Therapy for Autistic Individuals
Therapy for CA-Based Autistic Children, Teens, and Adults
Understanding Autism
Autism is a natural variation in how people think, communicate, and experience the world. Every autistic individual has a unique set of strengths and challenges. Our practice embraces a neuro-affirming, strengths-based approach to support autistic individuals and their caregivers or support people. We aim to foster growth, support daily well-being, and celebrate diverse perspectives and ways of thriving.
Families and caregivers often seek our services to support their loved one’s social skills, independent living abilities, executive functioning, behavioral challenges, emotion regulation, and anxiety. Young adults and adults often reach out to address work-related challenges and the daunting transition to adulthood. We offer psychological evaluations to clarify diagnoses, conduct re-evaluations, and provide recommendations for therapy, school, work, and home life.
With neuro-affirming support, our goal is to empower autistic individuals to build on their strengths, enhance daily functioning, and live a fulfilling life.
Who We Help
Our therapy services are designed to support autistic individuals living in California, each with their own unique strengths and challenges. We provide services to autistic children as young as 3 years old, teens, and adults, tailoring our approach to meet the developmental and personal needs of every client. Recognizing that autistic individuals often also manage other challenges like ADHD, anxiety, and OCD, we conduct thorough psychological assessments to ensure comprehensive and individualized support.
While the following list is not exhaustive, it highlights the types of clients we commonly work with and the goals they bring to therapy:
Children who need support with social skills, managing routines, or navigating sensory sensitivities that impact school and home life.
Teens striving to build friendships, manage anxiety, and enhance their flexibility in social and academic settings.
Adults seeking help with workplace challenges, executive functioning, or transitioning to greater independence in adulthood.
Parents and caregivers who want to better understand their child’s needs, foster a supportive environment, and address family dynamics.
Individuals with co-occurring conditions who face unique challenges in managing overlapping symptoms or stressors and/or who have been in therapy previously that was not helpful at reducing their anxiety, OCD, etc.
Whether in-person at our Carlsbad, CA-based office or through virtual sessions, our therapy services provide personalized and collaborative care for clients at every stage of life. Our goal is to help individuals and families develop the tools they need to thrive and grow, both now and in the future.
Our Therapeutic Approach
We use modified evidence-based therapy modalities to empower clients and their families. Our therapeutic interventions include, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Social Skills Support, Executive Functioning Coaching and parent coaching models, such a Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Parent Management Training (PMT), and PC-Care, which equip caregivers (of any age) with skills to support their child. Collaboration is a cornerstone of our work—we often coordinate with occupational therapists, speech therapists, school staff, and medical providers to ensure a holistic approach.
Common Goals in Therapy for Autistic Individuals
Therapy begins with identifying the unique aspirations and challenges of each client. These goals serve as the foundation for meaningful progress and personal growth.
Clients often work toward goals such as:
Developing and improving social skills (e.g., small talk, conversations, understanding social cues).
Building and maintaining friendships and romantic relationships.
Increasing flexibility with routines and trying new foods or activities.
Managing anxiety and sensory sensitivities.
Enhancing executive functioning skills.
Supporting parents in understanding and responding to their child’s needs.
Improving family dynamics by fostering communication and mutual understanding.
Each of these goals is tailored to the client’s unique needs, ensuring therapy remains focused, supportive, and impactful.
What a Typical Session Looks Like
Sessions typically last 45 minutes and are available in our Carlsbad, California office or virtually throughout California, depending on each individual client’s needs. Therapy is often a year-long process due to the complexity of goals. Caregiver-focused interventions are usually shorter, as the scope of goals is more limited. Sessions can be conducted in-person or virtually, based on client preferences and needs.
Our Unique Approach
California’s Child Psychology Center’s neuroaffirming therapists are committed to evidence-based, individualized care. We adapt evidence-based treatments to align with each client’s individual strengths and interests. For example, if a client has a strong interest in transportation or legos, we might use one of those passions to build conversational skills. For sensory challenges, we incorporate comfort strategies, such as using weighted blankets after completing a challenging activity like trying a non-preferred food. This personalized approach fosters growth and engagement.
Collaboration with Clients and Families
Collaboration is a key component of our therapy services. We involve clients and their caregivers in setting personalized treatment goals. For instance, if a teen is unmotivated to work on perspective-taking, we find creative ways to integrate the teen’s interests and the parent’s goals in setting achievable milestones. Or if a teen prefers to cook their own food, we may set a goal that they weekly use a new ingredient with the help of a caregiver.
