Expert autism therapy and counseling for children and teens. Compassionate support tailored to your child's needs.
Expert autism therapy and counseling for children and teens. Compassionate support tailored to your child's needs.
Autism therapy helps children and teens on the autism spectrum develop essential social, emotional, and behavioural skills. At Young Sprouts Therapy, we offer personalized, creative approaches using play therapy, art therapy, sandtray therapy, and social skill development to help children thrive. Our therapists work with children, teens, and their families to ensure holistic support through individual and family therapy. We provide in-person sessions in Vaughan and Thornhill, as well as virtual therapy across Ontario.
Play therapy is a key component of our autism services. Through guided play, children learn to express emotions, improve communication, and practice social skills in a supportive environment. Play therapy for autism focuses on:
Communication:
Developing both verbal and non-verbal skills through interactive play.
Social Interaction:
Learning how to take turns, share, and follow social cues.
Emotional Regulation:
Helping children understand and manage their emotions.
Creative therapies, such as art therapy and sandtray therapy, allow children to express their emotions in non-verbal ways:
Helps children communicate emotions through drawing, painting, or sculpting, supporting both emotional expression and sensory processing.
A hands-on therapy that allows children to explore feelings and experiences using miniatures and sand, making it easier to understand and process difficult emotions.
For older children and teens with high-functioning autism, our autism counselling focuses on developing advanced social skills and emotional intelligence. This counselling is designed to:
Build Social Confidence:
Through one-on-one sessions, teens learn how to navigate social situations, improve conversation skills, and enhance peer relationships.
Emotional Awareness:
Teens are guided through understanding their emotions, recognizing the emotions of others, and building empathy.
Problem Solving:
Autism counselling helps teens develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, enabling them to handle challenges in social and academic settings with greater independence.
Theraplay is a structured, attachment-based therapy designed to enhance the bond between parents and their children. Theraplay is particularly effective for children on the autism spectrum, as it provides:
Positive Social Engagement:
Through playful, nurturing interactions, children develop positive social behaviours and improved communication skills.
Emotional Safety:
Theraplay helps children feel safe and supported, reducing anxiety and improving their ability to form relationships.
Strengthened Parent-Child Bond:
By involving parents directly in therapy, Theraplay strengthens the parent-child relationship, helping children feel more secure and understood.
Our social skills development programs help children and teens with autism improve their ability to interact with others:
Through group activities and role-playing, children practice social interactions, from making eye contact to maintaining conversations.
Children learn to recognize emotions in themselves and others, promoting empathy and emotional regulation.
Social skills training helps children gain confidence, enabling them to navigate social situations at school, home, and in the community.
Parenting a child with autism comes with unique challenges. Our parenting support for autism services provide guidance and resources to help families navigate their child’s needs:
Parent Coaching:
We work closely with parents to develop strategies that reinforce therapy goals at home, focusing on communication, behaviour management, and emotional support.
Family Involvement:
We believe in a family-centred approach to autism therapy, ensuring that parents feel supported and equipped to handle challenges.
Education & Resources:
We provide parents with educational resources on autism and parenting techniques, helping them better understand their child’s development and needs.
Through our autism therapy programs, children and teens experience
Helping children express their needs and emotions more effectively.
Improving peer interactions and relationship-building.
Teaching children how to manage overwhelming emotions and sensory experiences.
If your child is on the autism spectrum and could benefit from autism therapy or autism services, our team is here to help. Contact us today to schedule an in-person or virtual session. Fill out our online contact form or schedule a free consultation to begin your child’s journey toward growth and development.