Autism Treatment

Autism isn’t one thing. It can look different from person to person, and even within the same person at different stages of life. Some people are diagnosed early and supported from a young age. Others go years without clarity, wondering why the world feels harder to navigate than it should. Whether you’re a parent seeking help for your child, a teen navigating new pressures, or an adult who’s always felt misunderstood, CBTAA offers specialized, evidence-based care for people across the autism spectrum.

Our team supports clients through two core pathways: structured therapy and, when appropriate, comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations. We help individuals build real-world skills, better understand their neurodevelopmental profile, and access accommodations that support long-term growth, all while honoring the strengths and differences that make them who they are.

What is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social interaction, communication, sensory processing, and flexibility in behavior. But there’s no one way Autism looks or feels. Some people struggle with eye contact, small talk or social nuance. Others experience sensory overload in noisy or unpredictable environments. Many excel in areas of focused interest or pattern recognition while finding day-to-day transitions or emotional regulation difficult.

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Autism in Children

Autistic children often show signs early in life, but those signs don’t always match the stereotypes. For some kids, differences are visible in the way they play, for instance, preferring to line up toys instead of using them imaginatively, or fixating on a narrow interest with intense focus. Others may speak later than expected, avoid eye contact, or seem unusually sensitive to noise, light, texture, or unexpected changes in routine.

But not every child with Autism shows delays. Some are highly verbal and academically advanced, but struggle with flexible thinking, back-and-forth conversation, or emotional regulation. They might talk at length about their interests but find it hard to pick up on social cues, recognize when someone else is disengaged, or navigate playground dynamics. You might notice difficulty with transitions, heightened frustration during unstructured time, or frequent meltdowns when plans change. These behaviors aren’t about defiance, they are signs your child’s nervous system may be under more stress than others realize.

Therapy can be an incredibly helpful resource at this stage. At CBTAA, we work with children to build emotional awareness, increase tolerance for change, and develop real-world skills that support daily functioning. Treatment often includes helping children understand their own sensory needs, practice flexible thinking, and manage big feelings in ways that feel empowering rather than punitive. Depending on your child’s needs, we may also support caregivers with tools to improve routines at home and strengthen communication between family members.

In cases where a child is struggling significantly at school, whether academically, socially, or behaviorally, and the picture feels more complex, we may recommend a neuropsychological evaluation. These evaluations can clarify whether Autism, ADHD, a learning disorder, or another diagnosis is driving the challenges, and can provide the documentation needed for school-based accommodations like IEPs or 504 Plans. The goal isn’t to pathologize, it’s to give your child every opportunity to be understood and supported in the ways that matter most.

Autism in Teens

The teenage years often magnify the challenges of Autism typically because the world around them is demanding more. School becomes more complex, friendships more nuanced, and independence more expected. For teens on the spectrum, this can be overwhelming.

Autistic teens might have trouble reading between the lines of social interaction, struggle to adapt to rapidly changing expectations, or feel out of sync with their peers. They may have difficulty managing unstructured time, become intensely focused on specific interests, or show heightened sensitivity to sounds, lights, or textures. Many experience intense emotions but have trouble identifying or expressing them. What may come across as “moody” or “withdrawn” to others could be emotional overload, exhaustion from masking, or a response to social isolation.

Some teens mask their autistic traits so effectively, especially girls, nonbinary teens, and those with strong verbal or academic skills, that they go undiagnosed for years. They may appear “high functioning” on the outside but feel exhausted and disconnected internally. Others may be misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues without anyone realizing that Autism is a core part of the picture.

When the clinical picture is unclear or the teen is struggling in school despite significant effort, we may recommend a neuropsychological evaluation. These assessments can help determine whether Autism, ADHD, or another diagnosis is contributing to academic or social challenges, and can support requests for accommodations like extended time on tests, reduced course loads, or social-emotional services. For teens at a turning point, having a clear and validated understanding of their strengths and needs can be a powerful step toward building a more manageable and meaningful future.

