How We Help Teens With Autism Transition to Adulthood

Every parent wants their child to have a healthy and happy adulthood, and they do their best to provide them with the right tools and support. If your child is on the autism spectrum, you may need a little bit of help in transitioning them into the independence of adulthood, and we provide that here.

At Plymouth Psych Group, our team of experienced autism experts has designed a program that helps adolescents more easily navigate the journey toward adulthood, giving them the tools they need for success. Here’s a look at how our transition program can help give your child the best start in life.

Starting early

One of the keys to success when helping your child with an autism spectrum disorder or similar issue is to begin their transition in adolescence. Under the best of circumstances, adolescence can be a bumpy road as their bodies and minds transition from childhood into adulthood.

When a child is on the autism spectrum, these challenges can be amplified, especially when it comes to emotional and behavioral health.

We urge you to start as early as possible to prepare your child for adulthood, which is why our ideal participants are between the ages of 12 and 18.

The most common struggles

Adolescents with autism often find the changes that occur during puberty more difficult, which can lead to problems with:

• Increasing isolation
• Problems at school
• Mood swings
• Poor hygiene
• Misinterpreting others’s actions and words
• Conversational techniques
• Escapism, such as electronics

In severe cases, your child may struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts.

If not addressed early on, these issues can present significant hurdles in adulthood.

Transitioning with the right tools

If you recognize any of the behaviors or problems we outline above, these are the very challenges we address through our autism program. Our overriding goal is to help your child better regulate their emotions and to help them develop social skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

Using a combination of one-on-one counseling and group therapy, we endeavor to teach your child how to:

• Carry on appropriate conversations
• Identify emotions
• Develop coping skills to regulate emotions
• Develop meaningful friendships
• Handle bullying or teasing
• Understand and use humor appropriately
• Manage conflict
• Regulate coping mechanisms, such as electronics use

This type of programming is designed to help adolescents better manage the early transitions in life, such as entering high school or college.

Who’s a good candidate

As we’ve already mentioned, this program is designed for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18. We also only accept those kids who have sufficient verbal and cognitive skills to participate in group settings.

Lastly, we do ask that parents or guardians participate in this important process, so you receive the tools you need to help your child better navigate life’s transitions.

If you’d like to explore whether your child may benefit from our autism program, please contact our office in Plymouth, Minnesota, to set up a consultation.