Children and youth with ASD experiencing anxiety are not alone! During this 3-hour training caregivers will learn about anxiety, the various ways it presents in children/youth with ASD and what Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy strategies to use with their child/youth at home. Caregivers will practice strategies and develop a plan to support their child/youth with a specific goal. Two one-hour individualized follow-up consultations are provided following the training.

Following brief assessment of language and play skills, child-parent dyads participate in 20 programming sessions of up to 1-hour (2 times weekly) based upon both naturalistic developmental (JASPER) and ABA principles. Sessions will increase child play and language skills, as well as caregiver confidence in teaching their child new skills. This session will be offered in partnership with Roots and Wings Psychology

Following brief assessment of language and play skills, child-parent dyads participate in 20 programming sessions of up to 1-hour (2 times weekly) based upon both naturalistic developmental (JASPER) and ABA principles. Sessions will increase child play and language skills, as well as caregiver confidence in teaching their child new skills.

So as not to overlap with OAP Early Years Services, this service is offered to caregivers and children with ASD between 4 and 8 years of age who are minimally verbal and/or who use little appropriate independent or creative play.

Youth with ASD can access up to three individualized 1-hr consultations with a registered psychologist experienced in working with youth having ASD and mental health difficulties. Participants will complete mental health screening questionnaires prior to the first appointment. Presenting concerns could be challenges with anxiety, stress, depression, anger or emotion regulation. A strength based, cognitive behavioural approach will help children and youth to problem solve, to discover new coping strategies and to determine next steps for support in their home community.

FLIP-IT an evidence-based program for parents to help young children identify their feelings, learn healthy self-control and reduce challenging behaviour. Caregivers will increase their knowledge about the resilience framework and how it can be used to support children who use challenging behavior. They will learn and implement the four FLIP-IT steps (Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, Prompts) to help their children learn self-control and transform challenging behavior.

Caregivers participate in 1-hour interactive training sessions each week for four weeks and receive one 1-hour phone or video follow up consultation to support implementation with their child at home.

Location:
Virtually via Zoom Health (Groups A & C)

In Person at Roots & Wings, Sudbury (Group B)

Roots & Wings Psychology
1 – 1191 Lansing Ave,
Sudbury, Ontario
P3A 4C4
Phone: 705-885-9998
Fax: 705-885-1257

Research shows that language develops after teaching gestures, joint attention and play skills to minimally verbal children. Moreover, having functional and creative play skills increases children’s ability to play on their own as well as with others. Join us to learn about language and play milestones, to identify your child’s current and target levels of play and language skills and importantly, to practice key strategies to promote your child’s play and language development. Our multidisciplinary team uses play-based natural environment teaching, along with evidence based developmental, linguistic, and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) methods.

Caregivers training is provided in a 1-hour weekly session for 5 weeks followed by three, 1-hour in-person, phone or video consultations with a multidisciplinary team member to implement individualized strategies with their child at home.

FLIP-IT an evidence-based program for parents to help young children identify their feelings, learn healthy self-control and reduce challenging behaviour. Caregivers will increase their knowledge about the resilience framework and how it can be used to support children who use challenging behavior. They will learn and implement the four FLIP-IT steps (Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, Prompts) to help their children learn self-control and transform challenging behavior.

They will learn and implement the four FLIP-IT steps (Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, Prompts) to help their children learn self-control and transform challenging behavior. Following the 4-week group training, each caregiver can participate in an individualized consultation. This service is intended for caregivers of children between 3 to 8 years of age who speak using phrases or sentences.

Following brief assessment of language and play skills, child-parent dyads participate in 20 programming sessions of up to 1-hour (2 times weekly) based upon both naturalistic developmental (JASPER) and ABA principles. Sessions will increase child play and language skills, as well as caregiver confidence in teaching their child new skills.

So as not to overlap with OAP Early Years Services, this service is offered to caregivers and children with ASD between 4 and 8 years of age who are minimally verbal and/or who use little appropriate independent or creative play.

PEERS® is an evidence-based social skills program designed to improve social interactions for youth who want to learn how to make and keep friends. During the 12 weekly 1.5 hour group sessions, specific social skills will be taught, and participants will have the opportunity to practice the skills during fun activities and role playing. There will be weekly corresponding homework assignments, therefore parent support is strongly encouraged.

