AUTISM THERAPY
Therapy is hard work. Whether it is counseling, speech therapy,
occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, etc., your child is
spending his/her time developing skills in areas that have been
challenging. It’s normal for a child to be tired of therapy every
now and then. It’s not normal for every single session to be a
battle to get your child in the door!
seems pretty simple and straightforward, but
I cannot tell you how many times I have had
families tell me that they have felt otherwise.
If your child can sense the therapist isn’t 100
percent on board, it’s not going to work!
T herapy is hard work. Whether it is counseling,
speech therapy, occupational therapy, behav-
ioral therapy, etc., your child is spending his/
her time developing skills in areas that have
been challenging. It’s normal for a child to be
tired of therapy every now and then. It’s not
normal for every single session to be a battle to
get your child in the door!
D
oes it feel like an alliance? Is my child aware
of and motivated to work toward targets be-
cause he/she understands they will ultimately
help? And…because he/she trusts the clini-
cian who is daring him/her to be courageous?
Maybe after looking more closely at your services,
you decide it is time to shop around and see what’s
available in your area. Finding the right therapist is
much more than looking for a five-star Google re-
view. Consider trying:
T alking about services with your tribe of au-
tism parents (if you don’t have a real-life group
of fellow parents, find a local online support
group). Make a note of the names that stand
out amongst groups (both good and bad!)
and start to create your list.
I f you do have a provider you have trusted in
the past, reach out and ask who he/she would
recommend. Providers network and often
have insider knowledge as to who may be the
best fit for your child.
C
all your insurance provider and request a list
of all providers within your network. Services
are expensive! Know who you have access to
and start making phone calls.
I nterview your potential providers. Most clini-
cians are happy to chat over the phone about
your child prior to meeting for an evaluation
or first appointment. You know your child
best! Talk about the clinician’s philosophy and
approach to therapy and consider whether or
not that would be a good fit for your child.
Taking a moment to step back and consider the con-
nection your child has with his/her therapist can
have a significant impact on progress. Undoubtedly,
it’s easy to get stuck in the hustle of getting to your
child’s appointments! However, it can be argued that
investing your time and energy in finding the right
fit now will lead to greater impact over time/pay div-
idends over time.
Mallory Griffith, MA, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language
pathologist living and working in Fort Collins, CO.
In her office, she primarily works with people on the
spectrum, coaching social communications skills.
Mallory has co-authored two books with her col-
league and friend, Rachel Bédard, PhD, including
Raising a Child on the Autism Spectrum: Insights
from Parents to Parents, and, You’ve Got This!: The
Journey from Middle School to College, as told by
Students on the Autism Spectrum and Their Par-
ents.
Website: www.mallorygriffithslp.com
Email: [email protected]
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 87 |
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