Practitioner Adherence and Competence in MEYA, a Free Online Self-Instruction Program in Modular Psychotherapy and Counseling for Children’s Autism-Related Clinical Needs

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref OpenCitations
Learn more about the sources used

Wood, J. J., Wood, K. S., Rosenau, K. A., Cho, A. C., Johnson, A. R., Muscatello, V. S., Tien, I. S., Straus, J., Wolpe, S., Zeldin, A., Kazlauskas, K., & McLeod, B. D. (2024). Practitioner Adherence and Competence in MEYA, a Free Online Self-Instruction Program in Modular Psychotherapy and Counseling for Children’s Autism-Related Clinical Needs. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55(2), 472-486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06226-w

Publication date: 26 Jan 2024 Added to AutiHub: 17 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
12
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 12 (8.3%)
  1. Jeffrey J. Wood
  2. Karen S. Wood
  3. Kashia A. Rosenau
  4. An Chuen Cho
  1. Amanda R. Johnson
  2. Virginia Sklar Muscatello
  3. Ingrid S. Tien *
  4. Jolie Straus
  1. Samara Wolpe
  2. Ari Zeldin
  3. Kristofer Kazlauskas
  4. Bryce D. McLeod

Abstract

Abstract The quality of care in public schools and other community settings for school-aged youths on the autism spectrum is variable and often not evidence-based. Training practitioners in these settings to deliver evidence-based practices (EBPs) may improve the quality of care. We developed a free internet-based training and clinical guidance system synthesizing multiple EBPs for youth on the autism spectrum addressing a range of mental health needs and autism-related behaviors, entitled Modular EBPs for Youth on the Autism Spectrum (MEYA; meya.ucla.edu). A multiple baseline study was conducted with seven practitioners recruited from mental health practice settings across the United States who were providing services to children on the autism spectrum (aged 6 to 17 years). Practitioners were randomly assigned to undergo baseline conditions of 2 to 8 weeks. Once online training in MEYA commenced, practitioners engaged in algorithm-guided self-instruction in EBPs for autism. Participants video-recorded sessions. Independent coders used the MEYA Fidelity Scale (MEYA-FS) to rate adherence and competence in EBPs for autism. Practitioners also completed measures pertaining to implementation outcomes and parents rated youth outcomes on personalized target behaviors. Five of seven practitioners increased their adherence to MEYA practices (i.e., MEYA-FS scores) following MEYA training. Findings for competence were similar, though somewhat less robust. Practitioners generally viewed MEYA as feasible, understandable, and acceptable. Most youth outcomes improved during MEYA. A randomized, controlled trial of MEYA would be helpful in characterizing its effectiveness for supporting practitioner EBP implementation and youth outcomes in school and community service settings.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 19 Sep 2026 01:01.

