What to Expect

Coming to therapy, especially for the first time, can be both an exciting and challenging. We start with a brief phone consultation where we will determine if we are a good fit for each other. Next, we will meet for a 60 minute intake appointment where I will ask you a series of questions to better understand what brings you in, and to gather more information about you and your experiences. From there, we will talk about what kind of treatment approach makes the most sense to help you achieve your goals. 

Why come to therapy?

Being an autistic person in a neurotypical world is confusing. And to the rest of the neurotypical world, some “autistic behaviors” might look odd or unusual. Maybe you want to look less “odd” sometimes. Or maybe you want to stand out, autistic and proud. Using an evidenced based approach to treatment, I help you set goals, build on your personal strengths, and become whatever version of your neurodiverse self that you desire.

Maybe you’re not an autistic person, but a parent of a child with autism. You likely are going to encounter some challenging behaviors that are difficult to deal with and you’re not sure how to respond. Behavioral dysregulation is common in autism, especially in the “early days”, when children are young and still learning coping skills. Parent training and family support is critical to navigating these times.

My Approach

I specialize in behavioral therapies such as applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. We might use things like activity scheduling, role play and rehearsal, contracts, desensitization, self-monitoring strategies, relaxation and mindfulness training…and more!

While my approach is grounded in behavior therapy, I integrate elements of positive psychology, solution-focused therapy, person-centered techniques, and motivational interviewing to help us work toward solutions to your problems.

If you are looking for therapy for your child, many approaches can be used to create a space for positive behavior change. Play based strategies and activities are used to promote learning, socialization, engagement and attention, coping and regulation. It is important to remember, especially in the case of autism, that therapy can take longer, and children might be slower to warm up to a new therapist. You will need to be consistent and patient when young children are starting therapy.