Adapting Family Therapy for Autism (AFTA)

This course is tailored for health, allied health, and mental health professionals seeking to integrate a systemic, non-deficit framework into their practice. It is highly beneficial for:

• Psychologists & Clinical Psychologists expanding their structural family therapy skills.
• Family Therapists & Systemic Practitioners adapting existing models for neurodivergence.
• Social Workers, Counsellors, & Psychotherapists managing complex family ecosystems.
• Speech Pathologists & Occupational Therapists (OTs) looking to support the whole family unit.
• Behaviour Support Practitioners & NDIS Clinicians seeking research-backed, strengths-based family interventions.

Unlike traditional models that often focus solely on individual interventions or operate from a deficit-based perspective, AFTA utilizes a PhD-validated, neuro-affirming, systemic framework. It shifts the focus onto the entire family ecosystem, recognizing how deeply interconnected family dynamics and neurodiversity truly are. Furthermore, the curriculum was proudly co-designed alongside autistic scholars and individuals with lived experience to ensure the training remains respectful, authentic, and clinically relevant.

The program was designed and developed by Dr. Cindy Hsiang, a Registered Psychologist and Certified Multigenerational Family Therapist. Dr. Hsiang has been working with autistic children and neurodiverse families across the Asia-Pacific region since 2000, grounding this curriculum in over two decades of clinical experience and dedicated research.

AFTA is delivered via a flexible, dual-level learning structure divided into two separate modules:

1. AFTA: Clinical Foundations – A fully online, self-paced module focusing on core clinical knowledge, neuro-affirming principles, and systemic thinking.
2. AFTA: Practical Applications – An advanced, hands-on, in-person / online workshop focused on active skill-building and designing tailored family strategies.

Yes. AFTA: Clinical Foundations is available as a completely standalone online course. It is designed to provide comprehensive, informed knowledge about autism and systemic family dynamics while offering you the flexibility to complete the hours at your own pace from any location.

Yes. Upon completing the online AFTA: Clinical Foundations module, graduates receive an ASBA Certificate of Completion which can be used to claim 6.5 CPD hours toward professional registration requirements.

Yes. To ensure all attendees share a solid baseline of core systemic concepts and neuro-affirming theory, you must successfully complete AFTA: Clinical Foundations before participating in the advanced Practical Applications workshop.

Workshop Logistics & Details

• Location: Sydney, Australia
• Format: In-person or online
• Timing: Late 2026. Exact dates, venue location, and registration access will be officially released in the coming months.
• Prerequisite: Completion of AFTA: Clinical Foundations is required prior to attending this advanced practical module.
• Want to secure your spot? Because this module is a live workshop, seating will be strictly limited, however, online options will also be available. Complete your Clinical Foundations course early to receive priority access when registration opens.

Due to limited capacity, we recommend enrolling in and completing the AFTA: Clinical Foundations online course as early as possible. Completing the foundational course early ensures you receive priority notification and early-access booking privileges the moment registration opens for the live workshop.