Understanding and Supporting Autistic Individuals
Being autistic in a predominantly neurotypical world presents unique challenges and experiences that require specialized understanding and support. At Polaris Psychology, we recognize autism as a neurological difference rather than a deficit to be corrected.
Whether you’re a parent seeking support for your autistic child, a teenager trying to understand yourself better, or an adult recently diagnosed or exploring the possibility of autism, our therapy provides practical guidance while honoring the distinctive ways autistic minds process the world.
We understand that autism affects every aspect of daily life–from sensory processing and communication to social relationships and executive functioning. Our approach focuses on building on existing strengths while developing practical strategies for areas that present ongoing challenges.
Understanding Autism as Neurological Difference
The Autism spectrum affects how individuals process sensory information, communicate with others, and navigate social environments. From a neurodiversity perspective, these differences in brain wiring bring distinct ways of thinking, perceiving, and interacting with the world that have both advantages and challenges in different contexts.
Autistic individuals often demonstrate incredible strengths, including:
- Remarkable attention to detail
- Deep focus on areas of interest
- Logical and systematic thinking
- Authentic communication styles
At the same time, they may experience difficulties with:
- Sensory processing
- Changes in routine
- Social communication expectations
- Executive functioning demands
Rather than attempting to eliminate autistic traits, our autism therapy services focus on understanding each person’s unique autism profile and developing strategies that allow them to thrive while remaining authentically themselves.
Compassionate, Neurodiversity-Affirming Psychologists
Partner with licensed experts who understand and honor the autistic experience.
Finding the right fit for autism therapy is an essential first step. Our clinical team is deeply committed to providing care that honors your unique experiences rather than pathologizing them. Whether you are seeking ongoing therapy or a formal evaluation, our licensed psychologists work collaboratively with you to identify your natural strengths and navigate your specific challenges.
Amanda Mead, Psy.D.
Dr. Amanda Mead specializes in providing ongoing therapy and comprehensive autism assessments for individuals across the spectrum. Her work focuses on helping clients develop communication skills, sensory regulation strategies, and social understanding. While she frequently works with autistic men, she has extensive experience supporting autistic women and girls: a population whose presentation is often misunderstood or goes unrecognized. She also has particular expertise in supporting individuals with late diagnoses, helping them navigate how masking impacts their mental health.
Ashley Welch, Psy.D.
Dr. Ashley Welch offers highly individualized autism therapy services tailored to each client’s specific needs. She specializes in creating treatment approaches that address individual challenges while actively building on a person’s unique strengths and interests. Dr. Welch’s clinical experience includes working with autistic individuals across a wide range of support needs, from those requiring intensive daily assistance to those living independently. She also brings specialized expertise in addressing co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, that commonly accompany autism.
Amanda Mead, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Amanda Mead specializes in providing ongoing therapy and comprehensive autism assessments for individuals across the spectrum. Her work focuses on helping clients develop communication skills, sensory regulation strategies, and social understanding. While she frequently works with autistic men, she has extensive experience supporting autistic women and girls: a population whose presentation is often misunderstood or goes unrecognized. She also has particular expertise in supporting individuals with late diagnoses, helping them navigate how masking impacts their mental health.
Ashley Welch, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Ashley Welch offers highly individualized autism therapy services tailored to each client’s specific needs. She specializes in creating treatment approaches that address individual challenges while actively building on a person’s unique strengths and interests. Dr. Welch’s clinical experience includes working with autistic individuals across a wide range of support needs, from those requiring intensive daily assistance to those living independently. She also brings specialized expertise in addressing co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, that commonly accompany autism.
Independently Verified Clinical Excellence
Our psychologists are verified by leading clinical directories and credentialing boards.
Common Areas We Address in Autism Therapy
Our methods are specifically adapted for autistic individuals, taking into account differences in social communication, sensory processing, and information processing that are characteristic of autism spectrum presentations. Whether you are seeking child autism therapy or navigating therapy for late diagnosed autism, we tailor our focus to the areas that matter most to your daily life.
Communication Development
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication: Developing communication skills that work for each individual, whether through spoken language, augmentative communication systems, or alternative communication methods.
- Social Communication: Understanding pragmatic language, non-verbal cues, conversation skills, and the unwritten rules of social interaction.
- Self-Advocacy: Learning to communicate needs, preferences, and boundaries effectively across different settings.
Social Understanding and Relationships
Social Skills Training: Building understanding of social expectations, friendship skills, and relationship navigation through direct instruction and practice.
Perspective-Taking: Developing theory of mind skills and understanding how others think and feel in social situations.
Peer Interactions: Learning strategies for making and maintaining friendships, handling conflicts, and participating in group activities.
Sensory Processing and Regulation
Sensory Profile Assessment: Identifying individual sensory preferences, sensitivities, and seeking behaviors across all sensory systems.
Regulation Strategies: As a core component of autism sensory therapy, we focus on developing personalized tools for managing sensory overwhelm, seeking appropriate sensory input, and creating supportive sensory environments.
Environmental Modifications: Learning to adapt environments to support sensory needs in home, school, and community settings
Managing Change and Transitions
Routine Development: Creating predictable structures and routines that provide security while building flexibility for necessary changes.
Transition Support: Developing strategies for handling daily transitions, major life changes, and unexpected disruptions to routine.
Coping with Uncertainty: Building tolerance for ambiguity and developing problem-solving skills for novel situations.
