Autism Coaching and Education FAQs
What is Autism Coaching and Education?
TLDR: Coaching is you setting goals, and me using my knowledge and experience to help you reach them, while offering encouragement and support along the way.
Coaching is a professional-client relationship that is designed to facilitate the creation/development of personal, social, professional, or educational goals, and to develop and carry out a strategy/plan for achieving those goals. It is a collaborative process, and that I will get out what I put in. Coaching does not involve the diagnosis or medical treatment of mental disorders as defined by the American Psychiatric Association. Coaching is not a substitute for counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, or substance abuse treatment, and should not be used in place of any form of diagnosis, treatment, or therapy. As your coach I can help you achieve your personal goals, learn more about autism, and how it impacts your life. These goals may include, but are not limited to:
• Improving personal and/or professional relationships
• Improving time management and organizational skills
• Improving independent living skills
• Learning how to navigate disability services
• Developing increased self-sufficiency and self-respect
• Developing greater self awareness and self care skills
• Increased understanding of you/your child’s challenges and how to work with them rather than against them
How do I get started with S'MORE Supports LLC?
TLDR: Free Consultation -> Intake paperwork -> Begin Services
The first step to receiving services from S'MORE Supports LLC is to schedule a free 30 minute consultation to discuss your family's service needs and see if S'MORE Supports LLC is a good fit. During this consultation the BCBA will ask questions about you or your child's skills and challenges to learn more about possible needs, as well as questions about environment and current services to assess what supports may be appropriate.
Following your free consultation, you will receive an email from S'MORE Supports with recommendations for next steps. This may include links to other resources and service providers, as well as information about coaching services.
For Parents: What is the difference between Autism Coaching/Education and Caregiver Training/Consultation?
TLDR: Coaching is general advice and strategies, Consultation is based in behavior science and involves assessment and interventions that are specific to your kid.
With Caregiver Training/Consultation, the BCBA will customize a behavioral assessment for your child based on the information collected during the free consultation. In most cases this will involve a virtual parent interview, and an in person observation. The BCBA will then create a customized treatment plan that will outline the goals and interventions that will be the focus of Caregiver Training/Consultative Services. These goals will be designed to help your child learn how to regulate their own behavior, and engage with their environment in a way that enables them to get their needs met. From there you will meet regularly with the BCBA (virtually or in person as needed) to do behavior skills training on how to implement the selected interventions.
With Autism Coaching/Education for parents, we will always meet virtually. During coaching I can give you general ideas about your child’s behavior and experience, as well as suggest simple environmental modifications that are often beneficial for Neurodivergent people. I can also help advise you on finding and engaging other service providers to help you meet your child’s needs and build their care network. I cannot recommend specific interventions and teaching strategies without a behavioral assessment. If your child is struggling with aggressive, destructive, or self harm behaviors of any sort, coaching is not recommended.
How much does S'MORE Supports LLC charge for coaching services?
Contact Us
Do you have a comment or suggestion you’d like to share? Email graham@smoresupports.com
Text (336) 505-7027