|
Director's Corner
Rachel Rothwell, LCSWC
A Clinician's Reflection During Autism Acceptance Month
One of the most rewarding experiences in therapy is working with families that have children with Autism. In some way, you act like a trapeze artist, who balances the intricacies involved in promoting skills in the child, while helping the caregivers expand their parenting skills.
There is truly no one size fits all approach. What works best for one family is never the same for the next. Yet, nothing offers a greater reward than listening.
When I first started work as a clinician, listening was hard because I wanted to dive right into resource allocation. But I soon learned that families with children on the spectrum are often inundated with resources. They really just need to be heard. Listening offers benefits to the children and the caregivers by bringing to the forefront the needs that will support the entire family to function more smoothly.
Chunking information into smaller parts is also important. With so much information floating around on the internet, it can be hard for parents to understand when to seek support. Breaking down information so that families are not overwhelmed helps families feel a greater sense of success. Because of innovations in testing, many families are receiving Autism diagnoses at early ages. This represents an exceptional opportunity for families because the earlier intervention is applied, the better outcomes for the children.
During this Autism Acceptance Month, I truly count myself among the lucky ones to work with such unique children and families. I also celebrate the clinicians who work side by side with some of the most unique children in the world.
Parents that desire more information about Autism can visit:
| 
