FAQ
About The Feelings Program for Adolescents
What is The Feelings Program for Adolescents?
The Feelings Program for Adolescents is an evidence-based intervention program that supports the development of emotion skills to autistic children. The Feelings Program for Adolescents is a digital adaptation of the Westmead Feelings Program. While the Westmead Feelings Program was developed to support children 8-12 years old, with and without co-occurring intellectual disability, The Feelings Program for Adolescents was developed to support autistic adolescents (11-16 years old) with and without co-occurring learning difficulties and additional support needs.
Does The Feelings Program for Adolescents follow established clinical practice guidelines?
Yes. The Feelings Program for Adolescents therapeutic materials developed for use by autistic children, educational and disability professionals utilise cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). This a recommended treatment for various mental health disorders and adheres to the Clinical Practice Guidelines published by Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
The Clinical Practice Guidelines relevant to The Feelings Program for Adolescents can be accessed through the following links:
National Guidelines for supporting the learning, participation, and wellbeing of autistic children and their families in Australia (AutismCRC, 2022) (For example pp. 69, 72, 73)
National Standards for Mental Health Services (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010) (For example pp. 13, 17)
(For example, pp. 1119)
How is The Feelings Program for Adolescents structured?
The Feelings Program for Adolescents consist of 18 lessons. The program can be implemented in a clinical setting (group or individual) or integrated at school as part of the educational curriculum, where students are provided support to develop their personal and social capabilities. The program can be delivered by allied health professionals or educators who have undergone specific training on the facilitation of The Feelings Program for Adolescents. This program applies digital technology to guide users through 3 modules covering:
1. Identifying and expressing emotions
2. Problem solving and perspective taking
3. Emotional regulation
A booster session can be held 3 to 6 months after the last session. Standardised questionnaires and outcome measures can be completed by parents or teachers.
Who is behind The Feelings Program for Adolescents?
The Feelings Program for Adolescents was led by psychologist, Anita Gardner. The Westmead Feelings Program was originally developed and designed by lead authors Dr Michelle Wong, Dr Belinda Ratcliffe and Dr David Dossetor at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in 2004. Other significant authors who provided research and clinical expertise include Dr Lisa Brice, Dr Vicki Grahame, and Louisa Carroll. The development of the digital adaptation for autistic adolescents,
Who is The Feelings Program for Adolescents intended for?
The Feelings Program for Adolescents is designed to meet the emotional competence needs of autistic adolescents aged 11-16 years old, including those with co-occurring learning difficulties and additional support needs.
What evidence is there supporting the effectiveness of The Feelings Program for Adolescents?
Preliminary studies of The Feelings Program for Adolescents in both a clinic and school-based setting has indicated that adolescents, parents and teachers have found the program to be feasible and enjoyable (Gardner et al., 2020; Gardner et al., 2023). Initial results indicate an increase in emotion-based skills such as the reporting of feelings to others, an ability to rate the feeling intensity, emerging problem-solving skills and opportunities to see others’ perspectives (Gardner et al., 2020). A digital transformation of The Feelings Program for Adolescents to enable easy web-based access to the group-based program materials has allowed greater flexibility in program facilitation. More interactive elements have been added to enhance learning support needs and the range of neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) of adolescents in the group (Gardner et al., 2023). The Feelings Program for Adolescents is a continuation of previous emotion-based research programs that have included a partnership with NSW schools, Autism Spectrum Australia school sites across NSW and a small pilot study in clinical and school-based settings investigating the feasibility of the newly adapted The Feelings Program for Adolescents. These previous projects have demonstrated consistent support for the The Feelings Program for Adolescents as a cost-effective and feasible approach to delivering theory and evidence-based effective interventions for autistic adolescents, including those with co-occurring intellectual disabilities.
References
Gardner, A. (2019). The experience and feasibility of an emotion-based intervention for autistic adolescents with a mild intellectual disability: An explorative pilot study. Western Sydney University theses. Western Sydney University. School of Social Sciences Psychology, Degree granting institution, NSW, Australia. Retrieved from https://researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws%3A56541
Gardner, A., Wong, M., & Ratcliffe, B. (2020a). The Feelings Program – Adolescent Adaptation. Unpublished facilitator manual, Department of Psychological Medicine, Children’s Hospital Westmead, NSW, Australia.
Gardner, A., Wong, M., & Ratcliffe, B. (2020b) Social-Emotional Learning for Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: High School Teachers’ Perspectives. Australasian Journal of Special and Inclusive Education, 1-16. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/jsi.2020.13
Gardner, A., Wong, M., Ratcliffe, B. & Dossetor, D. (2020). Westmead Feelings Program for Autistic Adolescents with a Mild Intellectual Disability: A Pilot Project. Executive Summary Final Report. Department of Psychological Medicine, Children’s Hospital Westmead, NSW, Australia.
