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  • Our Therapists
  • What We Treat
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    • Addiction Guide
      • Adderall Guide | Side Effects
      • Alcohol Addiction
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      • Meth Guide
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      • How a Substance Abuse Counselor Helps
      • Spirituality in Addiction Treatment  
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      • Treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
    • Bipolar Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
      • Is bipolar disorder genetic and triggered later on?
      • Is cognitive therapy effective for bipolar disorder?
    • Children & Adolescents Guide
      • 10 Warning Signs of Teenage Mental Illness
      • Munchausen Syndrome
      • How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers’ Mental Health?
      • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
      • Spotting Types of Depression in Children
      • Teen Suicide
      • Top Tips For Parents
      • Video Game Therapy for ADHD
      • What is a Residential Mental Health Facility for Teenagers Like
      • Why Is Mental Health on the Rise Amongst Teenagers?
    • Is Social Media Ruining Our Self-Esteem? 
    • Mental Health Guide
      • COVID Counseling to Battle Mental Health Issues
      • Guide to Anxiety Medication
      • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
      • High Functioning Depression | Signs | Symptoms
      • How Can We Prevent Mental Illness in Youth?
      • How Do You Help Someone with Avoidant Personality?
      • How Does Online Counseling Work for Mental Health?
      • How Can a Mental Health Counselor Help
      • Mental Breakdown
      • Schizoid Personality Disorder
      • Postpartum Depression
      • Types of Mood Disorders
      • The Toll of Grief and How to Cope with It
      • What are The Major Affective Disorders?
      • What Cognitive Psychology Teaches Us About How We Think
      • What Is Clinical Mental Health Counseling
      • What are mental health symptoms you should never ignore?
      • What is Bipolar II Disorder? Symptoms and Treatment
      • What is the Difference Between Manic and Hypomanic?
      • What is schizoaffective disorder?
      • Is seasonal affective disorder (SAD) a mental illness?
      • What is substance induced mood disorder?
      • Is Depression a Permanent Mental Disorder?
      • What is the prognosis for Major Depressive Disorder?
    • Marriage Counseling | Benefits
    • Pandemic Related Issues
      • COVID Counseling to Battle Mental Health Issues
      • Work Stress Post-Pandemic
      • Shocking Growth of Anxiety During the Pandemic
    • Relationship Issues
      • How to deal with toxic relationship?
      • How does a toxic relationship affect your mental health?
      • What is gaslighting in a relationship?
      • What is the best way to help a partner who has trust issues?
      • What’s the best way to work out relationship problems?
      • 10 ways to improve communication in relationships
    • Spirituality in Addiction Treatment  
    • Therapy
      • Can I See a Psychiatrist Without a Referral?
      • DBT Therapy for Adolescents
      • DCBT- Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
      • Deep Brain Stimulation to Treat OCD
      • Do I Need a Referral to See a Therapist?
      • Family Therapy: Definition, Types, Techniques, and Efficacy
      • How Can Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Help Mental Disorders?
      • EMDR Therapy for Mental Health Conditions
      • Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist
      • Is Therapy Covered by Health Insurance?
      • Psychodynamic Therapy vs CBT
      • Psychotherapy
      • SMART Recovery
      • What Can Psychologists Treat
      • What is Group Therapy
      • What is Internal Family Systems Therapy
      • What Is the Role of the Counselor in Family Therapy
      • What Is Psychoanalysis
    • Trauma Bonding With Intimate Partner Violence
    • Teen Mental Health
      • Can a Minor Go to Therapy Without Parents Permission?
      • Teen Co-Occurring Disorders
      • What are the signs of depression in adolescents?
      • warning signs of suicide in adolescents
      • Mental Health Benefits of Exercise in Teens
      • How is the pandemic affecting mental health in teenagers?
    • Types of Disorder
      • Anti-Social Personality Disorder
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Avoidant Personality Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder Symptoms | Causes | Diagnosis
      • Diagnosing and Treating an Adjustment Disorder
      • Histrionic Personality Disorder
      • Intermittent Explosive Disorder
      • Paranoid Personality Disorder
    • Veterans Guide
      • Functional Medicine for Military
      • Service Dogs Help Veterans with PTSD
    • Process Addiction
      • Gambling addiction
      • How do you know if you have an addictive personality?
      • What is Impulse-Control Disorder?
      • Process Addiction

The Success of Strengths-Based Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Dealing with Adolescent Behavior Problems

The strengths-based approach has proved to be successful in managing autism spectrum disorder.

What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that can impact behavior and communication. It is referred to as a spectrum disorder due to the variations in the manifestation of signs and symptoms. ASD is a rather new naming for a group of disorders related to or similar in symptoms to autism.

