Services for Children (ADHD/Autism)

I am committed to working with children diagnosed with ADHD and/or Autism to help them develop coping strategies for self-regulation in different environments. Based on my experience, the best results occur when caregivers are actively engaged in the services. Therefore, it is crucial in my practice for parents to participate in sessions, parent consultations, and co-regulation activities.

What is neurodivergent?

Neurodiversity is not a medical diagnosis, so there is no definitive list of conditions it includes. Generally, neurodiverse individuals may have one or more of the following diagnoses:

• Autism spectrum disorder

• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

• Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia

• Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders

• Sensory processing issues

Sensory Processing Challenges

While many children with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD encounter sensory challenges, not all do. These children may be either hypersensitive or hyposensitive to stimuli such as bright lights or loud noises. It is possible for a child to be hypersensitive in one area and hyposensitive in another. Sensory processing challenges can impact the five senses — sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste — as well as balance (vestibular), body awareness (proprioception), and internal signals (interoception).

Children with sensory sensitivities may exhibit a range of reactions and behaviors, including:

• Excessive movement, such as running, jumping, spinning, or crashing into objects

• Hand-flapping or rocking

• Covering ears or eyes to block stimuli

• Frequent touching or discomfort with being touched

• Aversion to certain clothing or textures

• Meltdowns due to unfavorable sensory input

Like many therapists, I offer an informed eclectic approach when collaborating with your child. I partner with the family and child to develop a treatment plan tailored to their needs. I incorporate principles from the following interventions: Theraplay, Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), Parent-Child Care (PC-CARE), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI).