Parenting a Teen with Autism Group

Parenting any teenager can be challenging. Developing more of an “attitude,” thinking they know everything already, managing the changes that come with puberty, and navigating the increasingly complex social dynamics, are all common challenges many parents face when it comes to feeling confident supporting their teenager. For teens with an autism diagnosis, all of this can often make parenting even more complicated.

It can be hard to know what’s best for your teen. You know you want them to feel connected to you and to their peers, but oftentimes that can be a challenge. Perhaps you want to encourage your teen to get out of their comfort zone, but don’t want to ‘force’ them into doing things they aren’t interested in. Maybe you feel unsupported by others around you, or even by your spouse. Nobody really knows what it is like for you and the unique challenges your teen may be facing, so perhaps the advice-giving and ideas are just not feeling helpful.

It is a common experience to feel as a parent that “I’m not doing enough.” Another experience is that you give so much time, energy, and support to everyone around you, especially your teen, but find yourself running on empty. Parenting can be exhausting, and much of the time, challenges as a parent can lead to feeling more isolated and alone.

In this group, our aim is to develop a safe place to support each other and connect with one another’s experiences. Rather than just being a place for advice-giving or problem-solving, the ultimate goal of this group is to provide space to help parents feel more empowered, recognize the strengths they already offer to their teens, and find ways to deepen their understanding of their teen and connect more deeply.

If you are interested in joining this group, sign up for your free group screening today. In this group screening, you will meet with the group facilitator, Dr. Danial, learn more about this group, and share your goals for the group. At the end of the group screening, you will be able to decide if this is the right group for you.

Interpersonal Process Group

Life can feel so isolating. Sure, you may be surrounded by people–family, some friends, colleagues–but still, it’s so easy to feel disconnected from those around you. 

You may notice how often you worry what others must be thinking of you, or perhaps you notice how much you judge yourself. Maybe you struggle to communicate how you feel to others, or tend to get anxious around people. You might notice yourself getting irritated with others easily or feeling personally attacked much of the time. All of these examples are common ways our own responses can get in the way of how we connect with others. 

As humans, we all long for connection, and unfortunately, we all have learned patterns that get in the way of that connection. We fall into “roles” that we find incomplete or unsatisfying. Maybe you feel like you are the “giver,” in your relationships but feel you don’t get that in return. Perhaps you’ve been so hurt that you struggle to trust others. You may find that you are so self-critical, that you deflect compliments or love from others. 

Our interpersonal patterns are so strongly developed in us that often we lack awareness of our own tendencies–or even when we are aware, struggle to make the changes we desire. That is exactly what our interpersonal process group is designed to address. This group will help you:

• Relate better with others by communicating with vulnerability 
• Recognize where your interpersonal patterns come from and learn to move forward from past hurt
• Truly embrace your unique strengths and qualities
• Set healthy boundaries, communicate your needs/emotions, and manage conflict
• Feel secure in your relationships rather than anxious or resentful
• Connect with others more deeply

What to expect from the Interpersonal Process Group:

This group is intentionally kept small with a maximum of 9 members and two group leaders. The group is also “closed” which means that there will not be members coming in and out of the group. This setup allows for group members to grow more comfortable with one another and helps create a safe space for growth. 

What is an interpersonal process group? 

This group allows for growth and healing in a way that produces quicker, and sometimes more impactful change than in individual therapy. The reason for this is that the group itself creates an environment for relationship patterns to emerge and for members to start to better understand their own selves in the context of a group. This allows members to feel seen, validated, and supported in an authentic way, which then leads to more confidence living as your authentic self in the world. 

A core component of a process group like this one is that things will be brought up in the present time. Instead of only focusing on what has happened in the past or worries about the future, the main focus of a process group is to focus on the “here and now.” When you can receive support, validation, and feedback on what you are experiencing in the moment, you can really begin to notice how you show up with others. 

Rather than live with a critical assumption of how others see you, you can begin to trust that most of that judgment isn’t actually happening from others. Instead, you get to experience being seen for who you truly are.

Middle School Social Skills Group

As a parent, you realize the importance of your middle schooler feeling socially accepted. But this can be a tricky process, especially with the increasingly complex social dynamics that we see around middle school. So often, self-consciousness, difficulty managing impulses, worry about friendships, and inappropriate social behaviors can make it difficult to not only make friends, but also to maintain friendships.

In our middle school social skills group, we will create a safe and supportive space for your child to learn, discuss, and practice social skills that will help them feel more confident navigating their social world. We will explore common social difficulties at this age such as managing peer conflict, making meaningful friendships, and going out of our comfort zone. We will also be building confidence by practicing important social skills such as building assertiveness, communicating with peers, and appropriately expressing emotions within social relationships.

If you are interested in your middle schooler joining this group, sign up for your free group screening today. In this group screening, you will meet with one of the two group facilitators, learn more about this group, and share your goals for the group. Your child is also welcome to join for a portion of this meeting as well. At the end of the group screening, you will be able to decide if this is the right group for you.

Middle School Social Skills Group Facilitators:

Men’s Support Group Facilitators