Autism in Adults

For some adults, Autism isn’t something they were diagnosed with in childhood, but it’s something they’ve quietly wondered about for years. Maybe social situations have always felt confusing or exhausting. Maybe routines and structure are essential for getting through the day, and unexpected changes cause outsized stress. Maybe you’ve always had a hard time “filtering” sensory input, keeping track of time, or managing emotional reactions, but no one ever connected the dots.

Autistic adults can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for decades, especially if they’ve learned to mask well or developed compensatory strategies. You might have been labeled anxious, “rigid,” overly sensitive, obsessive, inattentive, or difficult; when, in reality, you were doing your best to manage a brain that processes the world differently. Many adults only start to explore the possibility of Autism after a major life event, like becoming a parent, hitting burnout at work, or watching their own child go through the diagnostic process.

Autistic adults often struggle with executive functioning (planning, prioritizing, task-switching), emotional regulation, and interpersonal challenges that others may not fully understand. You may find yourself stuck in cycles of overwork and shutdown, trying to meet expectations that don’t align with how your brain works. You may also experience what’s often referred to as “autistic burnout,” which is a state of profound physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that comes from masking and navigating environments that aren't designed for neurodivergent people.

Therapy at CBTAA provides space to unmask, reflect, and reframe. Together, we can explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to build systems, routines, and relationships that support your well-being. Therapy may focus on self-advocacy, stress management, communication strategies, unlearning internalized ableism, and building a life that feels more aligned and sustainable.

If you’ve been struggling for years without clear answers, or if you need documentation to access workplace accommodations or protections under the ADA, a neuropsychological evaluation may be the right next step. Our evaluations for adults are deeply comprehensive, often helping clients clarify whether Autism, ADHD, trauma, or another factor is contributing to their challenges. The process itself can be validating, empowering, and freeing, giving you language for your experience, a clear diagnostic profile, and specific recommendations for support.

Diagnosis isn’t about putting you in a box, it’s about opening the door to better tools, better understanding, and a life that works for you.

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What to Expect in Autism Treatment

At CBTAA, Autism treatment begins with understanding you. Whether you already have a diagnosis or are just starting to explore the possibility, we begin by getting to know your experience, your goals, and the challenges that shape your day-to-day life.

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How We Treat Autism at CBTAA– Getting Started with Therapy

The majority of clients begin Autism support through therapy. Your first appointment is typically an intake session, where you and your clinician will begin exploring your history, current struggles, and what meaningful change could look like. Over the following 1–3 sessions, we move through a therapeutic assessment period — a collaborative process designed to help your therapist reconceptualize what’s going on and identify the most supportive path forward.

This is not about checking boxes or rushing to a diagnosis. It’s about listening closely, noticing patterns, and asking: What’s contributing to the distress or disconnection here? What are this client’s strengths? What’s actually going to help?

From there, we transition into the treatment phase. While Autism is not something to be “treated away,” therapy can help reduce overwhelm, increase coping skills, and improve quality of life across a range of areas. Depending on the client’s age and needs, treatment may include:

• Emotional regulation and stress tolerance skills
  
  
• Support for transitions, sensory sensitivities, and change
  
  
• Communication and social navigation strategies
  
  
• Executive functioning and organization tools
  
  
• Self-advocacy and identity development
  
  
• Caregiver or family support for home structure and understanding

How CBT Helps with Autism

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-supported, research-based treatments in the mental health field. While it was originally developed for conditions like depression and anxiety, CBT has since been thoughtfully adapted for Autism, and when it’s tailored correctly, it can make a meaningful difference in daily life.

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We use CBT to help autistic clients make sense of how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact, and how to work with those experiences instead of feeling overwhelmed by them. For many autistic individuals, intense emotions like frustration, anxiety, or sensory overload can feel sudden and unmanageable. CBT helps bring clarity to these moments. Clients learn to identify their triggers, understand what’s happening internally, and develop concrete strategies to navigate discomfort without shutting down, masking, or reacting impulsively.

CBT sessions are structured and goal-oriented, but always personalized. Therapy often focuses on building emotional regulation, increasing tolerance for uncertainty or change, and creating manageable systems for day-to-day life. Many autistic clients benefit from support with executive functioning, skills like planning, organizing, and following through on tasks, and CBT offers step-by-step tools to reduce overwhelm and improve consistency. It also helps shift rigid or all-or-nothing thinking by offering more flexible ways of approaching challenges.

