Services for Children and Teens with Mental Health Concerns

Services for Children and Teens with Mental Health Concerns-At Autism Center for Kids, we understand that children and adolescents on the autism spectrum often experience co-occurring mental health challenges—such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and emotion-regulation difficulties—that can impact daily functioning at home, in school, and in social settings. Our interdisciplinary team in Oakville and Vaughan provides evidence-based therapeutic interventions designed specifically for youth with autism. Among the array of services we offer, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) stands out as a cornerstone approach for addressing anxiety, mood dysregulation, and behavioral challenges.

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Meet Amir Haimove: Services for Children and Teens with Mental Health Concerns-Clinician & Advocate for Youth Mental Health

About Amir’s Background

• Educational Credentials – Amir Haimove holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Toronto, with specialized postgraduate training in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and youth mental health. He completed an intensive CBT certificate program at the Centre for Cognitive Behavioral Studies, where he learned cutting-edge adaptations of CBT for children and teens, including those with neurodevelopmental differences.
• Professional Experience – Over the past six years, Amir has worked in both hospital-based child psychiatry departments and community-based autism clinics. He began his career as a behavioral support worker, collaborating closely with families of children on the spectrum to build individualized behavior plans. Since then, Amir has guided hundreds of families through individual and group therapy programs, emphasizing skill-building in emotional regulation, social communication, and problem-solving. In 2023, Amir joined the Autism Center for Kids as a Clinical Director, overseeing our CBT-based anxiety group for teens and supervising our junior therapists.
• Philosophy & Approach – Amir believes in a holistic, strength-focused model: while ASD often comes with communication and social challenges, every child has unique talents and interests. By blending structured CBT techniques with an appreciation of each child’s individual profile, Amir crafts treatment plans that are developmentally appropriate, concrete, and engaging. He emphasizes collaboration with parents, teachers, and other allied health professionals to ensure generalization of skills across settings.

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Services for Children and Teens with Mental Health Concerns-What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Services for Children and Teens with Mental Health Concerns-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps children, teens, and adults identify—and then modify—unhelpful thought patterns (cognitions) and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress or interfere with functioning. In essence, CBT posits that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected: by changing one aspect (for example, noticing and challenging an anxious thought), we can influence moods (reducing anxiety) and actions (increasing engagement in desired activities).

1. CBT Defined
   • Cognitive refers to our thoughts, beliefs, and mental images.
   • Behavioral refers to observable actions or reactions—what a person does (or avoids doing).
   • Therapy involves structured sessions in which a trained clinician guides the individual through specific techniques to notice, question, and reframe thoughts, and to practice new behaviors.
2. Why CBT for Autism + Mental Health?
   • Many autistic youth experience heightened anxiety—particularly around changes in routine, social interactions, or sensory overload. CBT has a robust evidence base for treating anxiety disorders in typically developing children; although classic CBT relies heavily on abstract verbal reasoning, therapists like Amir adapt techniques (using visuals, concrete examples, role-play, and social stories) to make them accessible to kids on the spectrum.
   • CBT also targets negative self-talk and rigid thinking patterns (“I always mess up” or “If I don’t do it perfectly, something terrible will happen”). By scaffolding cognitive flexibility, autistic teens can learn healthier ways to interpret events and cope when things don’t go as planned.

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CBT: Core Concepts & Techniques

Below are some foundational components of CBT—adapted for children and teens, especially those with autism.

