Autism Therapists in Harrison City, PA
I started my career in 2002 rehabilitating children with autism.
My ideal clients are people of any age who have experienced a disruption in their childhood. They are now navigating big emotions, neurodiversity, identity questions, or behaviors that others label as “defiant.” They could also be nervous, withdrawn, refusing to go to school, or having outbursts. People are often exhausted, confused, and desperate for real support.
Goals to consider are to: increase communication, reconnect with others, stabilize the home environment, and help build trust, emotional insight, and/or internal control. They’re seeking a therapist who "gets it," someone who sees beyond the behavior.
I started my career in 2002 rehabilitating children with autism.
My ideal clients are people of any age who have experienced a disruption in their childhood. They are now navigating big emotions, neurodiversity, identity questions, or behaviors that others label as “defiant.” They could also be nervous, withdrawn, refusing to go to school, or having outbursts. People are often exhausted, confused, and desperate for real support.
Goals to consider are to: increase communication, reconnect with others, stabilize the home environment, and help build trust, emotional insight, and/or internal control. They’re seeking a therapist who "gets it," someone who sees beyond the behavior.
My approach works best for adults and teens who are navigating: trauma/PTSD, grief/loss, major life transitions, neurodivergence (ADHD/ autism, late diagnosed, chronic masking, etc.), no/low contact family situations, identity exploration, anxiety, OCD, and personality issues.
In our work together, clients often learn to feel safe within their own body, understand how their patterns were shaped by earlier experiences, reconnect with their values/purpose, give themselves space to grieve, and create more authentic relationships.
My approach works best for adults and teens who are navigating: trauma/PTSD, grief/loss, major life transitions, neurodivergence (ADHD/ autism, late diagnosed, chronic masking, etc.), no/low contact family situations, identity exploration, anxiety, OCD, and personality issues.
In our work together, clients often learn to feel safe within their own body, understand how their patterns were shaped by earlier experiences, reconnect with their values/purpose, give themselves space to grieve, and create more authentic relationships.
One of my specialties is family therapy with adolescents and their parents. I enjoy supporting the bridge of communication between the generational differences, and helping each family member feel heard and seen. I work with the philosophy that we don't have to agree with one another to have compassion for one other. I see individuals, couples and families. I work with children as young as 6 years old. If you are seeking parenting support for your child/children, I offer a blended approach to supporting you based on where each specific child is in their development.
One of my specialties is family therapy with adolescents and their parents. I enjoy supporting the bridge of communication between the generational differences, and helping each family member feel heard and seen. I work with the philosophy that we don't have to agree with one another to have compassion for one other. I see individuals, couples and families. I work with children as young as 6 years old. If you are seeking parenting support for your child/children, I offer a blended approach to supporting you based on where each specific child is in their development.
More Therapists Nearby
Are you or someone you know seeking support with gender, sexuality, or alternative relationship dynamics? If you, your partner(s), or family are facing challenges, there’s hope for real change. In just a few sessions, you can start to feel lighter and see tangible results. As a queer and polyamorous therapist, I’m here to help you navigate these complexities and find tailored solutions that resonate with your values. You’re not alone—let’s embark on this journey together! Call now for a complimentary consultation. You’ve taken a brave step by visiting this site; now let’s take the next one together!
Are you or someone you know seeking support with gender, sexuality, or alternative relationship dynamics? If you, your partner(s), or family are facing challenges, there’s hope for real change. In just a few sessions, you can start to feel lighter and see tangible results. As a queer and polyamorous therapist, I’m here to help you navigate these complexities and find tailored solutions that resonate with your values. You’re not alone—let’s embark on this journey together! Call now for a complimentary consultation. You’ve taken a brave step by visiting this site; now let’s take the next one together!
As a Queer, neurodivergent person, I know what it means to feel out of place in this world.
While I treat a wide range of clients, I specialize in overcontrol, gender/sexual identity exploration, Autistic neurodivergence, and anxiety and self-esteem management.
