What is TUNE In? A Short Interview with ASPE Co-Director, Dr. Edward S. Brodkin, on His Latest Clinical Trial
Meet Dr. Brodkin!
Edward S. (Ted) Brodkin, M.D., is the Co-Director of the Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence (ASPE). He is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and is Founder and Director of the Adult Autism Spectrum Program at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Brodkin has more than 20 years of experience in clinical work and clinical research on autism, as well as in research on the neurobiology of autism. Dr. Brodkin developed the TUNE In program to support social functioning in autistic adults.
We sat down with Dr. Brodkin to ask him about his new program, TUNE In, aimed at helping autistic adults interact with other people with greater ease, understanding, and authenticity.
1. What is TUNE In?
TUNE In stands for Training to Understand & Navigate Emotions and Interactions.
It is a 13-week adult group program that uses mindfulness practices, group discussion, and conversation practice with the goal of helping folks to feel more comfortable and confident in social interactions.
2. What can participants of TUNE In expect?
Some of our TUNE In groups will be offered in person, and some via secure video conferencing, to make them maximally accessible. There will be about 4 to 6 participants in each group, along with one or two facilitators from the ASPE team. The group will meet over 13 weeks, once per week for about 2 hours each time, with a short break in the middle of each session. TUNE In groups involve…
- Mindfulness practices that help increase awareness of self and others, while helping you to feel more calm and centered
- Cultivating listening skills, and a greater ability to pick up on social cues
- Developing a deeper understanding of one’s own thoughts, feelings, & actions
- Developing a deeper understanding of ways to relate to others
- Group discussions with other autistic people about navigating interactions with co-workers, friends, family, & more
The TUNE In groups are being run as a clinical trial, which means a study to see how helpful the program is, and what factors make the program more or less effective. Participants are asked to complete questionnaires at a few points during and after the program, so that we can determine how helpful TUNE In is, and how to improve it in the future.
3. You’ve mentioned the word “mindfulness” a few times. Can you explain why this practice, or similar practices, may be helpful for autistic adults?
Mindfulness practices (various brief meditation practices) can help participants be more aware of what is happening inside of them (thoughts, feelings) and around them, including what is happening over the course of an interaction with another person, while staying relatively calm. This is very helpful for more effectively connecting with yourself and others.
4. How is TUNE In different from other support programs and therapies?
TUNE In is neuro-affirming, with an emphasis on self-knowledge. Rather than providing rigid scripts for specific social situations, TUNE In helps participants to develop the fundamental skills of connecting with others. This is a non-prescriptive program that does not require or encourage “masking”. Participants are encouraged to set goals relevant to their own lives. TUNE In is also designed for adults 18+, unlike many programs that are child focused.
5. Who is a good candidate for TUNE In?
We invite adults (age 18 and up) who are interested in more effectively connecting with other people and better understanding themselves to contact us for more information about the TUNE In trial.
6. TUNE In sounds like a program I’d want to be a part of for a long time, not just 13 weeks! Are there any ways to stay involved after the 13 week program is over?
One of the goals of TUNE In is to give participants tools for their entire lives, not just the 13 weeks. We are working towards a TUNE In peer mentorship program that would allow TUNE In alumni to stay involved with the TUNE In community, and share what they learned in the program with others in the community!