Therapist fora Teen or Preteen with Autism

• Asperger's Teen Needs Therapist
• Therapist or psychiatrist for Asperger teen
• Therapist for 11yo son with Asperger's-like issues

Asperger's Teen Needs Therapist

Feb 2009

My highschooler has Asperger's and is in need of therapy (finally agreed to go) as well as educational therapy/help. Linda Lawton and Anastasia Kim were recommended in past posts but I can not locate either one. I would greatly appreciate any recommendations for therapists. Thank you all... mom

Anastasia Kim is on the faculty at the Wright Institute in Berkeley. I believe she also worked at the Orion Academy in Orinda, which serves kids with Aspergers' and autistic spectrum disorders. I am not sure if she does therapy. Ilene

Hi, Anastasia Kim can be reached through the Wright Institute in Berkeley at 510.841.9230 x 139, M-F, 9-5. Her specialization is working with children with Asperger's and she is currently available for new clients. Good luck with your search.

Contact Communication Works -- 510-639-2929. We had a great experience in a group for our teen. Recommending Communication Works

Try checking out Nancy Chin at www.stepbystep4success.com. She tutors students needing educational/organization needs. JC

Try Communication Works in Oakland. Their website is www.cwtherapy.com My teenage daughter went there for social groups, which were wonderful, and they also were able to recommend counselors to work with her seperately. Good luck!! Aspie Mom

For your teen, I highly recommend Communication Works Speech & Language Pathologists (cwtherapy.com). My HFA teen was reluctant at first, too..his uncertainty was eased by CW professionals' sensitive manner and expertise. They have comprehensive understanding & experience w/serving spectrum youth. My son attends a small group/dyad at CW & is making strides-in confidence & communication-thanks to their resourcefulness. Good luck! lize

Therapist or psychiatrist for Asperger teen

March 2007

Can anyone recommend a therapist or psychiatrist in the Berkeley area who is skilled in talk therapy for an older teen with Asperger's or Asperger-like challenges? Teen's Mom

I have just stumbled upon the probable Aspergers diagnosis for my 19 year old. I too am trying to find any local resources- support groups for families, programs for young adults. Please let me know if you have any leads. I will also be happy to share a possible solid lead re therapists. Please email me. Thank you and best wishes.

I recommend that you contact Dr. Fortunee Kayra-Stuart as a possible therapist for your teen age son who has Asperger's. She is highly experienced with working with teens on the autistic spectrum, and formerly served as chief psychologist at Children's Hospital. She can be reached at 510.526.9506 Kathy Sinsheimer, MFT

Anatasia Kim is an outstanding psychotherapist who has worked with many young people with Aspergers. She worked at the Orion Academy with students. She now has a practice at the Wright Institute in Berkeley. My son has had real success in working with Dr. Kim. Patti

Therapist for 11yo son with Asperger's-like issues

June 2006

We are looking for a therapist for our 11 year old son. He would like to see a man if possible, but is also open to seeing a woman. Would like someone warm and caring and insightful, who is familiar with Asperger's-like qualities and issues (social issues, anxiety, trouble with transition). Is anyone familiar with Dr. Richard Bloom, Jonathan Gross, John Sprinson? Thanks! Any referrals are greatly appreciated anon

We had a child see John Sprinson for testing and evaluation and for play therapy. He is warm, thoughtful, honest, and always calm and respectful. However, I cannot recommend his strongly psychodynamic approach for a child with Asperger-like issues. His initial evaluation missed the mark. While it presents the same raw data that later led a neuropsychologist to a helpful and accurate autism spectrum diagnosis, Dr. Sprinson interpreted the child's deficits in social understanding and expressive language as an emotionally-based ''reluctance'' to engage with others. We have a child with issues about clothing and food that improved later when we learned about sensory integration, but Dr. Sprinson saw control issues and power struggles and mostly wanted to know how my partner and I reacted when our child refused to eat. Other behaviors, which he saw rooted in control issues, were not effectively addressed in therapy with him , but they improved later after we understood them as a reaction to anxiety. I know nothing about the other therapists you mentioned -- good luck with your search anonymous

I can highly recommend John Sprinson. He is very caring and pleasant and very smart. I believe he does see many kids with the kind of issues you describe. He is very down-to-earth, doesn't engage in a lot of psycho-babble, and reallly saw our child as an individual, with strengths and challenges, and not just as a ''diagnosis.'' He's been doing this forever, and I felt him to be a really wonderful calming presence for our child, and for my husband and me anon