PSYCHOTHERAPY

At Spectrum Partners, we work to help our clients improve their happiness, productivity, and sense of fulfillment. We help them reach new insights, enabling them to see things from different perspectives and empowering them to make new choices. We see each client as a whole individual, utilizing an active and collaborative approach. We tailor evidenced-based strategies to best meet the needs of each client.

DEPRESSION

Unfortunately, depression is extremely common among individuals with autism and their family members. Depression causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest. We all experience these feelings from time to time, but depression requires treatment when its intensity and frequency cause high levels of distress or interfere with functioning. The good news is that there are many biological and psychological treatments for depression (and related mood disorders). These may include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. At the Spectrum Center, our therapists utilize a variety of techniques, including mindfulness, emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral strategies.

ANXIETY

Anxiety is an adaptive physiological, cognitive, and emotional reaction that alerts/orients one to imminent or approaching danger/threat. It mobilizes internal resources to respond to that danger/threat (fight or flight response). Anxiety becomes maladaptive when its intensity, frequency, and/or irrationality causes distress or interferes with functioning.

Anxiety can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the individual client. Some of these may include mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral therapy, psycho-education, social skills training, emotion regulation techniques and medication.

MINDFULNESS

At the Spectrum Center, we understand the stress that autism can bring both to the individual affected and his or her family. That is why we believe in mindfulness, a state of open and active attention on the present. When you are mindful, you focus on your thoughts and emotions in the present, rather than ruminating on the past or feeling anxious about the future. We use mindfulness techniques with our clients with autism to help promote self-regulation, alleviate anxiety and depression, and encourage centered focus. We also work with their family members on mindfulness to reduce stress, increase productivity, and promote clarity and balance. Mindfulness practice helps to alleviate a variety of mental and physical conditions and symptoms. We believe that it is crucial to examine the root causes of emotional dysregulation and imbalance by considering the entire environment with which we interact. We use mindfulness with our clients to empower them to confront challenges head-on rather than trying to avoid difficult realities.