Blog Category: ASD
Talking to Kids about Death
By: Juno Elsa Ottathengil, MSW Practicum Student & Janelle Schenk, LMSW
January 12, 2024
We discuss how parents and clinicians can talk to kids about the loss of a loved one in an age-appropriate manner, as well as a few clinical interventions used to help kids cope with grief and a list of online grief support resources that may be helpful for kids and their families.
Ways to De-Stress for Individuals with Autism
By: Christine Charpie, MSW Intern and Janelle Schenk, LMSW
December 22, 2023
This blog aims to share helpful, evidence-based strategies for managing stress that are inclusive of and relevant to the real-world experiences of people on the autism spectrum.
Going to the Dentist
By: Nicole Gegas, TLLP, & Janelle Schenk, LMSW
December 15, 2023
Going to the dentist can be stressful and scary for any child or parent. This blog gives tips, resources and recommendations for children with special needs.
Trauma, Poverty, and ASD
By: Yadira Estrada, MSW Intern and Janelle Schenk, LMSW
November 10, 2023
Due to the complexities of Autism, there is often an underdiagnosis and undertreatment of trauma and symptoms of adverse events among individuals with ASD. This blog post will outline information collected by authors, Ella Lobregt-van Buuren, Marjolijn Hoekert, and Bram Sizoo.
Social Skills Interventions
By: Juno Elsa Ottathengil, MSW Practicum Student & Janelle Schenk, LMSW
November 3, 2023
This blog will further expand on the purpose and benefits of social skills interventions, the types of social skills interventions utilized at Sunfield Center, and the effectiveness of those social skills interventions.
Child-Centered Play Therapy
By: Lio Riley, B.A.
September 29, 2023
Play therapy is a broad field with many different interventions designed to address a broad range of concerns and experiences. This blog provides information about Child-Centered Play Therapy, a kind of play therapy that allows the child to take charge of their own therapeutic process with the specialized support and facilitation of a CCPT therapist.
Managing Behavior at Home: An Update to Naguib and Kurtz (2004)
By: Andi Stephens, MS, MA, BCBA/LBA, TLLP
September 22, 2023
Caregiver-child relationships are unique, complex, and intense in nature. Difficulties can arise when the caregiver is unsure how to handle the child’s challenging behaviors. This blog post will cover common challenging behavioral concerns experienced by children, tips to manage behaviors at home, and when to seek professional help.
Expressive Therapy in Behavioral Health
By: Yexenia Vanegas, MSW Intern and Janelle Schenk, LMSW
September 15, 2023
Expressive therapy is an integrative psychotherapeutic process that explores and communicates emotions, thoughts, and experiences through creative expression. In this blog post, we will delve into the different types of expressive therapies, their functions, and the research supporting their effectiveness in behavioral health settings.
Job Accommodations
By: Andrea Stephens, MA, MS, TLLP; Janelle Schenk, LMSW
August 25, 2023
Job accommodations are adjustments to a job or work environment that make it possible for individuals with disabilities to perform their job functions. We discuss here how employees and employers can determine if an employee has a disability that warrants job accommodations, will provide a discussion on reasonable accommodations, and will conclude with a helpful resource for all things job accommodations.
Art Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Reviewing the Literature
By: Yexenia Vanegas, MSW Intern and Janelle Schenk, LMSW
August 18, 2023
Art therapy is a nonverbal form of therapy that uses art materials and creative expression to promote emotional healing and personal growth. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of art therapy as a therapeutic intervention for children and youth with ASD. This blog will explore the benefits of art therapy for children and youth with ASD, drawing on recent research.
ASD and Friendships
By: Juno Elsa Ottathengil, MSW Practicum Student & Janelle Schenk, LMSW
August 10, 2023
Friendships are an essential part of life. They can help humans find purpose and meaning, as well as grow socially. However, friendship building can be a complex skill for many individuals to develop. Read on to learn the importance of friendships, the benefits of friendship building, the challenges of friendship building, and ways for autistic individuals to build and enhance friendships.
Update: Finding ASD in Girls Who Camouflage
By: Yadira Estrada, MSW Intern, Rachel Piper, LMSW, & Suzi Naguib, Psy.D.
August 3, 2023
Presently, for approximately every 4 boys diagnosed with ASD, only 1 girl is diagnosed. One reason to explain this sex/gender disparity is a concept known as camouflaging, a strategy individuals on the autism spectrum use to blend in with their social environment and conceal their autism symptoms to appear “non-autistic.”