Creating routines and rituals are staples in helping your teen with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) live a happy and independent life. The familiarity and order of routines are a comfort to those on the autism spectrum. Changing routines for teens with autism creates stress and anxiety, leading to adverse behavior and temper tantrums. If your teen has trouble adjusting to scheduled or unscheduled changes in their routine, a family counseling program can benefit you and your family with vital skills to help your teen cope with changes in their routine.
At Camp Worth, our residential autism treatment facility for boys and girls ages 11 – 17 provides counseling and support for the entire family. The skills you will learn will help avoid future problems when changes to routines occur. To learn more about our family counseling program and how to create family routines for teens with autism, call 855.915.2545 or complete our online form today to connect with our friendly staff.
How Changing Routines Impact Teens with Autism
The unique minds of children on the autism spectrum love the order and rhythm of routines. They find comfort in familiar things. Changes or disruptions to their routine can create stress and anxiety if they do not have the coping skills necessary to adjust to the changes in healthy and positive ways.
Some of the behavior that changing routines for teens with autism can cause include:
- Irrational outbursts
- Increased stress and anxiety
- Stimming
- Stubborn or rude behavior
- Self-harm or harming others
Changing routines for teens with autism routinely come up for various reasons, like getting a new teacher or therapist and friends coming over for an unexpected visit. There are ways to prepare for all types of disruption to their routine, scheduled or unscheduled. Some common disruptions to routines that your teen with autism can adjust to positively with some patience and practice include:
- Going to the doctor
- Attending a new school or treatment center
- Changes in daily routines, like morning or bedtime rituals
- Playing with new toys
- Eating new foods
- Leaving unfinished projects or games
- Canceling outings due to weather or illness
If changing routines for teens with autism is causing angry outbursts, shaking or flapping hands, or other unwanted behavior, a family counseling program can give you the skills necessary to prevent bad behavior when the inevitable disruption occurs.
Benefits of a Family Counseling Program
When it comes to raising a child with autism, it takes a village. When everyone is involved with your teen’s development and education, it creates a stronger family bond. Creating family routines for teens with autism can help everyone better communicate with them and create a better home environment that is healthy and happy.
During your family counseling program, you will learn how changing routines impact teens with autism, plus:
- Improved communication between family members
- Mental health support for all family members
- A stronger family bond
- Education about autism spectrum disorder
At Camp Worth, our goal is to give your teen the communication and social skills necessary for coping with changing schedules and teach you how you can prepare for disruptions in your family routines as well.
Choose Camp Worth to Help with Changing Routines for Teens with Autism
Unwanted behavior and angry outbursts over planned or unplanned changes in routines affect the whole family negatively. At Camp Worth, our family counseling program, along with additional therapy options, can give your teen with autism the communication and life skills necessary for leading a happy and independent life. Including our family counseling, your teen’s treatment may include:
- Applied behavior analysis
- Individual therapy
- Social skills groups
- Play therapy
- Trauma therapy
To get help with changing routines for teens with autism, call 855.915.2545 or complete our online form today to learn more about how changing routines impact teens with autism and how Camp Worth’s family counseling program can help.