Cited references
43
With a DOI
39
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
4
0 / 43 (0.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
3 / 43 (7.0%)
References with detected author names
41 / 43 (95.3%)
Without detected author names
2
Without a structured title
3
Without a stable identifier
4
References with raw author names still to review
2
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
213
From DOI or external metadata
213
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
4
31 / 213 (14.6%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 182 / 213 (85.4%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
0 / 213 (0.0%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 0 / 31 (0.0%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 0 / 176 (0.0%).
  1. Eric P. Slade (2002). Effects of School-Based Mental Health Programs on Mental Health Service Use by Adolescents at School and in the Community . Mental Health Services Research, 4(3), 151-166. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1023/a:1019711113312 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1541630330
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  2. Amy M. Briesch , Sandra M. Chafouleas , Sabina Rak Neugebauer , T. Chris Riley-Tillman (2013). Assessing influences on intervention implementation: Revision of the Usage Rating Profile-Intervention . Journal of School Psychology, 51(1), 81-96. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2012.08.006 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1964630310
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  3. Bryce D. McLeod , Julia R. Cox , Amanda Jensen-Doss , Amy Herschell , Jill Ehrenreich-May , Jeffrey J. Wood (2018). Proposing a mechanistic model of clinician training and consultation. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 25(3), e12260. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/cpsp.12260 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2886710442
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Lauren Brookman-Frazee , Amy Drahota , Nicole Stadnick , Lawrence A. Palinkas (2012). Therapist Perspectives on Community Mental Health Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders . Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 39(5), 365-373. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10488-011-0355-y OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2014433553
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  5. Hannah Collyer , Ivan Eisler , Matt Woolgar (2020). Systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the relationship between adherence, competence and outcome in psychotherapy for children and adolescents . European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(4), 417-431. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s00787-018-1265-2 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2907365331
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  6. Jeffrey J. Wood , Bryce D. McLeod , Sami Klebanoff , Lauren Brookman-Frazee (2015). Toward the Implementation of Evidence-Based Interventions for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders in Schools and Community Agencies . Behavior Therapy, 46(1), 83-95. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2014.07.003 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1970477432
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Domenic V. Cicchetti (1994). Guidelines, criteria, and rules of thumb for evaluating normed and standardized assessment instruments in psychology. Psychological Assessment, 6(4), 284-290. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/1040-3590.6.4.284 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2063085086
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  8. William R. Miller , Carolina E. Yahne , Theresa B. Moyers , James Martinez , Matthew Pirritano (2004). A Randomized Trial of Methods to Help Clinicians Learn Motivational Interviewing. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(6), 1050-1062. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/0022-006x.72.6.1050 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2067317747
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  9. John M. Worrall , Alan E. Fruzzetti (2009). Improving peer supervisor ratings of therapist performance in dialectical behavior therapy: An Internet-based training system. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 46(4), 476-479. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/a0017948 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1978754081
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. JN Constantino (2012). Social Responsiveness Scale – Second Edition (SRS-2) . Social Responsiveness Scale – Second Edition (SRS-2).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  11. Alexander J. Martos , Patrick A. Wilson , Ilan H. Meyer (2017). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health services in the United States: Origins, evolution, and contemporary landscape . PLOS ONE, 12(7), e0180544. Public Library of Science (PLoS).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180544 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2735345225
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  12. Robert L. Koegel , Lynn Kern Koegel , Erin K. McNerney (2001). Pivotal Areas in Intervention for Autism . Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 30(1), 19-32. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1207/s15374424jccp3001_4 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2015957449
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  13. John T. Danial , Jeffrey J. Wood (2013). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children With Autism . Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 34(9), 702-715. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0b013e31829f676c OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2042795085
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  14. Linda A. Dimeff , Kelly Koerner , Eric A. Woodcock , Blair Beadnell , Milton Z. Brown , Julie M. Skutch et al. (2009). Which training method works best? A randomized controlled trial comparing three methods of training clinicians in dialectical behavior therapy skills . Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47(11), 921-930. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2009.07.011 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2068127761
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  15. Alan E. Kazdin , Stacey L. Blase (2011). Rebooting Psychotherapy Research and Practice to Reduce the Burden of Mental Illness . Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(1), 21-37. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1745691610393527 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2101259217
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  16. John M. Ferron , Bethany A. Bell , Melinda R. Hess , Gianna Rendina-Gobioff , Susan T. Hibbard (2009). Making treatment effect inferences from multiple-baseline data: The utility of multilevel modeling approaches . Behavior Research Methods, 41(2), 372-384. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3758/brm.41.2.372 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2052396525
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  17. M Margaret Dolcini , Melissa A Davey-Rothwell , Ryan R Singh , Joseph A Catania , Alice A Gandelman , Vasudha Narayanan et al. (2021). Use of effective training and quality assurance strategies is associated with high-fidelity EBI implementation in practice settings: a case analysis . Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(1), 34-45. Oxford University Press (OUP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibz158 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2989606512
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  18. Eric A. Storch , Elysse B. Arnold , Adam B. Lewin , Josh M. Nadeau , Anna M. Jones , Alessandro S. De Nadai et al. (2013). The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Versus Treatment as Usual for Anxiety in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized, Controlled Trial . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(2), 132-142.e2. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2012.11.007 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2065626811
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  19. Aaron Hogue , Howard A. Liddle , Cynthia Rowe (1996). Treatment adherence process research in family therapy: A rationale and some practical guidelines. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 33(2), 332-345. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/0033-3204.33.2.332 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2056021828
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  20. Katherine Pickard , Rosemary Meza , Amy Drahota , Brigitte Brikho (2018). They’re Doing What? A Brief Paper on Service Use and Attitudes in ASD Community-Based Agencies . Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 11(2), 111-123. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/19315864.2017.1408725 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2772392754
