Technology has become an essential part of all of our lives – it can even be useful in personal growth work. Online video conferencing can be an effective and convenient alternative to face-to-face sessions when meeting in person isn’t possible.
I currently use the the Internet with great success to work with clients in Canada who are unable to visit me in person. You can have sessions with me through Skype, a free, high quality video conferencing program that allows us to see and hear each other using your computer and a web cam (and headset if you choose). Skype is free to download off the Internet, easy to install and set up, is free of adware/malware/spyware etc and, most importantly, is confidential.
If you are interested in seeing me ‘virtually’ on Skype, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to set things up.
Getting started with Online Counselling:
Autimistic Online Counselling works more or less as a mentorship, where one of the ASD Consultants will guide you through a home-based Intervention, done by the parents themselves. For the counselling to be effective, the following concepts are very important:
1. Autimistic Consultants use a book as a resource, written by a world-leading Autism Expert, which will need to be purchased separately (can be done through us).
2. Before the first counselling session, an Autism Screening Assessment (ASRS) needs to be completed. This can be done online, using a secure link. Based on the outcome, your ASD Consultant creates a Personal Program Plan as a curriculum.
3. There are two monthly Online Counselling sessions (45 minutes) to help you implement the Personal Program Plan.
4. Next to the Counselling Sessions, clients receive unlimited e-mail support.
5. Additional Counselling Sessions are available at extra cost.
Your Child’s Personal Program Plan
Every child’s development is different and therefore, a Universal Autism Strategy won’t work. For each child, a Personal Program Plan will be created, which targets at the most three areas at once. For most children, these areas are: Early Language Development; Self-Management and Social Skills.
Is Skype Confidential?
Yes, all Skype sessions are encrypted to ensure privacy and confidentiality. You can read more about it on Skype’s website here and here.
To Get Started with Skype:
1. Go the Skype website and download the latest version of Skype for Windows orMac, then install it on your computer. For help and any questions you have about setting up or using Skype, click here.
2. Open Skype and add me to your Contact List. My username is ‘autimistic’.
3. You will need a web cam if your computer doesn’t have one built in, and possibly a headset. To take a look at the web cams and headsets that Skype (and I) recommend, click here.
4. I look forward to meeting and serving you virtually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does my child need to be diagnosed with Autism before the intervention can start?
A: No, screening using the ASRS will indicate if a child can start with our interventions. Pivotal response Treatment has been proven to work with many children with Autism or Autism-like symptoms.
Q: Can this type of intervention be seen as Psychological Treatment?
A: No, although Chris de Feijter is a former Educational Psychologist, these services cannot be seen as Psychological Treatments. We are not using a Therapist-Client model, but a Parent-Child model, in which Autimistic educates the parent and monitors the child’s progress using evidences based tools.
Chris de Feijter has stepped away from traditional Therapist-Client model. He beliefs that these models intervene with developing independence in children and generalization in natural environments.
Q: Is there additional support available?
A: Yes, additional counselling sessions can be purchased up to a maximum of 4 counselling sessions per month altogether.
Q: Does Autimistic do home-visits?
A: Yes, that is possible, but unfortunately only in the La Ronge, Prince-Albert and Saskatoon region. Contact us for more information.
Q: How old does my child have to be in order to start?
A: Our interventions have been designed for children from 2 years old.
Q: Is it necessary to work with the web-based computer software at the same time?
A: Yes, The web-based computer software is an integral part of our Intervention Package. The software was developed by Leading Autism Specialist Christina Whalen PhD. and can be used independently from our treatment as well. We have integrated the use of the software into our treatment in order to provide an allround evidence based intervention.
Q: Why can’t I just work with the computer software with my child?
A: Working just behind the computer does not train expressive communication skills. As with all (social) skills, it is important that we first teach, then practice and finally reinforce. Placing a child behind the computer will certainly help him / her progress in the receptive language area, but it does not train the child how to initiate a conversation.
Q: Most Autism program require at least 20 hours of therapy per week. Why does Autimistic work differently?
A: We don’t. We strongly believe in the willingness and motivation of parents. We believe that with guidance and support, a parent is capable of implementing essential components of a comprehensive autism intervention system. Therefore, we have shifted away from the traditional therapist-client model and have adopted the parent-client model, where a consultant coaches the parents with extensive resources. Starting with a less intrusive intervention tends to be less stressful for a child with autism. And… it reduces costs significantly.