1. Psychoeducation (Learning About Feelings and Thoughts)
   • “Thoughts ↔ Feelings ↔ Behaviors” Diagram
     Early sessions often introduce a simple triad diagram: Situation → Thought → Feeling → Behavior → Outcome Amir uses visual aids (colour-coded arrows, illustrated characters) to show how a single event (e.g., “My friend didn’t wave back”) can trigger an automatic thought (“They’re mad at me”), leading to an emotion (sadness or anxiety), which might lead to avoidance (not going to school) or outbursts.
   • Emotion Thermometer/Feelings Chart
     Many autistic kids have difficulty naming or rating their internal states. Amir introduces a “Thermometer” with faces (happy, calm, frustrated, scared, angry) and corresponding colours/number scales (0 = calm, 5 = extremely anxious). This concrete tool helps youths label their feelings before diving into strategies for change.
2. Cognitive Restructuring (Challenging Unhelpful Thoughts)
   • Detecting Automatic Thoughts
     Children learn to identify “automatic thoughts” that pop into their minds. For someone with ASD, an automatic thought might be very concrete but catastrophizing (e.g., “If I stutter in class, everyone will laugh and hate me forever”).
   • Socratic Questioning (Adapted)
     While traditional Socratic questioning (open-ended “Why do you think that?”) can be abstract, Amir uses more structured prompts:
     • “What evidence do we have that someone laughed at you?”
     • “What’s another explanation for why the teacher smiled but didn’t wave?”
     • “If your best friend felt this way, what would you tell them?”
       By using scripted language and role-playing, autistic youth can practice seeing alternative explanations.
   • Thought Records (Visual Worksheets)
     Instead of writing lengthy paragraphs, worksheets might use numbered boxes: (1) Situation, (2) Feeling (Thermometer number), (3) Automatic Thought, (4) Evidence For/Against, (5) Alternative Thought, (6) Outcome. Amir customizes these with icons and minimal text, so that children who are more visual or have limited literacy can still engage.
3. Behavioral Techniques (Facing Fears & Building Skills)
   • Exposure Hierarchies
     For anxiety around social situations—like ordering food at a café—teens work with Amir to create a graded list of challenges (e.g., watching a video of someone ordering → role-playing in therapy → calling the café → going in with a parent → ordering alone). Each step is concrete, measurable, and repeats until anxiety drops (often measured on the feel­ings thermometer).
   • Activity Scheduling & Behavioral Activation
     When depression or low mood co-occurs, scheduling pleasant or rewarding activities (hobbies, games, art projects) can combat withdrawal. Amir collaborates with families to identify each teen’s unique interests (e.g., coding, drawing, LEGO) and builds a weekly plan—balancing enjoyable tasks with responsibilities—to restore a sense of accomplishment.
   • Social Skills Rehearsal
     While not strictly “CBT,” practice in turn-taking, maintaining eye contact (if developmentally appropriate), or initiating conversations supports the child’s confidence. After role-plays, Amir helps the teen reflect: “What did you notice? How did you feel? What might you try next time?”
4. Problem-Solving & Coping Skills
   • STEPPs Technique (Stop → Think → Explore Options → Pick & Plan → Success Evaluation)
     Amir introduces a step-by-step decision-making model:
     1. Stop (pause automatic reaction)
     2. Think (what’s happening right now?)
     3. Explore Options (brainstorm possible actions)
     4. Pick & Plan (choose an option and plan how to do it)
     5. Success Evaluation (afterward: what went well? What to change?)
        This concrete structure is especially helpful for teens who struggle with impulsivity or frustration when things deviate from expectations.
   • Relaxation & Mindfulness Adaptations
     Many autistic youth benefit from short, sensory-based grounding strategies (e.g., squeezing a stress ball, tracing fingers in playdough, listening to a favourite song for two minutes). Amir adapts progressive muscle relaxation into a “Check Your Muscles” game: “Is your forehead scrunched? Let’s relax it. Are your shoulders up by your ears? Let them drop.”

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How Does Behavioral Therapy Work?

Although CBT integrates both cognitive (thought-focused) and behavioral (action-focused) strategies, Behavioral Therapy more narrowly emphasizes changing observable behaviors through principles of learning—chiefly positive reinforcement, modeling, and systematic desensitization. Within the context of our Autism Center for Kids, “behavioral therapy” often incorporates Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) elements alongside CBT.