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  21. Eric A. Storch , Adam B. Lewin , Amanda B. Collier , Elysse Arnold , Alessandro S. De Nadai , Brittney F. Dane et al. (2015). A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY VERSUS TREATMENT AS USUAL FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS AND COMORBID ANXIETY . Depression and Anxiety, 32(3), 174-181. Hindawi Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/da.22332 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2164189797
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  22. Christopher G. Fairburn , Vikram Patel (2014). The Global Dissemination of Psychological Treatments: A Road Map for Research and Practice . American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(5), 495-498. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13111546 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2168637086
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  23. Diane E. Sholomskas , Gia Syracuse-Siewert , Bruce J. Rounsaville , Samuel A. Ball , Kathryn F. Nuro , Kathleen M. Carroll (2005). We Don't Train in Vain: A Dissemination Trial of Three Strategies of Training Clinicians in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(1), 106-115. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/0022-006x.73.1.106 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2059544478
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  24. Elizabeth Glenn , Abiola Taiwo , Stacy Arbuckle , Hannah Riehl , Laura Lee McIntyre (2023). Self-Directed Web-Based Parent-Mediated Interventions for Autistic Children: A systematic review . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 10(3), 505-522. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40489-022-00307-9 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4212950432
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  25. PHILIP C. KENDALL , ELIZABETH GOSCH , JAMI M. FURR , ERICA SOOD (2008). Flexibility Within Fidelity . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(9), 987-993. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1097/chi.0b013e31817eed2f
    Crossref OpenCitations
  26. NC Heck (2015). Heck, N. C., Saunders, B. E., & Smith, D. W. (2015). Web-based training for an evidence-supported treatment: Training completion and knowledge acquisition in a global sample of learners. Child Maltreatment, 20(3), 183–192. https://doi.org/10 . 1177/1077559515586 Child Maltreatment, 20(3), 183.
    Type: Other DOI: 10.1177/1077559515586
    Crossref
  27. Jeffrey J. Wood , Megan Kuhfeld , Alexandra Sturm , Li Cai , Karen S. Wood , Maria V. Cornejo Guevara et al. (2022). Personalized autism symptom assessment with the Youth Top Problems Scale: Observational and parent-report formats for clinical trials applications. Psychological Assessment, 34(1), 43-57. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/pas0001065 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3198549092
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  28. Jeffrey J. Wood , Philip C. Kendall , Karen S. Wood , Connor M. Kerns , Michael Seltzer , Brent J. Small et al. (2020). Cognitive Behavioral Treatments for Anxiety in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder . JAMA Psychiatry, 77(5), 474. American Medical Association (AMA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4160 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2989651886
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  29. Samuel L. Odom , Lana Collet-Klingenberg , Sally J. Rogers , Deborah D. Hatton (2010). Evidence-Based Practices in Interventions for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders . Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 54(4), 275-282. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/10459881003785506 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2124503536
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  30. John R. Weisz , The Research Network on Youth Mental Health , Bruce F. Chorpita , Alice Frye , Mei Yi Ng , Nancy Lau et al. (2011). Youth top problems: Using idiographic, consumer-guided assessment to identify treatment needs and to track change during psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(3), 369-380. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/a0023307 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2151230224
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  31. Aaron R. Lyon , Kelly Koerner (2016). User‐centered design for psychosocial intervention development and implementation. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 23(2), 180-200. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/cpsp.12154 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2443106973
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  32. Jeffrey J. Wood , Karen S. Wood , An Chuen Cho , Kashia A. Rosenau , Maria Cornejo Guevara , Chardée Galán et al. (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. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000621 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3134237091
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  33. Bryce D. McLeod , Michael A. Southam-Gerow , Amanda Jensen-Doss , Aaron Hogue , Philip C. Kendall , John R. Weisz (2019). Benchmarking Treatment Adherence and Therapist Competence in Individual Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Youth Anxiety Disorders . Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 48(sup1), S234-S246. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2017.1381914 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2766723023
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  34. Nicholas C. Heck , Benjamin E. Saunders , Daniel W. Smith (2015). Web-Based Training for an Evidence-Supported Treatment . Child Maltreatment, 20(3), 183-192. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1077559515586569 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2247164612
    OpenAlex
  35. Bryce D. McLeod , Jeffrey J. Wood , Jennifer Cecilione Herbst , Danielle Dunn , Philip C. Kendall , Eric A. Storch et al. (2025). Treatment Fidelity and Outcome in CBT for Youth with Autism: The MEYA Fidelity Scale . Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 54(1), 136-151. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2022.2124515 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4297973282
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  36. Lisa Weston , Joanne Hodgekins , Peter E. Langdon (2016). Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy with people who have autistic spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis . Clinical Psychology Review, 49, 41-54. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.08.001 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2494420607
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  37. Elizabeth A. Stuart , Emma E. McGinty , Luther Kalb , Haiden A. Huskamp , Susan H. Busch , Teresa B. Gibson et al. (2017). Increased Service Use Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Associated With Mental Health Parity Law . Health Affairs, 36(2), 337-345. Health Affairs Publishing, LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0824 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2586115513
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  38. N. A. Soomro , D. A. Hashimoto , A. J. Porteous , C. J. A. Ridley , W. J. Marsh , R. Ditto et al. (2020). Systematic review of learning curves in robot-assisted surgery . BJS Open, 4(1), 27-44. Oxford University Press (OUP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/bjs5.50235 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2990334140
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  39. D Wechsler (2014). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children . Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  40. James Luiselli , Francesca Happé , Hillary Hurst , Stephanny Freeman , Gerald Goldstein , Carla A. Mazefsky et al. (2013). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children . In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders (pp. 3346-3346). Springer New York.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_101554 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4247865674
    OpenAlex
  41. PHILIP C. KENDALL , ELIZABETH GOSCH , JAMI M. FURR , ERICA SOOD (2008). Flexibility Within Fidelity . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(9), 987-993. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1097/chi.obo13e31817eed2f OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2056674587
    OpenAlex
  42. Wood, J. J., & Johnson, A. R. (2017). MEYA Clinical Interview Protocol. https://meya.ucla.edu/files/view/documents/module_a/interview.pdf
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  43. Wood J. J., & Wood, K. S. (2017). Modular EBPs for Youth on the Autism Spectrum (MEYA). https://meya.ucla.edu/
    Type: Other
    Crossref