Therapy for Newly Diagnosed Autistic Adults

You've just received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Now what should you do? You may have read on the CAR Autism Roadmap™ or elsewhere that you should use evidence based practices. But, as you do your research, you have found that there has been little research on the effectiveness of most therapies in autistic adults.

So what should you do?

That depends on what kind of help you need.

Many autistic adults feel that a good place to start is with a mental health counselor, such as a psychologist, who can help to explain both the practical implications of a new diagnosis, such as how social difficulties affect the development of friendships or impact you in the workplace, as well as explain the more philosophical implications, like how you may expect to feel as you get accustomed to having the diagnosis. A counselor can also help you work on building skills and/or can help you with any co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety or mood problems.

Counselors and therapists differ in how they go about accomplishing these tasks. Most likely you will benefit more from someone who has a more concrete, systematic approach, rather than a less structured, "talk therapy" style. Sometimes, a therapist will suggest Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) to build specific skills and/or work on particular phobias. CBT is typically a short-term (12-16 weeks), skills-based treatment, which involves active client participation in the completion of between-session homework assignments. CBT can be used with autistic individuals who have sufficient verbal skills and ability to think about their thoughts and behavior.

As someone newly diagnosed with ASD, you might also consider some of the therapies typically recommended for children, including speech therapy (you can work on fluency issues or develop pragmatic language skills, for example), occupational therapy (for instance, if you need help with organization), or even a social skills group.

While a social skills group might sound juvenile at first, there are groups specifically for autistic adults and/or adults who have more general difficulties with social interactions. Learning social skills in a group can be especially helpful because group participants can share experiences, observations, and suggestions with each other. Sometimes autistic adults benefit more from peer instruction and suggestions than ones which come from professionals who don't have their own life experiences related to ASD.

If you are in need of help related to employment, there are vocational programs offered both privately and publicly (through your state's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation). These programs can help you identify your interests and aptitude, develop job skills, and even help find you a job. If you have difficulties with organization or time management on the job (these are considered executive function skills), a job coach may help you overcome these problems or assist you in developing strategies or seeking accommodations to compensate for them.

If you are considering having children, you may wonder if ASD is hereditary. ASD is indeed a condition known to be passed down genetically. You may want to consult with a genetic counselor to discuss the likelihood of having a child on the autism spectrum.

Recommended Link:

• CAR Resource Directory™

Additional Resources:

• Newly Diagnosed Adult With Autism Seeks Therapy Advice