Emotion Awareness and Skills Enhancement Program

The current study is to test a new intervention called Emotional Awareness and Skills
Enhancement (EASE). This program was designed to address ASD-specific obstacles to effective
emotion regulation, such as reduced awareness concerning others' intentions, a limited
repertoire of behavioral responses, and inadequate language for understanding emotional
experiences. This new program is based on an acceptance-based approach in which awareness of
emotion is developed, emotions (whether negative or positive) are accepted, and behavior is
regulated in the face of intense emotion. The goal is not to learn to avoid negative
emotions, but rather to develop a collection of abilities which allow the individual to
manage stress and act in ways that are more adaptive. The investigators expect to find that
participants' emotion dysregulation will decrease and their adaptive function will increase
following completion of the EASE program.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ages 12-21 years, inclusive

2. A diagnosis of ASD (autism spectrum disorder), as defined by exceeding the ASD cutoff
on the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale) or ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic
Interview-Revised) In. If the participant has completed the ADOS in a previous study
within 3 years and signs a release of information to obtain it, they will not be
required to complete another ADOS.

3. Average verbal intellectual ability (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-2
[WASI-2] Verbal Intelligence Quotient>80).

4. Fluent in the English language

5. Problems with regulating emotions based on parent report 6) Parent/guardian who will
attend sessions and assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current concerns of suicidality that warrants immediate clinical care (such potential
participants will be referred elsewhere for treatment), determined by clinical
interview.

2. Previous or current diagnosis of a psychotic disorder.

3. Receiving concurrent psychotherapy treatment for emotional issues (i.e., depression,
anxiety, anger) that overlaps with the current study. This will be assessed using
current treatment items on the demographic forms.