Ratcliffe, B., Wong, M., Dossetor, D., & Hayes, S. (2019). Improving Emotional Competence in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mild Intellectual Disability in Schools: A Preliminary Treatment Versus Waitlist Study. Behaviour Change, 36(4), 216-232. doi:10.1017/bec.2019.13
Ratcliffe, B., Wong, M.G., Dossetor, D. & Hayes, S. (2015). School counsellor delivery of emotion-based social skills training for students with autism and mild intellectual disability: a controlled trial of 75 primary school students. Oral presentation at the Asia Pacific Autism Conference, Brisbane.
Ratcliffe, B., Wong, M.G., Dossetor, D. & Hayes, S. (2014). Teaching social–emotional skills to school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder: a treatment versus control trial in 41 mainstream schools. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8(12), 1722-1733.
Ratcliffe, B., Wong, M.G., Dossetor, D. & Hayes, S. (2014). Emotion-Based Social Skills Training (EBBST) for children with autism spectrum disorder and mild intellectual disability: a controlled intervention study of 75 children in Australian primary schools. Oral presentation at the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Vienna.
Ratcliffe, B., Wong, M.G., Dossetor, D. & Hayes, S. (2014). Emotion-Based Social Skills Training: a controlled intervention study in 55 mainstream schools for children with autism spectrum disorder. Oral presentation at the International Meeting for Autism Research, Atlanta.
Wong, M.G. & Costley, D. (2016). Emotion-Based Social Skills Training at Aspect: a pilot project. Final report. The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney.
Does using The Feelings Program for Adolescents mean that I do not need to see a medical or allied health professional?
The Feelings Program for Adolescents digital platform has been developed to provide professionals with tools and resources to support the emotion development of autistic adolescents. The Feelings Program for Adolescents is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional should be sought before making decisions about personal circumstances. The Feelings Program for Adolescents should not lead to professional medical advice being disregarded and it should not lead to delays in seeking professional medical advice.
The online services on The Feelings Program for Adolescents platform are not intended for use in emergency situations. If you are in an emergency or need immediate assistance, please call Triple Zero (000) if you are located within Australia and request for an ambulance.
Is The Feelings Program for Adolescents confidential?
Yes. All information provided to and discussed within The Feelings Program for Adolescents (answers to online exercises and questions) is kept confidential in line with The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Research Policy.
How is my privacy protected?
Information Collected
Personal information on users, includes but is not limited to, their name, professional background, email address and mailing address.
Use of Information
Personal information collected from users provides them with access to The Feelings Program for Adolescents and to improve services at The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network. The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network will not share or sell user personal information to third parties, except when required by law or when necessary to provide the services requested by the user.
I would like to undertake research involving The Feelings Program for Adolescents?
The Feelings Program team supports independent research on the use of The Feelings Program for Adolescents. Researchers may contact the Feelings Program team at CHW-WestmeadFeelingsProgram@health.nsw.gov.au to discuss research interests and requirements.
Is The Feelings Program for Adolescents available in languages other than English?
The current research and development of The Feelings Program for Adolescents is focused on program delivery in English. The delivery of The Feelings Program for Adolescents in other languages may be offered in the future.
Funding
How is The Feelings Program for Adolescents funded?
Currently, there will be no cost required for the using The Feelings Program for Adolescents given the program is in a research and development stage. Additional information on costs will be released once the program is offered commercially.
Get Involved
Where do I learn more about how The Feelings Program for Adolescents can be used?
To find out further information about The Feelings Program for Adolescents, please contact the Feelings Program team at CHW-WestmeadFeelingsProgram@health.nsw.gov.au
Can I input into the design, development, and evaluation of The Feelings Program for Adolescents?
Yes. Part of the use of The Feelings Program for Adolescents in the current research and development phase involves providing feedback to improve the program. In general, user feedback on the program is welcome.
Contact the Feelings Program team at CHW-WestmeadFeelingsProgram@health.nsw.gov.au regarding feedback and user experiences.
User Accounts
How do I access the program?
To access The Feelings Program for Adolescents, professionals need to be registered as a Facilitator of The Feelings Program for Adolescents. At this stage, professionals involved in the facilitation of this program will be granted access to the program and its relevant materials.
Promoting The Feelings Program for Adolescents
Can I promote The Feelings Program for Adolescents through my website?
No. Currently, due to intellectual property protection of The Feelings Program for Adolescents in the research development phase use of The Feelings Program for Adolescents cannot be publicly shared on websites or other public means of communication. Facilitators currently using the program are required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement which covers information on what information can and cannot be shared about The Feelings Program for Adolescents.