make an appointment
Autism in Children & Teens
Psychologist Dr. Marilyn Monteiro, a specialist in Autism, has helped organize these traits into three main areas:
• Language and communication
• Social relationships and emotional responses
• Sensory experiences and interests
If your child or teen is Autistic, you may notice that their communication style looks different than their peers. Many Autistic young people feel most confident talking about topics they love. A 7-year-old might happily explain every detail about dinosaurs, listing species and time periods, while struggling to answer “How was school?” A teenager might light up discussing coding, anime, weather, or a favorite book series, yet seem uncomfortable with small talk like “What’s up?” Conversations focused on shared interests or concrete topics may feel easier than open ended social questions. Talking about feelings, especially in the moment, can be much harder. During emotional or socially demanding situations, your child’s verbal skills may temporarily decrease. A child who usually speaks fluently might suddenly go quiet, struggle to find words, or need extra time to respond when overwhelmed.
LANGUAGE-COMMUNICATION
make an appointment
Autistic brains often form powerful, passionate interests. These interests are more than hobbies. They can be central to your child’s sense of identity and joy. When talking about a favorite subject, you might see increased animation, eye contact, or verbal fluency. A child who struggles in other conversations may suddenly speak with clarity and excitement about trains, space, animals, art, or game design. These interests can also lead to impressive knowledge, creativity, and skill development.
In addition, many Autistic children and teens experience differences in how they process sensory information. Bright lights, loud classrooms, scratchy clothing, strong smells, or crowded spaces can quickly become overwhelming. When sensory overload happens, their ability to speak, think clearly, or regulate emotions may decrease. They may rely more heavily on routines, repetition, or familiar activities because these provide a sense of safety and predictability.
Repetitive behaviors, often called “stimming,” serve an important purpose. Rocking, hand flapping, pacing, humming, tapping, or repeating phrases are ways the body creates predictable sensory input. This controlled input can block out overwhelming sensations and help the nervous system regulate. Similarly, routines and rituals are not simply rigid habits. They are tools your child uses to feel grounded in a world that can often feel unpredictable and overstimulating.
SENSORY USE & INTERESTS
make an appointment
make an appointment
Autism Assessment
Our comprehensive evaluations provide a snapshot of your child’s thinking skills, learning and memory abilities, executive functioning, motor coordination, emotional and behavioral health, and social language. Just as importantly, we take a strengths-based approach and work to identify your child’s unique abilities, interests, and areas of resilience alongside areas where additional support may be helpful.
We use this information to determine what diagnoses help describe your child’s profile. More importantly, we use this information to create a personalized list of recommendations. We provide suggestions for what interventions may be helpful (like occupational therapy, talk therapy, or speech-language services), provide guidance on requesting school support or accommodations (like Individualized Education Programs and 504 Plans), and share ideas about how to support your child at home and in the community.
To learn more about our assessment process, click HERE
make an appointment
Because every experience of Autism is unique, our treatment plans are also highly personalized to your child’s strengths and challenges. We know that youth learn best when learning is fun and interactive, so our therapists work hard to adapt their lessons to your child’s interests. This could look like Minecraft themed emotion charts or sessions that use Pokemon cards to discuss relationships. Our therapists have been known to read books and watch shows recommended by their clients to better understand their inner world.
We also know that providing a space that supports sensory needs is crucial. Our therapists have the ability to modify therapy spaces to meet the needs of their clients. For some, this includes weighted stuffies, big, fluffy blankets, or low lighting. For others, this means having space for clients to engage in sensory seeking activities safely.
Similarly, every Autistic person’s challenges are different. For some of our clients, emotion regulation is the primary reason for seeking therapy. For others, navigating friendships and peer dynamics is an area where support and skill building is needed. Our goal of therapy is to support individuals in achieving their goals in ways that value and celebrate their neurodivergent identity.
Therapy for Autistic People
Our clinicians use a wide variety of therapeutic modalities to support these needs.
- Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Traditional CBT teaches kids how their thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. Adapted CBT uses pictures, hands-on activities, and your child’s interests to make learning these skills more engaging and easier to understand.
- Zones of Regulation: The Zones of Regulation strategies use clear structure and visuals to help children notice what’s happening inside their bodies (like body signals and feelings) and learn how to talk about those experiences. Once kids better understand themselves, they are taught tools to help them manage their emotions. These tools may include movement, sensory activities, or simple thinking strategies.
Autistic children and teens often prefer to start social interactions on their own terms. When someone unexpectedly approaches them at recess, in the hallway, or during a family gathering, it can feel intrusive or overstimulating. Small talk and unplanned interactions require quick processing of social and sensory information, which can be exhausting. Your child may seem more relaxed and engaged when they initiate the interaction themselves, invite a friend over for a specific activity, or talk within a structured setting like a club or shared hobby.
You may also notice differences in peer relationships. Many Autistic children want friends but struggle with the fast pace and unwritten rules of peer groups. A child might gravitate toward adults, enjoy playing with younger children, or prefer one close friend instead of a large group. A teenager may crave deep, meaningful conversations but feel lost in group chats or noisy social gatherings. Preferring a small circle or even significant alone time is not necessarily loneliness. Many Autistic young people have rich inner worlds and can recharge through solitary activities connected to their interests.
Emotionally, Autistic children and teens often feel things very deeply, even if they struggle to identify or explain what they are feeling. They may not recognize anxiety, frustration, or anger until it becomes intense. Routine changes, social misunderstandings, or sensory overload can trigger strong emotional responses that seem sudden from the outside. What looks like overreacting is often a nervous system that has reached its limit.
SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSES
make an appointment