Some disorders, such as Rett syndrome, were previously thought to be a part of this group but are no longer due to new information about their causes and signs and symptoms.1

Signs and Symptoms of ASD

Since autism spectrum disorder is a spectrum, there are various signs and symptoms—not all of which are necessary for diagnosis. Nonetheless, while it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact signs and symptoms, there are several that are common:
  • Difficulty with eye contact
  • Does not play pretend games
  • Does not respond to name by nine months of age
  • Shows little interest in peers
  • Abnormal communication through tone, expressions, and body posturing
  • Inappropriate social interactions
Autism may not be diagnosable until an older age, and it is often mistaken for similar disorders, including attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). There is no known singular cause for ASD, although it could result from many different aspects, such as genetics and family history.

A Strengths-Based Approach to Autism

The strengths-based approach is a patient-led talk therapy that allows people to explore their strengths and qualities at their best. This helps patients see their own value and establishes a positive self-appearance.

While it is typically used in talk therapy, a strengths-based approach can be conducted in any setting with a trusted authority figure. For a child with autism, this can include teachers, medical professionals, and parents or guardians.

Strengths-Based Approaches for Teachers

Autism spectrum disorder
A strengths-based approach can be beneficial to teachers and educators of all backgrounds and class types. In an academic setting, strengths-based approaches appear as a reflective learning style. 2
Outside of being a useful approach to accommodating the needs of children with autism, this method of teaching can also be helpful during the critical transition years of students first entering school.
Often, students are taught from a perspective that addresses their deficits and weaknesses. This approach will focus on areas where students are most successful and confident, allowing them to improve on multiple levels.

Strengths-Based Approaches for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Other Professionals

Because autism spectrum disorder can often result in social and communication disruptions, a speech-language pathologist or similar professional may be consulted.
Using a strengths-based approach can help alleviate the severity of certain symptoms, especially those dealing with communication, without causing the patient to become overwhelmed or discouraged. It also allows the person to explore skills and strengths they’ve already developed, creating an environment where background knowledge can be utilized.

Strengths-Based Approaches for Parents

Parents or guardians utilizing strengths-based approaches can encourage growth and self-exploration in many aspects by focusing on the areas the child is the most skilled. This builds confidence and provides a safe mindset for learning and attempting skills that they may not be as skilled in.

The Success of Strengths-Based Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorder

The most significant success of the strengths-based approach is the positive outcomes in children with ASD. Children with ASD may experience the world differently than others, and they will respond accordingly.3 Using a strengths-based approach focuses on the child’s successes and skills. This type of approach creates a positive environment that focuses on continued growth and building important self-identity factors like confidence.

How Does a Strengths-Based Approach Provide a More Holistic View of “Doing Well”?

Autism Spectrum Disorder - PacificBeachHealth
Since the strengths-based approach focuses on the individual’s overall success rather than areas they may have a deficit, there is room for them to develop other skills in a positive manner. It creates a system in which “doing well” is defined by a comprehensive view of an individual’s abilities and skills instead of allowing areas of difficulty to overwhelm areas of success.4 If you would like to learn tips for parents when it comes to strength-based approaches, read on.

Tips for Parents

There are resources and guides available for parents whose children are displaying signs of autism spectrum disorder. The following tips may also be helpful in establishing a supportive community and preparing to provide a child with autism the accommodations they need.

Learn as Much as Possible About Strengths-Based Approach to Autism

Taking the time to read resources such as this can be one of the first steps to providing the proper care and accommodations for children with disorders. With that being said, other steps can be taken to increase knowledge of the strengths-based approach, including reaching out to professionals with a specialization in the field.

Provide Consistent Structure and Routine

For many individuals with autism or similar disorders, structure and routine can be the most impactful aspect of an activity. Many individuals thrive in situations where they know what to expect, and pairing that with a strengths-based approach can be incredibly beneficial.

Connect With Other Parents of Children With ASD

Creating a support group can provide fellowship and a community for advice on developing routine, coping mechanisms, and carrying out a strengths-based approach. There are many national and local communities for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder available.

Seek Professional Help for Specific Concerns

Sometimes, new milestones or adversaries may present themselves, even with strengths-based approaches. In this instance, it may be best to reach out to a professional—one who specializes in the field of concern—for help.

Take Time for Yourself and Other Family Members

One of the most important things you can do is take time for yourself and other family members. This is best not only for your own mental health but also for maintaining the family’s balance. Taking time for yourself and others is especially important if your child has siblings who need equal attention. It is also significant to deal with your own physical and emotional needs, including getting enough rest.
Resources :
  1. https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/reclassification-of-rett-syndrome-diagnosis-stirs-concerns/
  2. https://www.education.vic.gov.au/documents/childhood/professionals/learning/strengthbappr.pdf
  3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-strength-focused-approach-to-autism-2017042011607
  4. https://www.scie.org.uk/strengths-based-approaches

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