Study Finds Autistic People Gain in Executive Function and Wellbeing After Coaching Program

Catalight’s Compass-Behavioral Helps Participants Set Goals to Improve Communication and Everyday Life Skills

Press release |

Autistic youth and adults who participated in a coaching program saw improvements in their executive functioning and wellbeing, according to a new peer-reviewed study led by researchers at the Catalight Research Institute. The study examined records of 234 autistic youth and young adults who participated in Compass-Behavioral, a personalized coaching program that invites participants to identify goals and build practical strategies for communication, self-management and daily life. Study participants received 10-14 coaching sessions from a licensed or certified behavioral health clinician trained in Compass-Behavioral. Sessions lasted 45-60 minutes and took place over a 3- to 6-month period.

Key Findings:

  • Participants most often chose goals related to daily functioning, including self-management and communicating socially.
  • They showed significant improvements in multiple areas, including sleep, self-observation, self-advocacy and self-management.
  • Exit surveys showed strong gains in self-awareness, coping strategies and overall confidence.

“Our findings suggest that short-term structured coaching can have a meaningful impact on the lives of young autistic people,” said Lindsey Sneed, Ph.D., BCBA-D, co-lead author of the study and vice president of clinical excellence at Catalight. “When young people have a say in setting their own goals and receive support to achieve them, they begin to understand their strengths. This can lead to a shift in confidence that carries into home, school and community settings.”

Compass-Behavioral uses structured one-on-one coaching and motivational interviewing to help participants build strategies that support autonomy, communication and daily life management. Clinicians who deliver the program complete a 6-hour training and receive mentoring from clinicians experienced in the intervention.

“Our research suggests that clinicians now have a powerful new tool that, after a relatively brief training, equips them to help autistic youth and young adults build confidence and strengthen essential life skills,” said Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., MSCP, co-lead author of the study and chief clinical officer at Catalight. “The data suggest that Compass-Behavioral opens the door to meaningful, supportive interactions that can make a real difference in the daily lives of autistic persons.”

“Initial Analysis of the Effectiveness of Compass-Behavioral for Autistic Youth: A Community-Based Retrospective Analysis” was published in Behavioral Sciences. In addition to the researchers from the Catalight Research Institute, one author was affiliated with Easterseals Northern California.

Contact:

Megan McDevitt
Catalight
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
+1-925-464-0811