Modular Evidence-Based Practices for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (MEYA)

Youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)

Modular Evidence Based Practices for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (MEYA) was formed from the program named SEBASTIEN which was formed from the program named Behavioral Interventions for Anxiety in Children with Autism (BIACA). MEYA is designed to be a comprehensive clinical training and clinical-decision-making personal assistant for clinicians working with youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in outpatient settings, hosted at UCLA. A Session Selector provides guidance to clinicians in choosing appropriate session content personalized to each child or youth throughout treatment. Clinicians are provided with brief training with video vignettes and concise checklists on implementing each session in the week prior to the upcoming session at a time that is convenient for them. Treatment materials such as goal charts, sample goals relevant to the client, cartoons, visual schedules, and session checklists are provided for each session.

The treatment length in MEYA is flexible from a few sessions to a few years of sessions, all based on the standard 1-hour-per-week outpatient model. Most types of clinical issues seen in youth with ASD, ranging from behavioral to emotional to social and friendship-related challenges are addressed in MEYA. Clinicians are given assistance in personalizing treatment for each client based on their presenting clinical characteristics, and clinicians have flexibility to change focus and implement practices in the most suitable way for their clients. MEYA focuses on positive practices that promote the alliance and clinical progress for a broad range of children and youth with ASD.

Jeffrey Wood, PhD

• Website: https://meya.ucla.edu/public/
• Email: jwood@gseis.ucla.edu
• Phone: (310) 825-7292

Publicly available information indicates there is some training available for this program. See contact info.

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

• There are currently no published, peer-reviewed research studies on outcomes with the appropriate target population for the topic area(s) in which Modular Evidence-Based Practices for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder has been reviewed.

• Wise, J. M., Cepeda, S. L., Ordaz, D. L., McBride, N. M., Cavitt, M. A., Howie, F. R., Scalli, L., Ehrenreich‑May, J., Wood, J. J., Lewin, A. B., & Storch, E. A. (2019). Open trial of modular cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of anxiety among late adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 50, 27–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-018-0817-5

• Wood, J. J., Kendall, P. C., Wood, K. S., Kerns, C. M., Seltzer, M., Small, B. J., Lewin, A. B., & Storch, E. A. (2020). Cognitive behavioral treatments for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(5), 474–483. https://doi.org//10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4160

• Wood, J. J., Sze Wood, K., Chuen Cho, A., Rosenau, K. A., Cornejo Guevara, M., Galán, C., Bazzano, A., Zeldin, A. S., & Hellemann, G. (2021). Modular cognitive behavioral therapy for autism-related symptoms in children: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89(2), 110–125. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000621