With children and teens, CBT often centers around increasing frustration tolerance, managing transitions at school, recognizing and naming emotions, and building confidence in social situations, all while honoring their unique communication style and sensory profile. With adults, the focus may include unlearning years of masking, exploring autistic identity, processing past misunderstandings or misdiagnoses, and creating systems that align with how their brain actually works. Many adult clients come to us carrying burnout from trying to “keep up” in environments that were never designed for neurodivergent minds.

Most importantly, CBT at CBTAA is not about eliminating autistic traits. It’s about helping clients understand themselves more deeply, build resilience, and create meaningful change on their own terms. Our work isn’t about forcing someone to fit into a mold, it’s about making life more livable, less exhausting, and more aligned with who they truly are.

DBT for Autism

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, skills-based approach that is particularly useful for clients who experience intense emotions, difficulty tolerating distress, or challenges with interpersonal relationships. While DBT was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, its core skills, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness, are deeply applicable for many autistic individuals.

We incorporate DBT-informed techniques to help clients learn how to notice and name their feelings, ride out emotional waves without reacting impulsively, and practice staying grounded in the present moment. For autistic clients who feel easily overwhelmed, DBT provides language and tools for managing emotions that may otherwise feel out of control. We also focus on building assertive communication skills, setting boundaries, and reducing the need to mask or people-please in social situations. These tools can be especially empowering for teens and adults navigating identity, independence, and relationship stress.

Rather than pushing clients to act neurotypical, DBT helps them navigate life more skillfully, on their own terms. We adapt DBT strategies based on each person’s sensory profile, communication style, and learning preferences to make sure they feel accessible, relevant, and usable outside the therapy room.

ACT for Autism

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another approach we draw from, particularly when clients are grappling with identity, self-doubt, or the emotional exhaustion that can come from masking and navigating a world not built for them. ACT helps clients build psychological flexibility, the ability to stay grounded and make choices based on values, even when emotions or difficult thoughts show up.

For autistic clients, ACT offers a framework for living a more authentic and intentional life. We don’t focus on “changing” how someone feels or erasing distress, instead, we help them learn to observe thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. This can be especially helpful for clients who struggle with internalized shame, social anxiety, or cycles of avoidance.

In practice, ACT often includes values clarification, mindfulness work, and building habits that reflect what really matters to the client, whether that’s connecting with others, pursuing a passion, setting boundaries, or simply creating a more sustainable daily routine. ACT also supports clients in unmasking safely and reconnecting with who they are when they’re not trying to fit in.

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When to Consider Autism Treatment

If you or your child are navigating challenges that feel confusing, overwhelming, or persistent, therapy can offer support, clarity, and practical tools for daily life. You might consider Autism-informed therapy if:

• You or your child struggle with emotional regulation, transitions, or meltdowns
  
  
• Social situations feel draining, confusing, or hard to navigate
  
  
• There’s frequent sensory overwhelm or avoidance (noise, lights, textures, etc.)
  
  
• Routines are rigid and disruptions lead to distress
  
  
• There’s a strong need for sameness or repetitive behaviors that interfere with flexibility
  
  
• You or your teen experience masking fatigue, anxiety, or burnout
  
  
• Executive functioning challenges (planning, organizing, follow-through) are affecting school, work, or home life
  
  
• You’re unsure whether Autism, ADHD, or something else might be going on
  
  
• There’s a desire for identity support, unmasking, or processing a recent diagnosis
  
  

Therapy can help you make sense of what you’re experiencing, build real-life coping strategies, and feel more understood and equipped, whether or not a diagnosis is ever pursued.

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When to Consider a Neuropsychological Evaluation for Autism

A neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive, 26-hour process designed to provide a deep, accurate understanding of how someone thinks, feels, and functions. This type of evaluation is especially helpful when Autism is suspected but not yet diagnosed, when symptoms are complex or overlapping (such as Autism and ADHD), or when formal documentation is needed for school, standardized tests (like the SAT, ACT, GRE), or workplace accommodations.