My approach is unstructured, conversational, and client-focused. I primarily integrate aspects of Radically-Open DBT, I-CBT, DBT, ACT, CBT, and person-centered therapies into my work.
As a Queer, neurodivergent person, I know what it means to feel out of place in this world.
While I treat a wide range of clients, I specialize in overcontrol, gender/sexual identity exploration, Autistic neurodivergence, and anxiety and self-esteem management.
My approach is unstructured, conversational, and client-focused. I primarily integrate aspects of Radically-Open DBT, I-CBT, DBT, ACT, CBT, and person-centered therapies into my work.
At Heal with Creativity, we are a group practice of licensed professional counselors and board-certified art therapists who believe healing looks different for everyone
At Heal with Creativity, we are a group practice of licensed professional counselors and board-certified art therapists who believe healing looks different for everyone
Accepting new clients for individual therapy and adult Autism & ADHD evaluations.
Authentic Therapy Services provides neurodiversity- affirming, LGBTQIA-affirming, and trauma- informed virtual mental health counseling and assessment services for clients 18+ in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Owned by an openly Autistic and ADHD therapist, Authentic Therapy Services offers person-centered support guided by values of authenticity, curiosity, compassion, and self-advocacy that prioritizes clients as the ultimate authority on their own lived experiences. Practice specializations include Autism, ADHD, late diagnosis/identification, complex trauma, demand avoidance, neurodivergent burnout recovery, and identity exploration.
Accepting new clients for individual therapy and adult Autism & ADHD evaluations.
Authentic Therapy Services provides neurodiversity- affirming, LGBTQIA-affirming, and trauma- informed virtual mental health counseling and assessment services for clients 18+ in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Owned by an openly Autistic and ADHD therapist, Authentic Therapy Services offers person-centered support guided by values of authenticity, curiosity, compassion, and self-advocacy that prioritizes clients as the ultimate authority on their own lived experiences. Practice specializations include Autism, ADHD, late diagnosis/identification, complex trauma, demand avoidance, neurodivergent burnout recovery, and identity exploration.
I help Individuals with autism spectrum disorder from childhood to adulthood.
I am grounded in humanistic therapy which is seeing the person first, then I pull from other approaches. I have worked with individuals who have experienced trauma during their lifetime. I am trained in EMDR for any individual who has experienced PTSD trauma, or complex trauma. I provide individual for those who are neurodiverist to process or learn skills
I help Individuals with autism spectrum disorder from childhood to adulthood.
I am grounded in humanistic therapy which is seeing the person first, then I pull from other approaches. I have worked with individuals who have experienced trauma during their lifetime. I am trained in EMDR for any individual who has experienced PTSD trauma, or complex trauma. I provide individual for those who are neurodiverist to process or learn skills
I serve ages 10 to 70 as this is where I feel most confident in my training and experiences across a wide variety of therapeutic settings. I have a significant background working with teens and adults who are on the spectrum and specialize in Exposure Response Prevention with OCD. I work from where the client is at and what their life needs are to build a strong foundation for where they are going in life.
I serve ages 10 to 70 as this is where I feel most confident in my training and experiences across a wide variety of therapeutic settings. I have a significant background working with teens and adults who are on the spectrum and specialize in Exposure Response Prevention with OCD. I work from where the client is at and what their life needs are to build a strong foundation for where they are going in life.
Cassandra Dunphy-Lieb
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
2 Endorsed
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Waitlist for new clients
As a person who is both neurodivergent and queer myself, I can offer a perspective that is understanding of the way our current world interacts with folks in these communities.
As a therapist, it is my goal to help you gain a better understanding of who you are, how your brain works, and how this impacts your daily life. In order to allow you to open up in this way, I work hard to provide a safe environment built on respect and collaboration. I will meet you where you are in life and help you to establish what you want your future to look like without judgement. The two of us will work together to personalize each session to fit you and your goals.
As a person who is both neurodivergent and queer myself, I can offer a perspective that is understanding of the way our current world interacts with folks in these communities.
