social confidence (over 70%) as evidence that this specific CBT protocol is superior to individual therapy or that it reliably resolves social anxiety. These are self-reported experiences from a small, highly educated, help-seeking sample who chose to speak with familiar staff, and the study did not include a control group or long-term follow-up.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →