Does your teen son or daughter have an Asperger’s diagnosis?
Teens with Asperger’s Syndrome frequently present with an above average IQ, leading teachers, extended family and friends to even question the diagnosis. This condition is often misdiagnosed as something else, and thus support for the family is delayed. Although the inclusiveness of elementary school children may have shielded your child from the pain of social rejection, middle school is a time when it could be helpful to have a professional teach your teen the coping skills they need to thrive in the world.
These skills begin with how to manage the teen’s nervous system’s fight-or-flight response to overstimulation by internal and external sensory input. This is accomplished by learning to become mindful/ self-aware of what they are experiencing in their bodies. From there, learning positive self-talk and self-soothing techniques can help create the space for them to move on to learning goal-setting, time management, and how to respond to criticism, disappointments, and change. Last, but not least, as they become more comfortable in their skin, they now have the bandwidth to begin mastering the art of social skills.
Raising an atypical teen, who’s path of development may be a little more complex than others, may prove challenging to parents who find themselves having little to no reference for what their teen’s internal experience is like. It is not uncommon for parents to get impatient, and even angry when they observe their teen hiding out in their room on their computer. It is essential for parents to learn how to advocate on their son or daughter’s behalf. It is also helpful for parents to enlist the support of a parenting coach, to help them manage their fears, frustrations and concerns, as they walk forward in this process.
Atypical teens are some of my favorite clients to work with! They are smart, delightful, and funny, just wanting to be seen and accepted for who they truly are. If you live in the Los Angeles area, allow me to demonstrate the support I can offer by scheduling a free parent consultation.
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Taking the Trouble out of the Teen Years
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