Treatment of the neurobiological developmental disorder ASD focuses on optimizing daily functioning as well as mitigating negative symptoms.
ASD can also have positive effects, such as a conspicuous interest in solving complex problems, reacting coolly and decisively in crisis situations, and so on. Applying these characteristics in the right context will have a very beneficial effect on your optimal functioning.
In our guidance, we will emphasize the positive aspects in order to make optimal use of them in a way that you control.
Furthermore, the Walsha approach includes a comprehensive treatment program consisting of a combination of psychoeducation (from personal psychodiagnostic results) and a cognitive-behavioral approach, supplemented by specific techniques where necessary.
Special attention is paid to the emotional experience and how to deal with it.
Learn more about ASD on our Diagnosis page.
Characteristics of ASD include functioning differently in the areas of:
- Social contact, especially in social reciprocity
- The Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
- Limited repertoire of interests and activities
Confronting the diagnosis of ASD in adulthood is profound and enlightening at the same time. This for yourself but also for your partner or other family members.
First, it is important to identify and address the positive effects. When applied correctly, these positive effects can help you as an adult in certain areas.
Through psychoeducation and talk therapy, initial work is done on acceptance of this enduring vulnerability. These conversations may take place, with your permission, in the presence of a confidant (partner, parent, close friend or person involved). Acceptance and awareness takes some time. So we give this the space it needs.
To enable social reciprocity, it is important to pay due attention to the emotional experience. This in yourself and then how to interpret them in others. In this way, you will initially learn to deal with your own emotions differently which will result in less frustration and anger. After this, we learn the behavior patterns that best fit it. At the same time, we make sure you learn how to evaluate, question and adjust your behavior and communication accordingly based on how people around you react to what you say or do.
Language is often understood literally by you. Facial expressions, body language and social cues often don’t work. Thinking in abstract terms is also often not easy for you. In terms of communication, this is a fairly technical matter in terms of therapy. We teach you how to have a conversation. Specific questions and answers. In particular, learning to verify that everything is well understood is part of the toolbox.
We pay ample attention to basic needs that all too often go unmet. Are we thinking of relationship, sex, friendship and so on. Together we will work to help you do this. On the one hand, you learn to develop the necessary skills to acquire what you need. On the other hand, we explore how it can practically have a place in your life.
We redefine identity and the positive attributes that help define it. In short, you will learn to get the best out of yourself!
In the workplace… Occupational problems are addressed with the greatest effectiveness in the workplace itself. For this, we move (as far as possible) to your workplace to work with real-life situations through a direct approach. These are identified, patterns are uncovered, communication skills are honed, and then very targeted work can be done to change behavior. Management, supervisors and close colleagues can be involved with your permission, so that your process can be supported as broadly as possible and your workplace no longer forms an obstacle, e.g. by adapting movement possibilities, variation in tasks and support in time management, planning, organization and administration.
For counseling children and adolescents, it is a strict condition for Walsha that both parents (and plus parents where necessary) are willing to actively participate in the counseling process.
Children with ASD often experience great misunderstanding from those around them and can feel very vulnerable as a result. Children with autism have difficulty interacting with others because social rules are very variable (depending on the context) and invisible. Moreover, both understanding of what others feel and think and seeing through social situations are very limited. This gives them a lot of labels: stubborn, behaviorally disturbed, rude, eccentric, bizarre, selfish, strange, …
It is therefore also important that they learn about this as early as possible (reliable and valid diagnosis, see our page
Diagnosis
).
Tailored to the child, work is done on understanding the underlying disorder, acceptance of own limitations, adjustment of behavior and self-image and also awareness of the positive traits that ASD carries.
We work on the same topics as with adults. The main difference is in the methodology and techniques that will be adapted to the age of the child. Destructive or non-helpful patterns are uncovered, new skills are taught so that the child learns to respond differently to certain situations. As a result, the child rediscovers himself, his talents and his potential and learns to be the best he can be.
To this end, various therapeutic techniques are combined, tailored to the child’s age. This includes play therapeutic, relaxation and behavioral work.
Attention is also paid to the various contexts in which the child or young person engages, namely the family (and wider family), school and any external activities. Parents, siblings, teachers, care coordinators, staff from the CLB and support network, … all involved parties with whom we collaborate (subject to parental/guardian consent) to drive our counseling even more powerfully. Most effective is working on-site for such things as focused observations, experiential exchanges, psychoeducation and providing tools to respond appropriately to the child’s (problem) behavior.
The ASD traits always have a direct and profound impact on the family. A counseling program is complete only when working with the entire family. With regard to insights into negative family dynamics, understanding personal frustrations, division of attention and so on, new interactions are discussed and implemented. We pay attention to the place each family member deserves and make sure destructive coalitions disappear. This is how the family will function most optimally.
Living with a partner with ASD is quite a challenge. How does the ASD affect your relationship? Should you just accept it or should you also do something with it? What to do and what better not to do? Know that your partner, too, is probably left with many unanswered questions. Psychoeducation is appropriate here, together or separately. Then we will work with you to create the desired change in the way the ASD gains visibility in your daily lives.
Where appropriate, we work with group sessions, which include exchanges of experience, recognition and new ideas.
Medication is primarily aimed at symptom relief. However, medication alone is not enough. It is only one part of a much broader and sustained care pathway. In many cases, medication-assisted interventions are indicated to promote adherence and thus treatment effectiveness.
Medications can also have unwanted effects. Only a specialized physician can decide on dosage and further monitoring. When using medications, risk assessment regarding substance abuse and inappropriate use is always recommended.