This group is designed to help facilitate the growth of social skills. It meets weekly and is comprised of primarily individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This group is currently fairly informal but will start on the PEERS curriculum in early 2021.
Hosted by Sara Louise Campbell
Licensed Professional Counselor, MS, LPC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Fayetteville, AR 72701
My ideal clients are individuals that are living with Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression or other behavioral issues who need to learn better ways to cope. Other ideal clients would be parents/families with neurodivergent children who need support, education and guidance to cope and manage their feelings and relationships as they may relate to the unique stressors of having a neurodivergent child.
Chess program for children (K-5)
Hosted by Nolan Kordsmeier
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Little Rock, AR 72207
Do you feel alienated, alone, & misunderstood? Caught in a cycle of escape, control, and avoidance? You judge yourself at every turn, can’t meet your own expectations and don't seem to trust yourself? You feel like you're not good enough and scared you can't feel anything but alone. You sacrifice parts of yourself to feel worthy of love. Overwhelmed by shame and guilt about who you are and what you’ve experienced. You try to find peace by avoiding life. Control has become the problem, not the solution. I'm here to help you discover a new way to feel, heal & deal. You no longer need to feel alone in the face of overwhelming emotions.
A 9-week program centered on Poly Vagal Theory and the eight sensory systems with therapeutic education, poetry and prose, guided writing and reflection, and somatic integration.
Hosted by Jenni-Kay Long
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, CYT, LCSW, ADS, EMDR
Verified Verified
Group meets in Fayetteville, AR 72703
I specialize in working with complex trauma, Autism & ADHD, OCD, PMDD, and perinatal mood disorders.
From the moment we are born, our relational experiences with family, community, and nature become intimately intertwined with our physical and psychological development. Sometimes, in childhood or adulthood, life and relationships get messy and we come out of balance. I love walking alongside people who are recovering from the complexities of trauma and attachment wounds. In sessions, we explore and work to strengthen internal relationships among parts of self and then organically bring that healing and compassion outwards to help make everyday life a bit more fulfilling and in alignment with your sense of authenticity.
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Autism Support Groups
What is the most effective treatment for autism?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has come to be considered the standard treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder, and research has confirmed its effectiveness for many children. Therapists trained in ABA techniques work with children (and their parents) on developing social skills, communication and learning abilities, and everyday habits of hygiene and grooming. The clinician will tailor their program to the child’s particular need but the overarching goal will be to help them advance as far as possible toward independence based on their level of symptoms and decrease the need for additional special services. Families should seek a mental health professional specifically trained in ABA, and holding special certification in the technique, who has extensive experience not only with the approach but in using it with children with the same level of symptoms as the child who needs care.
How does ABA work?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) sessions, which typically focus on positive reinforcement, can be intensive, lasting two or more hours several times a week, and continuing for two years or more. Therapists can also be expected to ask parents to take an active role in reinforcing lessons. Research has found that the technique can lead to major improvements that decrease the need for additional special services.
How does treatment for autism work?
Therapy sessions based on Applied Behavior Analysis will likely be frequent, intensive, and highly structured. After a thorough assessment, a therapist will help a child understand and develop skills in a range of areas, including communication, motor skills, social skills, self-care, play, and academic skills, as well as routines of daily living like hygiene. Typically, the therapist will help a child break down the components of a behavior—often referred to as the antecedent (what prompts an action), the behavior, and the consequence(what immediately follows)—and then reward the child at every step, while also asking parents to reinforce the lessons, and the rewards, throughout the day. This core therapy may be supplemented by occupational or speech therapy, and antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants may be prescribed to address specific severe symptoms.
How long does therapy for autism take?
Some people with autism spectrum disorder may be engaged in some level of therapy for many years, but research shows that treatment will be most effective if it is begun early and delivered intensively. When therapy begins by age 3, children tend to be better able to grasp and adopt the skills needed to manage everyday life, including attending school and establishing social relationships. This type of early-intervention treatment regimen is highly structured, typically involving 20 to 40 hours of one-on-one therapy per week, along with additional hours of engagement managed by parents, for a period of two years or more, although the duration of treatment is dependent on the child’s level of symptoms and pace of progress.