Finding the right support for autism can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure whether you need an evaluation, a specific type of therapy, or simply a provider who understands neurodivergence. At Midtown Psychology, our autism specialists work with children, adolescents, and adults in New York City, offering neurodiversity-affirming care that’s tailored to each individual’s strengths, challenges, and goals.
What Does an Autism Specialist Actually Do Differently Than a General Therapist?
A general therapist is trained broadly across mental health concerns, but an autism specialist brings focused expertise in how autistic individuals think, communicate, and experience the world. This means treatment isn’t about pushing someone to appear more “typical” — it’s about understanding a client’s natural communication style, sensory needs, and social preferences, and building support around them.
Autism specialists are also trained to recognize how autism can overlap with or be masked by anxiety, ADHD, or perfectionism, which a general therapist may miss. Care often includes:
- Adapting communication style and pacing to fit the individual
- Incorporating sensory needs into the therapy environment
- Recognizing and addressing masking or burnout
Collaborating with families, schools, or workplaces when helpful - Focusing on self-understanding and self-advocacy rather than “fixing” behavior
How Do I Know if My Child Needs an Autism Evaluation or Just Extra Support?
This is one of the most common questions parents bring to us, and there’s no single answer that fits every family. Some signs that a formal evaluation may be worth exploring include:
- Persistent differences in social communication or eye contact
- Intense or narrow interests
- Strong reactions to sensory input (sounds, textures, lights)
- Difficulty with changes in routine
- Delayed or atypical language development
- Repetitive movements or behaviors
If these patterns are mild, inconsistent, or clearly tied to a specific stressor, your child may simply benefit from targeted support, such as social skills groups or parent coaching, without needing a full evaluation. A consultation with one of our autism specialists can help you figure out which path makes the most sense before committing to formal testing.
What Should I Expect at a First Appointment with an Autism Specialist?
The first appointment is primarily about gathering information, not making immediate conclusions. Your provider will typically:
Ask about developmental history, current concerns, and daily functioning
Discuss any prior evaluations, school reports, or other providers involved
Talk through your goals for treatment or evaluation
Explain what evidence-based options might fit your situation
This appointment is also a chance for you to ask questions and get a feel for whether the provider’s approach is a good match for your family or for you as an individual client.
Can Autism Specialists Help with School Accommodations and IEPs?
Yes. Many families come to us specifically because school is where challenges become most visible. Our autism specialists can help by:
Providing documentation to support an IEP or 504 Plan request
Explaining evaluation results in terms schools can use
Collaborating directly with teachers or school psychologists when appropriate
Coaching parents on how to advocate effectively in IEP meetings
Helping identify accommodations that address sensory, social, or executive functioning needs
Because school demands change every year, this kind of support often continues well beyond the initial evaluation or diagnosis.
Do Autism Specialists Work with Teens and Adults Too, or Just Young Children?
Autism support isn’t limited to early childhood. At Midtown Psychology, we work with adolescents and adults navigating autism-related concerns, including:
Social and communication challenges in school, work, or relationships
Anxiety, burnout, or exhaustion related to masking
Executive functioning difficulties
Identity and self-understanding, including late or newly explored diagnoses
Transitions such as starting college or entering the workforce
Adults are often seeking a different kind of support than children — less about behavioral skill-building and more about self-understanding, communication, and reducing the exhaustion that can come with navigating a neurotypical world.
How Is Autism Therapy Different for Twice-Exceptional (2e) Kids?
Twice-exceptional, or 2e, children are both intellectually gifted and autistic (or otherwise neurodivergent), and this combination can be easy to miss or misread. A child’s strong vocabulary or academic ability may mask social or sensory struggles, while their autism-related challenges may overshadow their giftedness in the eyes of teachers or evaluators.
Our approach to 2e care involves:
Looking at the whole profile of strengths and challenges, not just one piece
Avoiding assumptions that giftedness rules out significant struggles, or vice versa
Supporting perfectionism and heightened anxiety, which are common in 2e kids
Helping parents and schools understand a child who may seem contradictory on paper
This nuanced lens is something Dr. Cara Remmes and our team have specific experience with, given our work with intellectually gifted and twice-exceptional clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
We offer both. Some clients come to us for a formal evaluation, while others are already diagnosed and are looking for ongoing, autism-informed therapy or parent coaching.
Yes. We offer virtual sessions in addition to in-person appointments at our Columbus Circle office, so families and adult clients can choose whichever format works best for their schedule and comfort level.
Our practice operates as a private-pay (out-of-network) provider.
We aim to respond to new inquiries within 1-3 business days, and we offer evening and weekend appointment times to help fit care into a busy schedule.