Family Support Services
For each family, we begin by first meeting with those in need of support, which could include the individual with autism, parents, siblings, or other caregivers. Our goal for this session is to learn how autism has impacted each family member's life and the places where they may struggle. This initial consult allows us to determine which of the services below are best fit to the needs of the family. Working in partnership with the family, we will develop a plan for family support and identify a therapist or a combination of therapists who can best provide those services.
We offer services in person and via telehealth to best meet the needs of your family in a safe and supportive environment.
Family Psychoeducation
We offer psychoeducation to parents, siblings, and other family members who would like to better understand autism, autism treatment, and the settings (e.g., school, community, employment) in which the child with autism receives education or services. Family psychoeducation is provided in sessions that can be attended by one parent or multiple caregivers in the family. Alternatively, psychoeducation can be provided in small groups of 4-6 families. Psychoeducation for each of the topics below may take place over one to five sessions.
-
What is autism and what does it mean for me and my child?
-
How do I explain my child's diagnosis to other family members?
-
How can I help siblings play or interact with my child with autism?
-
What should I look for to identify effective treatment or education for my child?
-
How do I access treatment for my child at home, school, or in the community?
-
How do I understand my child's diagnostic or cognitive assessment?
-
How do I understand my child's individualized educational plan?
-
How do I plan for my child's/sibling's future?
Caregiver Training
If your child engages in challenging behavior like tantrums or aggressions at home, caregiver training may help teach you skills to feel confident in managing those challenges. We provide training using applied behavior analysis (ABA), demonstrated through research to be effective in addressing child behavior and decreasing caregiver stress.
Working closely with your therapist, you will learn to identify the reasons for your child's behavior, problem solve ways you can use to reduce the likelihood of challenging behavior, and learn to teach new skills to your child. Training can be offered with individual families or in groups of 4-6 families. Some of the topics covered during the course of parent training may include the following:
-
Preventing behavior
-
Developing daily schedules
-
Reinforcing the behavior you want to see
-
Teaching communication
-
Teaching new skills
Coping Support
Parents, siblings, and other family members of individuals with autism may experience a vast range of complicated emotions, including grief, anger, and guilt. We offer individual or group therapy to help family members cope with the distressing feelings they experience. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has been demonstrated in research to reduce distress among parents of children with ASD. Using ACT principles, we help you learn to do the following:
-
Notice the situations and thoughts that cause you distress
-
Allow those thoughts and emotions without fighting them or feeling badly for having them
-
Center yourself in the present moment to focus on yourself and your family in the here-and-now
-
Identify your values as a parent, sibling, or individual, and your goals for yourself and your family
-
Move toward those goals and values even when faced with difficult thoughts and emotions
Family Social Support
Connecting family members with others who have had similar experiences is vitally important to their mental well being. We offer the treatments described above in group sessions so that parents can connect with others and share experiences with people who understand. In addition to the benefits of the treatment or psychoeducation provided, some benefits of group support include:
-
Hearing about the experiences of others who have lives similar to your own
-
Learning about approaches that work well for other family members
-
Receiving validation for your own thoughts, emotions, and experiences
-
Feeling as though you have a community that supports you