Autism therapists in Spring Ridge, Maryland MD
Autism and Asperger's
Washington Psychological Wellness
Counselor/Therapist
Autism Spectrum Disorder can impact one's emotional, personality, cognitive, and daily life functioning. The clinicians at Washington Psychological Wellness are specialized in providing social skills training and treatment to help neuro-atypical individuals find peace, solace, and everyday life success and pleasure. At Washington Psychological Wellness, we promote an empowerment model based on structure, self-efficacy, and commitment to one's own autonomy. We will work with the client's entire healthcare team to ensure coordination of care and treatment. We are currently accepting new clients. Telehealth (online) therapy services are available. Contact us now!
10 Years Experience
Autism and Asperger's
Breighone Brown
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LMSW
I am passionate about helping those in the Autism spectrum perform better in various areas of life, including work and relationships.
4 Years Experience
Autism and Asperger's
Sophia Pressley
Counselor/Therapist, LCPC
Austim and Aspergers are pervasive aspects of one's life journey. The journey can be a challenge, but stability is possible. I will teach skills and techniques that will make adjustments to behaviors that prevent the individual from having a productive journey.
14 Years Experience
Autism and Asperger's
Dr. Patricia Webbink
Psychologist, MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology
I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults with Autism and Asperger’s in for over 50 years. I began my work with Autistic children at Duke University, where I received my Ph.D. in
Clinical Psychology. There I studied with pioneers in the field of childhood autism, including Dr. Eric Schopler, a researcher into Autism and a colleague of Dr. Bernard Rimland, an early icon in the field of autism. For over 30 years, I created and produced summer programs for Autistic children where they received one-on-one attention. I have published four books, including The Power of the Eyes, which devotes a section to eye contact in autistic children.
During my years of postdoctoral experience, I developed an expertise with children, adolescents and adults with Aspergers syndrome. These are bright individuals who can sometimes appear to function well, but who are plagued with poor judgment and limited interpersonal skills. Because they are often very bright, they can appear to be higher functioning than they are able. “A Beautiful Mind” is an extreme example of a brilliant individual who is plagued by hallucinations and
delusions. Please feel free to call for a consultation: 301-229-8000
54 Years Experience
Autism and Asperger's
Utah Center for Evidence Based Treatment
Psychologist, Ph.D.
UCEBT offers assessments examining Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for individuals age 2 through adulthood.
This may be a component of a psychoeducational evaluation if you suspect your child has ASD and that it may be impacting academic functioning. However, not all individuals with ASD struggle academically, and ASD is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts more areas in life than academics. Furthermore, many adults may have questions about whether they have had undiagnosed ASD, which can be common for some high-functioning presentations.
Autism evaluations examine whether an individual meets criteria for ASD using evidence-based procedures, and also examines common rule-outs/co-occurring disorders such as ADHD, social anxiety, and/or OCD. Academic achievement measures may or may not be included, depending on individual needs.
Our autism testing is not exclusively for children.
ADHD and ASD can be diagnosed in adulthood. Many adults may be experiencing chronic difficulties with meeting job expectations, organizing tasks, completing household chores, engaging in daily living activities, remembering obligations, and forming/maintaining healthy relationships. Often adult clients come to us with prior diagnoses of mood, anxiety, or personality problems, and are frustrated that previous treatments have been unsuccessful in helping them meet their goals.
Through assessment, we can determine whether there may be evidence for a missed ADHD or Autism diagnosis that accounts for pervasive lifelong problems.
We use evidence-based methodologies to examine relevant cognitive processes, behaviors, and social/emotional symptoms tailored to how neurodevelopmental disorders present in adults. However, it is also important to note that criteria for ADHD and ASD state that symptoms need to be present in childhood, even if they were mild and perhaps not as apparent until the demands of the environment exceeded individual capacities. Therefore, we also require parent/caregiver interviews, previous testing, and/or school records from childhood as part of the evaluation for adults.
We have several ways to ensure our clients are receiving the highest quality assessment and testing experience.
Autism Evaluations at UCEBT are led by our Assessment & Testing Program Director, Laura Rowley, PhD.
Our team of clinicians assesses a wide range of referral questions and keeps a consistent flow to keep our skills sharp. To build on our skills, we consult with each other -- no one conceptualizes alone, making sure everything is grounded in data and that we’re not relying too heavily on one person’s clinical judgment.
We’re lucky to be a diverse group of clinicians regarding our backgrounds and specialty areas of testing. In addition, we seek consultation from clinicians in the community, research new testing measures, and find developing evidence-based methods for assessing specific populations. It is important to us that we stay up to date with research and the collective wisdom of the profession.
Using the "gold standard" of autism assessments.
We use the latest in evaluation measurements, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) to assess and aid in autism diagnosis. Often to access services (e.g. speech, occupational therapy, ABA), insurance companies require the use on an ADOS-2 for diagnosis. The ADOS-2 is one component of a comprehensive evaluation. Our clinicians use a variety of measures and obtain sources of information from different settings to provide evidence-based psychological assessment.
Stay at UCEBT for treatment or receive treatment elsewhere.
Testing is a standalone service offered at UCEBT. However, if you are interested in seeking therapy services, we can refer you to the appropriate treatment team. You would not have to complete an initial intake and would be placed at the top of the list to be scheduled with an available clinician that is trained and experienced in the best evidence-based treatment for you.
11 Years Experience