School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) students, together with Michele Parker, PhD, director of Fairfield's Marriage and Family Therapy program, presented “Autism and Couples Therapy: A Solution-Focused Approach” at a Bentley University conference.
At a recent New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy (NEAFAST) Conference at Bentley University, Michele Parker, PhD, director of SEHD's Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program, presented groundbreaking research alongside MFT students Margaret Walsh and Sarah Putnam Hernandez.
Their presentation, titled “Autism and Couples Therapy: A Solution-Focused Approach,” emphasized the importance of addressing the unique relational challenges faced by neurodiverse couples, particularly those in which one partner is on the autism spectrum.
Of the conference experience, Walsh said, “I feel like I gained a lot of new tools, strategies, and knowledge that I’m excited to apply moving forward as a graduate student in the Marriage and Family Therapy program. It was also great to work with like-minded professionals and to hear about innovative projects and topics they are working on.”
The Fairfield SEHD presentation introduced solution-focused brief therapy as an effective clinical approach for neurodiverse couples. It highlighted the unique clinical concerns of couples affected by ASD, along with the obstacles that individuals with ASD and their partners encounter in accessing appropriate therapeutic care, underscoring the critical role systemically trained therapists play in addressing these challenges.
For the students, presenting at NEAFAST reinforced the importance of collaboration and academic mentorship. “My experience in taking part in this faculty-mentored research has been incredibly positive,” Walsh said. "From the beginning, Dr. Parker has been supportive and engaging, offering valuable insights about the research process.”
Fairfield’s School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) strongly emphasizes experiential learning and faculty-student collaboration, preparing students to address real-world challenges through evidence-based practices. The students’ participation at NEAFAST showcased the value of mentorship and highlighted the Marriage and Family Therapy program’s commitment to advancing the field of family and systemic therapy.
