Abstract
BACKGROUND: Autistic youth experience high rates of anxiety, which has been treated with modified cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), often integrating exposure therapy. Such anxiety treatments are effective for this population; however, there remains a gap between these evidence-based mental health interventions and their implementation in community mental health (CMH) services where autistic youth receive care. METHOD: This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with four types of community members in the United States: 15 autistic youth with anxiety, 15 caregivers of autistic youth with anxiety, 11 CMH clinicians, and 8 CMH clinic leaders. Participants identified the training needs of CMH clinicians to support the delivery of CBT for autistic youth with anxiety. RESULTS: Through inductive thematic analysis, three themes were found: presentation of autism and anxiety, intervention delivery, and training format. Participants highlighted the need for clinician education to understand the varying presentations of autism and co-occurring anxiety and how to effectively deliver a personalized mental health intervention for autistic youth. Clinicians also desired a clinician training program that includes engaging components and offers individualized, ongoing support while the intervention is delivered. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study will inform the development of a clinician training program to deliver CBT modified for autistic youth with anxiety in CMH contexts.