Repetitive Behaviors and Special Interests
Understanding Functions: Recognizing the purposes that repetitive behaviors and special interests serve for regulation, learning, and enjoyment.
Channeling Interests: Using special interests as motivation for learning, social connection, and potential career development.
Managing Intensity: Developing strategies for when repetitive behaviors or intense interests interfere with daily functioning or social situations.
Executive Functioning and Daily Living
Organization and Planning: Developing systems for time management, task completion, and daily routines that work with autistic thinking patterns.
Independence Skills: Building practical life skills appropriate to developmental level and individual goals.
Problem-Solving: Developing flexible thinking skills and strategies for approaching new or challenging situations.
How We Approach Autism Therapy
Our approach to autism therapy is grounded in evidence-based practices while maintaining a deeply neurodiversity-affirming perspective. We recognize that effective intervention for autism requires understanding each person’s individual communication style, sensory profile, and learning patterns.
Core Elements of Our Approach
- Individualized Support: We focus on understanding each person's unique autism presentation, strengths, and challenge areas.
- Communication-Focused: We prioritize developing authentic communication skills that work for the individual rather than forcing neurotypical communication patterns.
- Sensory-Informed: We address sensory processing differences and develop personalized regulation strategies, incorporating elements of sensory therapy to help you feel grounded.
- Social Understanding: We build social skills through direct teaching and practice in a highly supportive environment.
- Routine and Structure: We help individuals develop organizational systems and effective coping strategies for navigating changes and transitions.
- Family-Centered: When appropriate, we involve families and support systems in meaningful, age-appropriate ways.
- Strength-Based: We actively identify and build on individual interests, abilities, and natural learning styles.
- Practical Skills: We focus on real-world applications that improve daily functioning and foster independence.
See If Our Autism Therapy Is Right for You
We are currently accepting new clients and have a psychologist ready to meet with you by telehealth in
What to Expect in Online Autism Therapy
Our online autism therapy sessions are specifically designed to be accessible and comfortable for autistic individuals of all ages. Many of our clients find that engaging in autism therapy at home provides a familiar environment that reduces anxiety and sensory overwhelm, allowing for more authentic therapeutic work.
Your Therapy Experience:
- Initial Sessions: We begin by understanding each person’s unique autistic experience, goals for therapy, and any accommodations that would make our sessions most effective.
- Collaborative Approach: We work together to develop strategies and insights, always honoring the individual’s expertise about their own experience while providing professional support and perspective. With younger clients, we balance individual autonomy with family involvement.
- Flexible Structure: Our sessions can be adapted to different communication styles, attention spans, and developmental needs. Some clients prefer more structured conversations, while others benefit from less traditional therapeutic approaches.
- Family Involvement: When working with children and teens, we provide guidance and support for families while ensuring the autistic individual remains at the center of their own care. We also offer family sessions and parent support as needed.
- Between-Session Support: We can provide resources, strategies, and check-ins between sessions to support ongoing growth and development, including materials that families can use at home.
- Sensory Considerations: Online therapy for autism allows individuals to control their sensory environment, use fidgets or stims as needed, and engage in therapy in whatever way feels most comfortable.
Where We Provide Telehealth Autism Therapy
Yes, we are currently accepting new clients and have a psychologist ready to meet with you by telehealth in
Our telehealth platform is HIPAA-compliant and designed to provide the same quality of therapeutic relationship as in-person sessions while offering the convenience and accessibility that works best for for many of our clients.
We offer online Autism Therapy in these states
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that beginning autism therapy can raise a lot of questions. Below, you’ll find answers to common questions we hear. If you need more information or have specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Q: Do I need an autism diagnosis to begin therapy?
A: No, you do not need a formal autism diagnosis to begin therapy. Many of our clients are exploring whether they might be autistic, and therapy can be a valuable part of that self-discovery process.
Q: How is autism therapy different from regular therapy?
A: Our autism therapy is specifically adapted for neurodivergent clients across all age groups. This includes understanding sensory needs, communication differences, and the unique challenges autistic individuals face at different developmental stages. We also use a neurodiversity-affirming approach that doesn’t pathologize autism and involves families appropriately based on the individual’s age and needs.
Q: Will we only talk about my childhood, or will I learn practical skills for my relationships today?
A: Our approach is integrative. While understanding your “attachment story” is important, a major focus is on building secure relationship skills for the present. This includes practical tools for emotional regulation during conflict, communicating your needs clearly, setting healthy boundaries, and building trust.
Q: Is online autism therapy as effective as in-person autism therapy?
A: Yes. Research shows that online therapy is just as effective as traditional in-person therapy for most needs. Many of our clients find telehealth is ideal for autism work. It allows you to engage in this exploration from the comfort and familiarity of your own safe space, which can make it easier to process the added stress of a new environment. We provide the same quality of care and depth of connection as in-person sessions.
Q: How much does a session cost, and do you take insurance?
A: Each 53-minute session is $250. We do not accept insurance directly, but we can provide you with the necessary documentation (a “superbill”) to submit to your provider for potential out-of-network reimbursement. We also accept FSA/HSA accounts.
Getting Started with Autism Therapy
Beginning therapy can feel daunting, especially if you or your family member have had negative experiences with mental health services in the past. We invite you to schedule a free, no-pressure initial consultation where we can start with a simple conversation about your specific needs, goals, and any accommodations that would make therapy most effective for you. We are completely committed to making this process as accessible and comfortable as possible.