Neuropsych evaluations are not part of standard care for every client. Most people begin with therapy, and many never need this level of testing. But if you or your child have been struggling for years without answers, are facing significant challenges at school or work, or need diagnostic clarity to access support, a neuropsychological evaluation may be essential.

What Is the Neuropsychological Evaluation Process?

Unlike brief screeners or simple assessments, a neuropsych evaluation is a deeply analytical and personalized process. It provides a full picture of cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social functioning. The evaluation typically includes:

• Interviews (1–4 hours): In-depth discussions with the client and, when appropriate, parents, caregivers, or educators to gather a complete developmental history and current concerns.
  
  
• Neuropsychological Testing (4–8 hours): Standardized, one-on-one assessments of cognitive areas such as attention, memory, verbal and nonverbal reasoning, processing speed, and executive functioning.
  
  
• Autism-Specific Measures: When Autism is being explored, we include gold-standard tools like the ADOS-2 and structured diagnostic interviews tailored to ASD.
  
  
• Observations: Careful attention is paid to the client’s behavior, communication, and social interaction throughout the testing process.
  
  
• Assessment of Co-Occurring Conditions: Many clients present with overlapping symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, ADHD, or learning disorders), and our evaluators carefully screen for these as part of a comprehensive profile.
  
  
• Scoring and Interpretation: All results are scored and synthesized by a trained neuropsychologist, who integrates behavioral observations with test performance and collateral information to create a clear diagnostic picture.
  
  
• Comprehensive Report: You’ll receive a detailed, readable report outlining results, diagnoses (if applicable), and concrete, personalized recommendations.
  
  
• Feedback Session: We’ll meet with you to walk through the findings, explain next steps, and answer all your questions.
  
  
• Third-Party Consultation (as needed): We regularly collaborate with schools, medical providers, and employers to help translate the evaluation into useful, supportive action plans.

When Are Neuropsychological Evaluations Recommended?

A neuropsychological evaluation may be recommended when:

• Autism is suspected and a formal diagnosis is needed
  
  
• Academic accommodations (e.g., IEPs, 504 Plans, extended test time) are being pursued
  
  
• Symptoms are complex, overlapping, or difficult to diagnose
  
  
• A client is experiencing high levels of functional difficulty at school, work, or in relationships
  
  
• Previous evaluations or treatments haven’t brought clarity or effective results
  
  
• A full understanding of cognitive strengths and challenges is needed to guide educational, career, or therapeutic planning
  
  
• Co-occurring conditions (like anxiety, OCD, ADHD, or learning disabilities) may be impacting functioning

This is not a surface-level process. Our evaluators use multiple data points, from testing to interviews to observations, to piece together what’s happening beneath the surface. The result is a diagnostic picture that’s both accurate and actionable, guiding treatment and informing life decisions with clarity and confidence.

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Get Started with Autism Treatment at CBTAA

If you’re ready to take the next step, our team at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Assessment Associates (CBTAA) is here to support you. We specialize in providing thoughtful, personalized, and evidence-based care for individuals across the autism spectrum, from children just beginning to show signs, to adults seeking clarity after years of wondering.

What sets CBTAA apart is the depth and quality of our clinical training. We’ve built a training model designed to ensure every therapist receives ongoing mentorship and supervision from nationally and internationally recognized leaders in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. These supervisors aren’t just experts in the field, they’re bestselling authors, researchers, board leaders, and trainers for the top CBT credentialing bodies in the world. Our clinical training program ranks in the top one percent, and every clinician is committed to continued growth, skill refinement, and delivering care that’s both effective and compassionate.

Our approach is also uniquely collaborative. Behind every therapist is a team of consultants and senior clinicians working together to ensure clients receive care that’s informed, adaptive, and tailored to their needs. Whether you're pursuing therapy, a neuropsychological evaluation, or both, we work as a coordinated team, so you benefit from a wide range of clinical insight, not just one perspective.

We work with children, teens, and adults across New York City, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, offering both in-person and virtual services. Whether you're seeking support for yourself or someone you love, we’ll meet you where you are, and help you find a path forward that fits.

You can begin with a free 15-minute consultation with one of our Clinical Coordinators. They’ll learn more about your goals, answer any questions, and help match you with the right clinician for therapy or assessment.