As a therapist, it is my goal to help you gain a better understanding of who you are, how your brain works, and how this impacts your daily life. In order to allow you to open up in this way, I work hard to provide a safe environment built on respect and collaboration. I will meet you where you are in life and help you to establish what you want your future to look like without judgement. The two of us will work together to personalize each session to fit you and your goals.
If you need a space to feel safe, heard, and to honestly process your internal world in more depth without judgement: I would be honored to help collaboratively create a therapeutic space for you to work towards a meaningful, balanced life. I have worked with trauma, existential questions, and the complexities of social identity both clinically and as an individual. I consider it a privilege to use my academic, clinical, and real-world experience to empower others to explore their intertwined struggles and strengths. I want to help facilitate the most useful space for your mental health that we can imagine together.
If you need a space to feel safe, heard, and to honestly process your internal world in more depth without judgement: I would be honored to help collaboratively create a therapeutic space for you to work towards a meaningful, balanced life. I have worked with trauma, existential questions, and the complexities of social identity both clinically and as an individual. I consider it a privilege to use my academic, clinical, and real-world experience to empower others to explore their intertwined struggles and strengths. I want to help facilitate the most useful space for your mental health that we can imagine together.
I am Jeff, like it says on this page. I love games of all kinds and dogs of all kinds. I sit crosslegged on chairs when I can and enjoy kneading dough for baking. I'm verbose and use words as if they were legos.
I have worked in hospitals, community mental health centers, a retirement home and now I am content to be in private practice. I have experience with crises, sudden life transitions and choices that seem impossible to come back from.
I am Jeff, like it says on this page. I love games of all kinds and dogs of all kinds. I sit crosslegged on chairs when I can and enjoy kneading dough for baking. I'm verbose and use words as if they were legos.
I have worked in hospitals, community mental health centers, a retirement home and now I am content to be in private practice. I have experience with crises, sudden life transitions and choices that seem impossible to come back from.
I specialize in working with neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults, helping them navigate a world built on systems that may not align with their unique ways of thinking and processing.
I love working with kids, teens, and young adults (ages 8-22)! Being a kid or young adult right now can feel pretty overwhelming with how fast things are changing in the world around us. Kids face pressure from a digital world and social media, impacting their sense of identity and self-worth. Teens and young adults experience the pressure of figuring out who they are, dealing with academic or career decisions, managing relationships, and navigating changing ideas around gender, sexuality, and social issues. Let me help you or your child overcome these challenges, reclaim peace, and find a new sense of freedom.
I specialize in working with neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults, helping them navigate a world built on systems that may not align with their unique ways of thinking and processing.
I love working with kids, teens, and young adults (ages 8-22)! Being a kid or young adult right now can feel pretty overwhelming with how fast things are changing in the world around us. Kids face pressure from a digital world and social media, impacting their sense of identity and self-worth. Teens and young adults experience the pressure of figuring out who they are, dealing with academic or career decisions, managing relationships, and navigating changing ideas around gender, sexuality, and social issues. Let me help you or your child overcome these challenges, reclaim peace, and find a new sense of freedom.
I help hyper-independent overthinkers struggling with burnout, trauma, emotional dysregulation, and neurodivergence (ADHD/ autism).
You analyze every pattern, see the red flags in real-time, and still end up stuck:
You take care of everything and everyone—but do you know what joy feels like when it’s just for you?
You shape-shift to keep the peace—but if you didn't have to betray yourself to make others comfortable?
You hold yourself to impossible standards—but what if “enough” didn’t have to mean perfect?
You’ve spent so long handling everything alone—but what if support didn’t have to mean losing control?
You crave structure but resist rigidity—because you need a system that works with your brain, not against it.
I help hyper-independent overthinkers struggling with burnout, trauma, emotional dysregulation, and neurodivergence (ADHD/ autism).
You analyze every pattern, see the red flags in real-time, and still end up stuck:
You take care of everything and everyone—but do you know what joy feels like when it’s just for you?
