Kristen M. Montague, PsyD, LMFT

Skills and support groups

Adults on the spectrum who are in individual therapy with me often find it's a big leap to go from the skills we learn to practicing them in the "real world". Many have been trying to practice social skills their whole lives and have not been successful.

Likewise people who are in an important relationship with someone on the spectrum have often not been successful in getting their needs met. Their experience and struggles can get overlooked in a process where everyone is focused on helping the AT, and many feel like their needs are invisible and there isn't time to get care for themselves.

Skills and support groups are composed of 6-8 people who meet with Dr. Montague on a regular basis. Some groups are composed of adults on the spectrum, and other are composed of people who are in an important relationship with an adult on the spectrum - usually a partner, sibling, friend, or co-worker. For people on spectrum it is a place to learn and practice social and advocacy skills. For those in relationship it is a place to talk about your experience, what it's like to be in relationship with this person you love and care about, and to get emotional support for yourself. Some groups are quite structured and operate more like a class where you will learn and practice specific skills. Others operate more as a support group, where people share and process what happens to them over the week, what their life is like, and where they struggle.

How it can help

  • A place where you don't feel so alone; where you can be around people who have similar experiences - who "get it"
  • Learn the latest research about what is helpful, get hooked up with resources, and share information
  • A social laboratory where you can practice new skills in real-life situations without fear of messing up or being ridiculed
  • Improve the quality of life for everyone involved

Current groups

None at this time.

How the process works

Support groups

  1. Contact me to schedule a brief phone conversation where we can talk about your situation, answer any questions you may have, and reserve a spot for you in the group if you decide to participate.
  2. Download and fill out these forms to bring to our first meeting
  3. Locate my office in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. The address and directions are on my contact page
  4. Our first meeting. Some people prefer to quietly observe during their first session or two; others find it more helpful to introduce themselves and dive right in. Please bring your completed forms from step 2 above.
  5. Subsequent meetings. Most support groups are ongoing, and members decide when they're finished.

Skills groups

  1. Contact me to schedule a brief phone conversation where we can talk about your situation, answer any questions you may have, and reserve a spot for you in the group if you decide to participate.
  2. Download and fill out these forms to bring to our first meeting
  3. Plan how to get to my office in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. The address and directions are on my contact page
  4. Our first meeting.Meet one another, discuss norms and expectations for interactions with one another, discuss sensory needs with each other, review group structure and agenda for each module. Please bring your paperwork from step 2 above.
  5. Subsequent meetings. Skills groups meet for a set period of time and they graduate

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