Autism Spectrum Disorder
Therapy and Support

Are you or your loved one diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Autism Spectrum Disorder (also known as autism) is a developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life. It is no longer thought of as a childhood disorder and is now recognized as a lifelong condition that requires addressing issues like employment, independent living, and aging. People with autism often have:

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• Difficulty with communication and interaction with other people.

• Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors.

• Additional symptoms that affect the ability to function in school, at work, and other areas of life.

Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience.

How I can help:

I have been working with children, teens, and adults with autism for over 20 years. Over the years the paradigm for working with autistic persons has shifted from focusing on deficits and impairments, conforming to neurotypical norms, and using strictly behavioral interventions, to neurodiversity acceptance, focusing on the strengths and unique abilities, and advocating for acceptance and inclusion. Autistic individuals require support to participate in mainstream education, workplace, and community activities. I love collaborative work and together we will identify areas of life that have a skill lag or gap and formulate meaningful goals and objectives.

Examples of goals may include:

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• Socialization: understand your socialization needs and advocate for your needs to be respected, form fulfilling relationships or friendships, increase community participation, improve understanding of the perspective of others.

• Communication: develop an understanding of your own communication style, understand the meaning of the nonverbal communication of others (facial expressions, gestures, and body language), initiate and sustain a give-and-take conversation.

• Emotional regulation: managing the symptoms of anxiety and depression, manage stress, understand your sensory processing style, raise awareness of environmental triggers and cues of the “autistic overload” (meltdowns and shutdowns), frustration tolerance, learn how to “recharge your batteries,” find comfortable ways to show emotions.

• Self-care: identify and address life skills areas that are missing or lagging, understand and manage your sensory profile, compose options for downtime, develop a system of self-care steps that works for you, enhance self-advocacy for needed accommodations.

• Parent Coaching: developing a framework to encourage and support/contain the individual during overwhelm, anxiety, uncertainty, changes and transitions, failure to take into the account the needs of others, and other challenges which may impact a family’s well-being and happiness.

At times, a helpful presence of a support person can enhance the therapy process and I welcome parents/significant others’ participation when requested by the patient or therapeutically indicated.