1. Identifying Target Behaviors
   Amir begins by working with families to identify specific, measurable behaviors that interfere with functioning—such as frequent tantrums when the schedule changes, extreme avoidance of social situations, or self-injurious behaviors during moments of high anxiety. A clear baseline is established: how often does the behavior occur, in what settings, and what typically precedes it?
2. Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
   With the help of a behavior technician, Amir observes or gathers parent/teacher reports to determine the function of the behavior (e.g., escape from demands, seeking attention, sensory stimulation). For instance, a teen might shut down and refuse to do homework because the task feels overwhelming (escape function), or because the transition from video games to studying is too abrupt (sensory or routine-related).
3. Developing a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
   Once the function is understood, Amir selects strategies to reduce the challenging behavior and increase replacement skills:
   • Antecedent Modifications: Adjust the environment—provide a visual schedule, give advance warnings before transitions, minimize sensory triggers.
   • Teaching Alternative/Replacement Behaviors: If the function is “escape,” teach the teen to ask for a break (“I need a 5-minute pause”). If the function is “attention,” teach requesting praise politely (“Can you check my math?”).
   • Reinforcement Strategies: Provide immediate, tangible rewards (stickers, token boards) or social praise (“You did it!”) when the teen uses the replacement skill instead of the problematic behavior. Amir ensures that reinforcements align with each child’s motivators—some youth value screen time, others enjoy extra recess, or a special art activity.
   • Response-to-Intervention: If the challenging behavior occurs, follow a consistent plan (e.g., calmly block self-injury, prompt the teen to use the replacement skill, then deliver reinforcement for the desired behavior).
4. Data Collection & Ongoing Review
   Each session, the clinician or behavior technician records data on target behaviors and the use of replacement skills. Over time, this data informs whether the strategies are reducing problem behaviors and increasing positive skills. If progress stalls, Amir adjusts antecedents, reinforcement schedules, or the replacement skill teaching.
5. Generalization & Maintenance
   Real-world success depends on applying new skills across settings—home, school, community. Amir regularly communicates with parents and liaises with school teams (with proper consent) to ensure consistency: using the same visual supports, reinforcement strategies, and language cues that the teen learned in therapy.

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Why Choose Autism Center for Kids for CBT & Behavioral Therapy?

1. Tailored, Developmentally Appropriate Interventions
   • Our clinicians, led by Amir Haimove, understand the nuances of autism and co-occurring mental health needs. We avoid “one-size-fits-all” protocols; instead, we adapt techniques (visual schedules, social narratives, sensory strategies) to meet each child’s cognitive profile, language ability, and sensory preferences.
2. Collaboration with Families & Schools
   • Effective CBT and behavioral therapy hinge on consistency. Amir conducts family consultation sessions to teach parents how to use thought-challenging language at home, maintain reinforcement charts, and support anxiety-management strategies. When possible, we collaborate with school psychologists and educators, sharing tools like “feelings scales” or “break cards” so that the child’s progress is reinforced during academic activities.
3. Qualified, Compassionate Team
   • Under Amir’s supervision, our therapists hold graduate-level training in psychology, social work, or applied behavior analysis. Each clinician undergoes specialized ASD-focused training—so you can trust that your child’s clinician not only has expertise in CBT but also understands the unique learning styles of children on the spectrum.
4. Comprehensive Assessment & Outcome Monitoring
   • Before beginning any therapy, Amir conducts a thorough intake assessment, including standardized anxiety or mood measures, adaptive functioning scales, and direct observation. Progress is tracked formally every 8–12 weeks to ensure that goals are being met and to adjust treatment plans if necessary.
5. Community & Peer Support
   • Beyond one-on-one therapy, Autism Center for Kids offers small group sessions (up to 4 teens) where participants practice social skills, emotion-regulation strategies, and coping techniques in a safe, structured environment. Amir often co-facilitates these groups, using role-plays and games to make learning interactive.

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Take the First Step:

If your child or teen in Oakville or Vaughan struggles with anxiety, mood challenges, or behavioral difficulties—and you suspect that ASD or social-communication differences might be contributing—contact Autism Center for Kids to schedule an intake consultation with Amir Haimove. Together, we’ll determine whether CBT, behavioral therapy, or a combination of evidence-based approaches is the right fit.

• Oakville Clinic – 123 Maple Grove Avenue, Suite 200
• Vaughan Clinic – 456 Pine Valley Road, Suite 305
• Phone: (905) 555‑1234 | Email: info@autismcenterforkids.ca
• Website: www.autismcenterforkids.ca

Our clinicians are here to provide compassionate, expert care—empowering kids and teens to manage anxiety, build healthy thinking patterns, and thrive both inside and outside the classroom.