Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting interpersonal interactions and cognitive, social, communication, and motor skills. It also may lead to specific behaviors and interests. People’s experiences of ASD can vary greatly. For this reason, counseling interventions for individuals with ASD also range in their purpose and intent.
Available Treatment Options
Most mental health professionals agree that early intervention for people with ASD leads to better outcomes. Therapists may reduce problematic behaviors and improve communication, social skills, and sensory skills. Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is a type of behavioral therapy that counselors use specifically to increase desired behaviors and reduce undesired ones. Counselors may use Play Therapy to increase awareness of emotions and social skills and Speech-Language Therapy to improve communication skills.
Therapists Who Specialize in Helping Those Who Struggle With Autism
Hope, healing, and wellness is the focus for the counseling journey that we will enter together. Each person has a unique set of needs, personal strengths, and the ability to overcome difficult times. Our therapeutic relationship begins and ends with grace and my willingness to enter into your experiences alongside you with an authentic listening heart. It is important to grow from our experien...
The same thought has been assaulting you in an agonizing loop of repetition for days on end. Or has it been weeks? One compulsive behavior or another keeps you trapped in a constant cycle of despair. The more you resist, the tighter it grabs you - there's no escape. No one understands how hard it is or that you can't just stop. They couldn’t imagine how much you suffer inside your own mind. So,...
Each individual in the therapeutic alliance is the ideal client for one simple reason - we are each uniquely in a rut, stuck, or confused. To this end imagine being in a pit of quicksand without any sense of direction, worth, or hope. People will walk by and offer advice on how to get out. Others might provide a utensil or medication. Yet none of these address the immediate situation of being i...
As a Licensed Mental Heath Counselor, I join with each individual to offer person-centered, trauma-informed interventions to enable each person an opportunity to come closer to creating a life filled with well-being, balance and positive growth. Utilizing a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities enables me to support the individuals' strengths as they take positive steps toward solution...
I believe all people possess the courage and strength to overcome life's obstacles. I believe with the right mindset and mental health foundation, change is attainable. Is therapy something you have thought about or tried in the past? There are many factors that bring people into therapy; however, one consistent theme seems to persist throughout; the want to learn about or change one's self. I...
I am co-owner of M&K Counseling Associates Inc which is a psychotherapy group practice in DC and VA. The goal of our service delivery is to improve functioning and mental well-being for adults, children, couples, and families in the DMV area. Individualized services are available to meet most client needs including services for: depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, mental disorders, alcohol and...
For the first time in our lifetime, we are experiencing a global pandemic with all sorts of implications for changes in our lives. How much change is not yet known. As a psychologist, I cannot anticipate what will happen, nor is it my job to give advise about the virus itself. During this uncertain time, however, I can help with the sadness, fear, and anxiety that surrounds the uncertainty. Liv...
*NOT ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS AT THIS TIME* I know parenting is tough. Especially when your child's behavior is making you feel completely burnt out and inadequate when you've tried everything and nothing seems to be working. The anxiety you feel when the phone rings, praying it isn't your child's school or daycare again. It doesn't have to be this way. I can help you create a world where you won...
I like working with all age groups, from young children to adults, because people are precious and deserve support through life issues. I want clients to feel comfortable as they work to understand and achieve their mental health and life goals. I started working as a mental health practitioner with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Behaviorism. My chosen degree, Marriage and Family Therapy, speaks ...
As a clinical art therapist, my intention is to listen to the individual’s needs and format a tailored creative art making experience to support the pace and direction the client wants to move, rather than conduct a traditional therapy session. I integrate mindfulness, to foster relaxation, with cognitive behavioral art therapy, which fosters clarity and produces practical interventions....
Life can be overwhelming; from the chaotic daily stressors, to life changing transitions. Are you wondering how to tackle these challenging situations? Do you know something is "off" with your energy, but not quite sure what it is or how to access it? Seeking counseling services from a dance movement psychotherapist could provide you with some insight that words simply are not able to express!...
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced"- James Baldwin. My personal and professional experiences with individuals (predominantly minorities) who experienced various traumas in their lives that had gone untreated and undiagnosed inspired me to become a clinical psychologist. There is a consistent misunderstanding of how life experiences can imp...
I enjoy working with adults, children and couples. I have been practicing for the past thirteen years and help clients with a variety of issues they might need support for; anxiety and depression, marital conflict, parent-child challenges, etc. My approach is relational and eclectic. I draw from many approaches such as Internal Family Systems, Developmental Theories and Cognitive Behavioral...
Do life responsibilities leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious or depressed? Does it seem like you have little control in your life? If this is true and you're ready for change, I can support you with identifying & overcoming thoughts and feelings that leave you feeling empty. I invite you to imagine what it would feel like to be in control of your life, with less anxiety & depression. You don...
