Professional consultation
Assessment and treatment of autism is a complex and a specialized process. It is common for many professionals who don't specialize in autism to come to place in the process where they feel out of their depth. Psychologists, employers, educators, police officers - in fact, anyone who deals with the public in the course of doing their job - will sometimes interact with people with autism, and may not understand how neurological differences inform that interaction.
Psychologists and other mental health professionals may have difficulty with the diagnostic process, writing accomodations and recommendations, or treatment. Other professionals find that managing different communication and social styles of ATs and NTs in a workplace, school, or community environment can be challenging, and struggle with the implementation of individualized accommodations and recommendations in a way that's effective for everyone in the system.
I offer one-on-one consultation on autism and diagnostic assessment for adults, development of recommendations, accommodations, and treatment planning for individual and marriage and family therapists, psychologist, psychiatrists, other medical professionals, employers, human resource professionals, teachers, school counselors, and law enforcement personnel. The consultation process is tailored toward your specific goals and the needs of the individuals, families and communities with whom you are working. I am interested in what clinical or assessment difficulties you are experiencing, what strategies/interventions you have used to address these problems and what goals you have for the consultation process. Some clients find it helpful to just see me once or twice, some consult on an ongoing basis, and others arrange private trainings for their whole organization.
How it can help
Getting specific training about this issue will give you the confidence, clarity and skills you need to serve the people you work with better. Through this process, you will gain an increased understanding of how the client or employee's developmental and relational history, neurological differences and experiences of trauma impact their current functioning in the world. You will leave the consultation with a plan to go forward into your work focused on improving the quality of their lives and relationships.
- Improve the quality of life of the client and everyone else in the system
- Reduce conflict and increase effective communication
- Help your client engage more successfully in therapy, school, work or community
- Stay up to date on research-based changes in best practices
How the process works
- Schedule a brief phone conversation where we can talk about your situation, answer any questions you may have, and schedule an appointment if you decide to go forward.
- Our first meeting. During our first meeting we will develop strategies for meeting your consultation goals.
- Subsequent meetings. Depending on your situation and specific goals, we can meet regularly or on an as-needed basis when new problems arise.