Expert Autism Support in Virginia
If you’re looking for autism support in Virginia, you’re in the right place!
Autism itself is not a disease to be treated. It’s a neurotype, meaning it’s a specific type of processing information, learning, communicating, and interacting with the world. If you or your child is Autistic, it’s important to know that there is nothing that needs to be “fixed.” There are challenges that need to be coped with.
The Challenges of Autism
The world is designed for neurotypical people. All social rules (make eye contact when speaking, shake someone’s hand when you greet them, don’t fidget in your seat, etc.) are based on how neurotypical people experience the world. This means that people who are neurodivergent (e.g. Autistic), may be perceived as odd, or may be expected to perform social gestures that make them uncomfortable.
Autism affects social interaction and communication to varying degrees. Some people on the spectrum can make themselves follow social rules and communicate in a way that is perceived as “normal.” Others cannot fit into the expected social mold. While many people who are autistic can mask and learn to fit in, it typically comes at the price of exhaustion, irritability, and overwhelm. Those who cannot mask often experience social isolation and loneliness.
Some people with autism may also experience difficulty with verbal communication, irritability, anger, and emotional outbursts. These behaviors can come and go, or they can be present most of the time.
Verbal Communication
Some people on the spectrum can communicate verbally without any problems – in fact, many people are told they talk too much! Others may experience nonverbal periods, especially when they are overwhelmed or overstimulated. Some people on the spectrum are not verbal at all and use adaptive tools to communicate. Wherever you or your loved one fall on the spectrum of verbal communication, it’s important to remember that verbalization is not an indicator of intelligence. Some people will wrongly interpret being nonverbal as having a cognitive impairment. While cognitive impairment can co-occur with autism, being nonverbal in and of itself is not an indicator of cognitive abilities.
Irritability
Irritability is a common challenge for people with autism. Whether it’s due to being overstimulated, overwhelmed, or excess excitability neurotransmitters in the brain, some people on the spectrum feel like they’re always on edge or ready to snap at people. If that describes you or your loved one, know there is help available. Lifestyle coaching, supplements, nutrition, and medications can all help to decrease irritability and increase feelings of calm.
Socialization
Many people on the spectrum enjoy socializing, some for long periods of time and others for short bursts. Some people are extroverts and others are introverts. Some people have tons of friends and others have 1 or 2 close friends. There is no one way to be autistic, and socialization looks different for everyone on the spectrum. What everyone on the spectrum has in common is that they have some aspect of socialization that they struggle with. This may be reading and understanding body language, understanding social cues, intuiting unspoken meaning behind communication, or participating in back-and-forth conversations. Everyone on the spectrum has some aspect of socialization that doesn’t align with the neurotypical experience and expectation.
Support for Autism
Support looks different for everyone. Right now, we classify support needs into three categories: high, moderate, and low. Low support needs might look like needing space and quiet after a day with co-workers, or it may look like needing a friend or partner to help interpret social cues while at a party. Moderate support needs may look like accommodations at school or work, or having a partner take care of organizing all your child’s play dates. High support might look like need communication aides or live in assistance. Your support needs change, sometimes moment to moment, so these levels are very general and mostly helpful to ensure children get the support they need in school. We don’t have great language to describe what supports autistic adults need, which makes it even more important to ensure your support is tailored specially to you.
Therapy and Coaching Support
Support may look like therapy or coaching, both of which can help you develop skills and processes to make your life easier. If you’re not sure which is right for you, check out my coaching and therapy pages to learn more about each service.
Medication Support
Some people with autism need medication support in order to live their best lives. Medication is targeted towards the symptoms you find most troublesome, which may be irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression, or a number of other emotional challenges. There is no one size fits all approach to medication.
Lifestyle Support
Lifestyle support may include nutrition counseling, career coaching, socialization practice, or preparing to move out on your own. Just like medications, there is no one size fits all support – your treatment plan must be tailored to your specific needs.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in getting support for your unique needs, schedule an appointment with Tabitha. Tabitha serves clients via telehealth in Virginia and also offers coaching services to those in other states in the US.
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