You shape-shift to keep the peace—but if you didn't have to betray yourself to make others comfortable?
You hold yourself to impossible standards—but what if “enough” didn’t have to mean perfect?
You’ve spent so long handling everything alone—but what if support didn’t have to mean losing control?
You crave structure but resist rigidity—because you need a system that works with your brain, not against it.
As a Black, queer, neurodivergent therapist with 10 years experience, my approach is liberatory, relational, strengths-based, person-centered, affirming, and anti-oppressive.
Utilizing cognitive and somatic techniques from modalities such as EMDR, ACT, Brainspotting, and IFS, I can assist in breaking cycles of harm you may feel trapped in. If you find yourself stuck in fight-or-flight mode, have trouble identifying your needs, or if you're just tired of struggling with your anxiety: You are NOT alone, and change is possible.
As a Black, queer, neurodivergent therapist with 10 years experience, my approach is liberatory, relational, strengths-based, person-centered, affirming, and anti-oppressive.
Utilizing cognitive and somatic techniques from modalities such as EMDR, ACT, Brainspotting, and IFS, I can assist in breaking cycles of harm you may feel trapped in. If you find yourself stuck in fight-or-flight mode, have trouble identifying your needs, or if you're just tired of struggling with your anxiety: You are NOT alone, and change is possible.
Whether you are experiencing behavioral, developmental, social, and/or emotional concerns with your child, please don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions. I want to work with you to help navigate and listen to your child’s needs and create successful outcomes. I am devoted to help support and advocate for families, teachers, and caregivers to effectively manage challenging behaviors by showing compassion and respect across all settings. My passion is to help create hope for parents and their children as well as provide guidance.
Whether you are experiencing behavioral, developmental, social, and/or emotional concerns with your child, please don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions. I want to work with you to help navigate and listen to your child’s needs and create successful outcomes. I am devoted to help support and advocate for families, teachers, and caregivers to effectively manage challenging behaviors by showing compassion and respect across all settings. My passion is to help create hope for parents and their children as well as provide guidance.
Humans are complicated and complex beings. You may be facing a new path in life that feels daunting or unmanageable. Maybe your routine has stayed the same, but other areas of your life are bringing you down. In any scenario, therapy can provide opportunities for reflection on your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. My approach to counseling is collaborative. As the client, you are the expert of your life and your experiences. As a counselor, I am here to help untangle the parts of your life which may feel cluttered or distressing. I aim to acknowledge past experiences, present stressors, and concern for the future.
Humans are complicated and complex beings. You may be facing a new path in life that feels daunting or unmanageable. Maybe your routine has stayed the same, but other areas of your life are bringing you down. In any scenario, therapy can provide opportunities for reflection on your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. My approach to counseling is collaborative. As the client, you are the expert of your life and your experiences. As a counselor, I am here to help untangle the parts of your life which may feel cluttered or distressing. I aim to acknowledge past experiences, present stressors, and concern for the future.
Autism?
Using my Masters in Clinical Counseling and multiple specialized areas of training, I offer a range of therapeutic modalities to suit your specific needs (DBT, CBT, IFS and EMDR). Whether we're reshaping thoughts, nurturing emotional strength, or exploring a series of alternative methods, I'll customize sessions for your growth and well-being.
Autism?
Using my Masters in Clinical Counseling and multiple specialized areas of training, I offer a range of therapeutic modalities to suit your specific needs (DBT, CBT, IFS and EMDR). Whether we're reshaping thoughts, nurturing emotional strength, or exploring a series of alternative methods, I'll customize sessions for your growth and well-being.
My areas of focus include sexual trauma, religious trauma, and spiritual abuse, with special attention to the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community and neurodivergent individuals.
Invisible wounds often cause the deepest pain. If you seek healing from trauma, grief, or life's various challenges, I am here to provide a mindful and compassionate space for your healing journey. I am EMDR-trained with a person-centered approach to therapy, where I collaborate with you to harness your strengths, develop practical coping skills, build meaningful relationships, and facilitate your brain's natural healing process.
