People with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), including Asperger’s Syndrome, are known to have repetitive behaviours or interests and difficulty with communication and social interactions. As the word spectrum suggests, the impact of these difficulties varies widely between individuals. The prevalence of people with ASD is rising and whilst there has been much focus on supporting people’s behaviour, there is less focus on supporting people’s emotional needs that could ultimately negatively impact on their mental health. In this month’s blog, we will explore three areas that could benefit from different counselling approaches and strategies.
Our services are open to anyone... not just people in the NDIS.
Depression and Anxiety
Depression and Anxiety can be common for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders. If left untreated these conditions can impact on relationships, employment opportunities and lead to increasing social isolation. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, or CBT, has been shown to be effective in treating both depression and anxiety. Through modified CBT techniques, with the use of visuals and diagrams, clients can be supported to understand how their thoughts interact with their feelings and impact on their actions or behaviour. Some people even find art and visual play great options to enhance CBT conversations around negative thought patterns. Our focus is on helping people to develop more helpful and realistic thoughts, an improved feeling of wellbeing and reduced stress/distress which can lead to reinforcement cycles which are unhelpful.
Our counsellors also have experience managing more problematic extension to depression and anxiety including PTSD, OCD and psychosis. Normalising experiences and bring back reality and functioning to the greatest extent possible (these activities may involve either medical or psychiatric oversight and we seek a team-based approach to helping people).
Social Skills Development
Relating and interacting with others is necessary to form relationships, find a job and generally get on in society. For people with Autism Spectrum Disorders there can be a lack of understanding of social cues and norms which can lead to misunderstandings, social isolation and withdrawal from others. Some people may also have very literal language understandings and therefore mis-read social cues. Social skill instruction can help and can be facilitated on an individual basis to facilitate opportunities to practice with in safety and then with others. Social Stories are also useful to highlight specific scenarios or situations (especially for younger people) by describing what the expectations are in those situations and learning appropriate responses.
Emotional Regulation and Expression
People with autism can have difficulty regulating and expressing emotions and also have difficulty interpreting the emotions of others. This can lead to confusion and misunderstandings, even aggression, which can negatively impact on families, education, career and relationships. Support can be provided by using visual emotional scales, facilitated through Comic Strip Conversations or by using visuals and symbols to build personal skills.
(Reference: Paxton K & Estay I A, Counselling People on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Manual, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London & Philadelphia, 2007)
Get in contact
This service is available for people from 10 years and older.
If you or someone you support could benefit from counselling, you can book a complimentary 30-minute session with either a male or female SchemeWise counsellor. Just fill out the contact form and we'll call to book your appointment. Its that simple.
Best of all... SchemeWise counsellors can travel to you for sessions in your home or a community location.
Counselling is also available under NDIS plans to a person's care and support network... to help out and keep things going.
SchemeWise can also provide counselling on a private basis to any other person.
