I love working in a profession where I can bring my authentic self into all that I do (with the possible exception of paperwork). It requires me to employ my natural warmth, curiosity, and humor to connect with individuals who seek out my support. And as I accompany them along their journey, I have the privilege of witnessing their boundless capacity for personal growth.
Each time my clients come for a session, I experience a genuine exhilaration at the possibilities and potential for positive change they bring with them. I have learned many things over more than a decade spent helping people deal with a wide range of mental health issues. Perhaps most important thing I have learned is that I do my best clinical work serving clients with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Each time my clients come for a session, I experience a genuine exhilaration at the possibilities and potential for positive change they bring with them. I have learned many things over more than a decade spent helping people deal with a wide range of mental health issues. Perhaps most important thing I have learned is that I do my best clinical work serving clients with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
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Whether you were diagnosed with autism at a young age or only really became aware as an adult, counseling offers limitless opportunities for personal growth. Unfortunately, anxiety and depression are not at all uncommon for individuals on the autism spectrum.
While there may be some genetic/biological reasons for this, it can also result from a life spent struggling with social competence, constant sensory overload, and a driving desire for routine and predictability that is often unattainable.I can guide you in understanding how certain thoughts and behaviors you have developed to cope with life's challenges may actually be inadvertently contributing to your suffering.
While there may be some genetic/biological reasons for this, it can also result from a life spent struggling with social competence, constant sensory overload, and a driving desire for routine and predictability that is often unattainable.I can guide you in understanding how certain thoughts and behaviors you have developed to cope with life's challenges may actually be inadvertently contributing to your suffering.
Anxiety and depression are the most common co-morbid conditions among children and teens with autism. Treatment for anxiety and depression among autistic youth is based on the same cognitive behavioral (CBT) approach that research has found to be effective with most people. However, CBT works best when adapted to address the underlying causes of anxiety and depression that are directly linked to their autism e.g.
Whether you're just learning about your child's autism diagnosis, or you've been navigating the autism landscape for years, parenting a child on the spectrum requires resiliency as well as flexibility. Parents of a child with autism need to be on the same page, even more so than parents of a neurotypical child.
I discovered my passion for serving autistic clients while working at a day treatment program in Portland, OR. Mixed in among clients with trauma, mood disorders, anger problems, and anxiety were these few who appeared to operate on a completely different wavelength. And I witnessed them come up against the same issues with their peers, family, and even clinical staff over and over again.
Please be aware, I try as much as possible to reserve my afternoon and early evening slots for my school-age clients. If you are not sure of your availability from week to week, we can try to work out flexibly fitting you in whenever works best each week. Weekly sessions are not feasible or even necessary for every client.
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