My areas of focus include sexual trauma, religious trauma, and spiritual abuse, with special attention to the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community and neurodivergent individuals.
Invisible wounds often cause the deepest pain. If you seek healing from trauma, grief, or life's various challenges, I am here to provide a mindful and compassionate space for your healing journey. I am EMDR-trained with a person-centered approach to therapy, where I collaborate with you to harness your strengths, develop practical coping skills, build meaningful relationships, and facilitate your brain's natural healing process.
Casey Weaverling
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, MA, MS
1 Endorsed
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
Waitlist for new clients
Your life is a garden; it needs attention and care! Therapy with me is a supportive, dedicated space where you develop into a skilled gardener who can cultivate the life you want. We will work together to identify what needs to be nurtured or weeded, and collaborate on the tools, knowledge, and skills you need to grow your garden. We will navigate the barriers, internal and external, that have hindered your gardening efforts. Therapy can be hard work, but it can also be quite enjoyable, and you may be surprised by how much laughter can be involved!
Your life is a garden; it needs attention and care! Therapy with me is a supportive, dedicated space where you develop into a skilled gardener who can cultivate the life you want. We will work together to identify what needs to be nurtured or weeded, and collaborate on the tools, knowledge, and skills you need to grow your garden. We will navigate the barriers, internal and external, that have hindered your gardening efforts. Therapy can be hard work, but it can also be quite enjoyable, and you may be surprised by how much laughter can be involved!
See more therapy options for Harrison City
Nearby Autism Therapists Searches for Harrison City
- East Liberty
- Fox Chapel
- Greensburg
- Irwin
- Latrobe
- Monroeville
- Murrysville
- New Kensington
- Plum
- Shadyside
- Squirrel Hill
- West Mifflin
Autism Therapists
What is the most effective treatment for autism?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has come to be considered the standard treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder, and research has confirmed its effectiveness for many children. Therapists trained in ABA techniques work with children (and their parents) on developing social skills, communication and learning abilities, and everyday habits of hygiene and grooming. The clinician will tailor their program to the child’s particular need but the overarching goal will be to help them advance as far as possible toward independence based on their level of symptoms and decrease the need for additional special services. Families should seek a mental health professional specifically trained in ABA, and holding special certification in the technique, who has extensive experience not only with the approach but in using it with children with the same level of symptoms as the child who needs care.
How does ABA work?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) sessions, which typically focus on positive reinforcement, can be intensive, lasting two or more hours several times a week, and continuing for two years or more. Therapists can also be expected to ask parents to take an active role in reinforcing lessons. Research has found that the technique can lead to major improvements that decrease the need for additional special services.
How does treatment for autism work?
Therapy sessions based on Applied Behavior Analysis will likely be frequent, intensive, and highly structured. After a thorough assessment, a therapist will help a child understand and develop skills in a range of areas, including communication, motor skills, social skills, self-care, play, and academic skills, as well as routines of daily living like hygiene. Typically, the therapist will help a child break down the components of a behavior—often referred to as the antecedent (what prompts an action), the behavior, and the consequence(what immediately follows)—and then reward the child at every step, while also asking parents to reinforce the lessons, and the rewards, throughout the day. This core therapy may be supplemented by occupational or speech therapy, and antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants may be prescribed to address specific severe symptoms.
How long does therapy for autism take?
Some people with autism spectrum disorder may be engaged in some level of therapy for many years, but research shows that treatment will be most effective if it is begun early and delivered intensively. When therapy begins by age 3, children tend to be better able to grasp and adopt the skills needed to manage everyday life, including attending school and establishing social relationships. This type of early-intervention treatment regimen is highly structured, typically involving 20 to 40 hours of one-on-one therapy per week, along with additional hours of engagement managed by parents, for a period of two years or more, although the duration of treatment is dependent on the child’s level of symptoms and pace of progress.