In our collaborative process, we provide:
Initial Consultation and Assessment: We begin by gathering comprehensive information from both the client and their family to understand the challenges they face and to create a clear treatment plan.
Setting Clear Goals: We work together to establish specific, measurable, and achievable goals that address the client’s unique needs.
Ongoing Communication: We maintain open lines of communication with families to track progress, share insights, and adjust strategies as needed.
Family Involvement: For clients of all ages, we actively involve caregivers in the therapy process, offering tools and techniques to support their loved one’s goals.
Strength-Based Focus: We highlight the strengths of both the client and their family, incorporating these strengths into the treatment plan to build confidence and resilience.
Regular Check-ins: Periodic follow-up sessions allow us to assess progress, celebrate successes, and address any concerns or challenges that may arise.
Collaboration is a key component of our ASD therapy services. We strive to create a neuro-affirming environment where clients and their families feel supported, informed, and empowered. By working as a team, we ensure that everyone is aligned toward making meaningful, lasting change.
Common Challenges in Therapy for Autistic Clients
Our therapy is specifically designed to address:
Social difficulties, including challenges in building relationships, understanding social cues, and engaging in conversations.
Rigid routines and limited flexibility with trying new foods, activities, or coping with changes.
Sensory sensitivities that impact daily functioning and participation in various environments.
Executive functioning challenges, such as difficulty with planning, organizing, and managing time.
Co-occurring conditions like ADHD, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive tendencies, which may complicate ASD symptoms.
Behavioral challenges, including emotional outbursts, oppositional behaviors, or difficulty managing frustration.
We also support families and loved ones in navigating the unique strengths and challenges associated with autism, helping clients thrive across home, school, and community settings.
What Clients Can Expect
Clients can expect a compassionate and collaborative approach to therapy, tailored to their unique strengths, challenges, and goals. From the first session, our neuro-affirming therapists focus on creating a supportive environment where clients feel respected and empowered to engage in the process.
For children and teens, therapy includes active caregiver involvement to reinforce strategies in everyday settings. For young adults and adults, sessions focus on practical solutions for social, emotional, and sensory needs, fostering confidence and independence. Therapy is highly individualized, helping clients build skills in communication, executive functioning, and emotion regulation.
Clients can expect clear communication, regular progress updates, and flexibility to adapt goals as needed. Sessions are engaging, strengths-based, and incorporate personal interests to foster motivation. Families often notice improved communication, reduced stress, and stronger social-emotional skills, while individuals gain tools to navigate relationships, routines, and sensory challenges. Therapy aims to create meaningful and lasting growth across all areas of life.
Long-Term Benefits of Neuroaffirming Therapy
Neuroaffirming therapy offers enduring benefits that can enhance many areas of life. Through consistent therapy, autistic individuals gain skills to navigate social, emotional, and sensory challenges, leading to greater confidence and fulfillment. Clients often find that therapy equips them with tools to manage difficulties while embracing their unique strengths and individual differences. As their needs evolve over time, they can adapt these strategies to meet life’s changing demands. Many clients report improved relationships, increased self-awareness, and greater independence as lasting outcomes of therapy. While occasional booster sessions may be helpful during significant life transitions, most clients feel prepared to maintain progress on their own. Ultimately, neuroaffirming therapy empowers autistic individuals to live authentically and thrive in ways that align with their goals and aspirations.
Adapting Therapy to Your Needs
At the Child Psychology Center, we take a strengths-based approach to therapy, revising goals and adjusting methods as needed to ensure progress. Our focus is on setting meaningful goals that honor individuality and build on each client’s unique strengths.
Special Considerations or Exclusions:
Our services are best suited for autistic individuals needing mild to moderate levels of support. For clients with higher support needs, close collaboration with other professionals is essential. We ensure that every client receives the comprehensive care they deserve by referring out when necessary.
Want to learn more about autism? Check out these blogs:
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Other Services:
Child Psychology Center offers neuro-affirming, culturally competent, evidence-based therapy for children (ages 0+), teens and caregivers. We offer virtual therapy for people throughout all of California, and we offer in-person therapy in Carlsbad, CA. Our services are available in both English and Mandarin. Our licensed psychologists offer psychological assessments. While our therapists specialize in treating children, we also treat adults. We specialize in treating anxiety, child behavioral problems, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), ADHD, autism (ASD), and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We offer parent coaching and consultation. We would love to support you along your journey. Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation today!