Resources by Therapeutic Approach

There are many evidence-based practices that have been successfully adapted to improve health and wellness for people with IDD. While the list below is not all inclusive, it provides options for treating mental health conditions for persons with IDD.

Positive Psychology

  • Shogren KA, Wehmeyer ML, & Singh NN (Eds). Handbook of Positive Psychology in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Translating research into practice. Springer Publishing; 2017.
  • Niemiec RM, Shogren KA, & Wehmeyer ML. Character strengths and intellectual and developmental disability: A strengths-based approach from positive psychology. Ed Training Autism Dev Disabil. 2017; 52(1):13-25.

Positive Identity Development 

  • Harvey K. Positive Identity Development: An Alternative Treatment Approach for Individuals with Mild and Moderate Intellectual Disabilities. Adv Ment Health and Intellect Disabil. 2011; 5(6):57-58.

Trauma Informed Care

  • Peterson C, Seligman ME. Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification (Vol. 1). New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2004.
  • NHS Education for Scotland, Scottish Government. Opening Doors: Trauma Informed Practice for the Workforce [video]. YouTube; year of publication. Accessed October 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9QWEel16LE.
  • Dewey K, Horsley S. Applying the principles of trauma-informed care in intellectual disability services. Learning Disability Practice. 2022;25(5). doi:10.7748/ldp.2022.e2179.
  • Keesler JM, Purcell A, Thomas-Giyer J. Advancing trauma-informed care in intellectual and developmental disability services: a pilot study of a digital training with direct service providers. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2023;36(3):615-628. doi:10.1111/jar.13085.
  • Rich AJ, DiGregorio N, Strassle CJ. Trauma-informed care in the context of intellectual and developmental disability services: perceptions of service providers. J Intellect Disabil. 2020.
  • Keesler JM, Samways B, McNally P. Trauma-Informed Care Training: a systemwide process to transform the act of caring. Adv Neurodev Disord. 2025; (in press). doi:10.1007/s41252-025-00449-x.
  • McNally P, Irvine M, Taggart L, Shevlin M, Keesler J. A framework for the implementation of trauma-informed care in residential and supported living services for adults with a learning disability. Ulster University; 2022.

Interactive Behavioral Therapy

  • Razza NJ & Tomasulo DJ. Healing trauma: The power of group treatment for people withnintellectual disabilities. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2015.
  • Tomasulo DJ. Positive group psychotherapy modified for adults with intellectual disabilities. J Ment Health Res Intellect Disabil. 2014; 18 (4): 337-350.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Harley SL, Esbensen AJ, Shaley R, Vincent LB, Mihaila MI, et al. Cognitive behavioral therapy for depressed adults with mild intellectual disability: A pilot study. J Ment Health Res Intellect Disabil. 2015: 8(2): 72-97.
  • Jahoda A. Cognitive-behavioural intervention for people with intellectual disability and anxiety disorders. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2006: 19 (1):91-97.

Positive-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Mira A, Breton-Lopez J, Enrique A, Castilla D, et al. Exploring the incorporation of a positive psychology component in cognitive behavioral internet-based program for depression symptoms. Results throughout the intervention process. Front Psychol. 2018; 9:2360.
  • Ramirez de Arellano M, Lyman R, Jobe-Shields L, George P, Dougherty RH, et al. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy: assessing the evidence. Psychiat Serv. 2014; 65(5):591-602.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

  • Brown JF, Brown MZ, & Dibiasio P. Treating individuals with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviors with adapted dialectical behavior therapy. J Ment Health Res Intellect Disabil. 2013; 6(4):280–303.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

  • Brown FJ, & Hooper S. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with a learning-disabled young person experiencing anxious and obsessive thoughts. J Intellect Disabil. 2009; 13(3):195-201.
  • Levin ME, Aller TB, Klimczak K, Donahue ML, Knudsen F. Digital acceptance and commitment therapy for adults with chronic health conditions: results from a waitlist-controlled trial. Behav Res Ther. 2025;104729. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2025.104729.
  • Aller TB, Fauth EB, Hodgskiss S, Sheen J, Levin ME. Mental health supportive services during COVID-19: proposing an online, self-guided Acceptance and Commitment Therapy program for parents in the disability community. Dev Disabil Network J. 2021;1(2):Article 14.
    doi:10.26077/8307-528b.
  • Davis CH, Klimczak K, Aller TB, Twohig MP, Levin ME. Reach, adoption, and maintenance of online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy at a university: an implementation case study. Psychol Serv. 2024; Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/ser0000834.

Motivational Interviewing 

  • Frielink N, & Embregts P. Modification of motivational interviewing for use with people with mild intellectual disability and challenging behavior. J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2013; 38(4): 279-291.
  • Nejatifar S. Effectiveness of motivational interviewing on participation and emotional selfefficacy in individuals with learning disabilities. Prien J. 2023;1(1):1-10. Available from: https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/prien/article/view/3012.
  • Diallo A, et al. Preliminary evidence on combined cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing intervention efficacy to improve employment motivation for persons with intellectual disability. Aust J Rehabil Couns. 2021;27(1):1-15. doi:10.1017/jrc.2021.1.

Exposure Therapy

  • Symons FJ. An evaluation of multi-component exposure treatment of needle phobia in an adult with autism and intellectual disability. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2012; 26(4): 344-348.
  • Boyd BA, Woodard CR, & Bodfish JW. Feasibility of exposure response prevention to treat repetitive behaviors of children with autism and an intellectual disability: A brief report. Autism. 2011; 17(2).

Wellness 

  • Anderson LL, Humphries K, McDermott S, & Marks B. The state of the science of health and wellness for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Intellec Dev Disabil. 2013; 51(5): 385-398.
  • Young H, Erickson ML, Johnson KB, Johnson M, & McKully K. A wellness program for individuals with disabilities: Using a student wellness coach approach. Disabil Health. 2015; 345-352.

Solution Focused Interventions

  • Roeden JM, Bannink FP, & Curfs LM. Solution-focused brief therapy with people with mild intellectual disabilities: A case series. J Policy Pract Intellect Disabil. 2011; 8(4): 247-255.
  • Stoddart KP, McDonnell J, Temple V, & Mustata A. Is Brief Better? A Modified Brief Solution-Focused Therapy Approach for Adults with a Developmental Delay. J Systemic Therap. 2001; 20(2): 24-40.

Eye Movement and Desensitization Re-processing (EMDR)

  • Gilderthorp J. Is EMDR an effective treatment for people diagnosed with both intellectual disability and post-traumatic stress disorder? J Intellect Disabil. 2015; 9(1): 58-68.

Biofeedback

  • Yucha CB, & Montgomery D. Evidence-based practice in biofeedback and neurofeedback. Nevada: Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback; 2008.