Outpatient Psychotherapy Program
Nationwide Children's Hospital's Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders Outpatient Psychotherapy Program provides services to children and teens, ages 8-18 years, with autism spectrum disorder. Services focus on the well-being of the patient and family, including mental health and social skills supports.
Our team includes a psychologist, counselors and social workers, and resource clinicians who specialize in supporting individuals who have been diagnosed with both autism and a mental health diagnosis (such as anxiety or depression).
We offer therapy in one-on-one, family and group formats as well as caregiver training services. Treatment is provided in the office and by telehealth.
Individual Services
- Focuses on an individualized approach to modify difficult interaction patterns and reduce mild problem behavior
- Provides 10 individual caregiver training sessions using Teen Triple P ®
- Complements the Teen Triple P group service
- Focuses on supporting caregivers and families of those involved in CASD services to improve family communication patterns and relationships
- Provides therapy through cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, family systems, and trauma-informed frameworks
- Includes caregiver-only sessions, family therapy sessions, and sibling support
- Focuses on improving mental health and social emotional concerns for individuals with ASD without intellectual or language impairment*
- Provides individual therapy using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training and gender-affirming care
- Includes caregiver support and training, mental health crisis support, and collaboration with other treatment providers and Nationwide Children’s Behavioral Health teams
- Learn more about programs that we collaborate with:
*If you are seeking programs for individuals with ASD with intellectual disability, click here to learn more about Adolescent Transition Program adaptive counseling.
- Focuses on helping families navigate special education services, understand options for intervention, and self-advocate for school-based supports
- Provides caregiver consultation sessions and advocacy and support at school meetings
Group Services
The Outpatient Psychotherapy Program offers both psychotherapy and social skills groups for individuals with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual or language impairments. Groups may be offered in youth-only, caregiver-only, and multi-family formats. Groups are offered on a rotating basis throughout the year.
- 12-week group for youth ages 8-14 and their caregivers
- Focuses on supporting children and young teens in conquering their fears in order to participate more fully in home, school, and community life
- Provides psychotherapy and interventions to engage children with age-appropriate strategies for defeating anxieties
- 8-week group for girls on the Autism Spectrum, offered by age group (10-13, 14-18)
- Focuses on learning about ASD symptoms, emotional awareness and self-regulation, relationships, self-esteem, body image, and peer pressure/bullying
- Provides an opportunity for girls to explore the unique ways ASD shows up in females and to give and receive support
- 12-week group for youth, offered by age group (12-14, 15-18)
- Focuses on developing basic knowledge and skills for problem solving, emotion management, and social skills through a cognitive behavioral therapy approach
- Pulls from evidence-based models including elements of PEERS ® and Skillstreaming ®
- 9-week group for youth, offered by age group (9-11, 12-14, 15-18)
- Focuses on supporting children and youth with ASD to build resilience
- Includes development of several competencies: to take initiative, modulate emotions and behavior, connect to peers and maintain relationships, and engage in activities of interest
- 10-week group for youth ages 8-11
- Focuses on building knowledge and skills regarding emotional concepts, coping skills, friendship concepts, and social problem solving
- Provides homework activities using a multi-level computer game to introduce social skill topics and practice skills learned in group
- 7-week group for caregivers of children with ASD
- Focuses on building positive solutions collaboratively with other caregivers
- Includes building caregiver self-care kits, group brainstorming of solutions, creative visualization, exploration of strengths, and more
- Provides opportunity to connect with other caregivers in a safe and encouraging environment
- 6-week group for caregivers of children ages 6-11
- Includes individual family follow-up sessions
- Focuses on preventing and treating behavioral and emotional challenges in children with ASD by:
- Teaching strategies to prevent problems in the family, school, and community
- Creating family environments that encourage children to realize their potential
- Topics discussed include:
- Positive parenting
- Managing problem behavior
- Encouraging appropriate behavior
- 6-week group for caregivers of youth ages 12+
- Focuses on preventing and treating behavioral and emotional challenges in adolescents and young adults by:
- Teaching strategies to prevent problems in the family, school, and community
- Creating family environments that encourage children to realize their potential
- Topics discussed include:
- Positive parenting
- Managing problem behavior
- Encouraging appropriate behavior
- Dealing with risky behavior specific to teenagers
Crisis Support
If you have concerns about serious injury to your child or others, call 911. Please review the "Crisis Information" tab here for mental health crisis support resources.