Caregivers also participate in two, 1-hour phone or video sessions with one of the facilitators to discuss their child progress and strategies to help them. Appropriate for youth between 13 and 16 years with ASD who have friendship problems, agree to participate voluntarily and to attend weekly. A screening questionnaire will be completed prior to the start date to verify criteria for the program are met.

PEERS® is an evidence-based social skills program designed to improve social interactions for youth who want to learn how to make and keep friends. During the 12 weekly 1.5 hour group sessions, specific social skills will be taught, and participants will have the opportunity to practice the skills during fun activities and role playing. There will be weekly corresponding homework assignments, therefore parent support is strongly encouraged.

Caregivers also participate in two, 1-hour phone or video sessions with one of the facilitators to discuss their child progress and strategies to help them. Appropriate for youth between 13 and 16 years with ASD who have friendship problems, agree to participate voluntarily and to attend weekly. A screening questionnaire will be completed prior to the start date to verify criteria for the program are met.

Caregivers can register for a one-hour clinical consultation with a multidisciplinary team including a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst, Psychologist/Psychological Associate, and Speech Language Pathologist who have experience working with children and youth with ASD and their caregivers. The team will work in collaboration with caregivers to review their child’s strengths and needs across skill domains, to identify and prioritize specific goals, and to learn about evidence-based approaches to meet these goals for their child. Caregivers will be asked to complete a background form prior to the consultation to help the team become more familiar with their child and family.

Following brief assessment of language and play skills, child-parent dyads participate in 20 programming sessions of up to 1-hour (2 times weekly) based upon evidence based naturalistic developmental and behavioural principles. Sessions will increase child play and language skills, as well as caregiver confidence in teaching their child new skills. This service is intended for caregivers and children with ASD who are between the age of 4 and 8, minimally verbal and/or who use little appropriate independent or creative play.

PEERS® is an evidence-based social skills program designed to improve social interactions for youth who want to learn how to make and keep friends. During the 12 weekly 1.5 hour group sessions, specific social skills will be taught, and participants will have the opportunity to practice the skills during fun activities and role playing. There will be weekly corresponding homework assignments, therefore parent support is strongly encouraged. Caregivers also participate in two, 1-hour phone or video sessions with one of the facilitators to discuss their child progress and strategies to help them. Appropriate for youth between 13 and 16 years with ASD who have friendship problems, agree to participate voluntarily and to attend weekly. A screening questionnaire will be completed prior to the start date to verify criteria for the program are met.

Following brief assessment of social communication skills, the child or youth participates in 20 individualized sessions up to one hour each supervised by a BCBA. The goal is to increase conversation and turn taking through fun games and interactions. This service is intended for children or youth age 8 and up who are verbal, speak in sentences and have basic reading skills. It is ideal for those who need to build important social communication skills prior to participation in a social skills group.

AIM is an evidence-based curriculum that combines Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Applied Behaviour Analysis to provide strategies for those struggling with social and emotional challenges. "Level 1” is a foundational, 10-week program (1-hour sessions) that includes a series of activities aimed at increasing adaptive, calm and flexible behaviour to improve self-regulation, using a values-based approach. There will be weekly corresponding home practice assignments to consolidate strategies learned in sessions. Caregivers will have weekly written communication on the strategies taught to encourage home practice. This course is appropriate for children and youth who have conversational skills and are currently struggling with emotion-regulation related to inflexible or rigid thinking.

Over the course of four weeks, caregivers will consult directly with a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst on a goal for their child. They will receive 1:1 coaching and/or continued consultations with the BCBA. Consultations will occur virtually or by phone, and in-person where possible. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) as well as Mindfulness and values-based coaching will be used with caregivers (i.e., Acceptance and Commitment Training). ACT is an evidence-based approach that combines mindfulness techniques with values-based processes which helps caregivers to address the thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sensations that can arise when implementing new strategies.

Over the course of four weeks, caregivers will consult directly with a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst on a goal for their child. They will receive 1:1 coaching and/or continued consultations with the BCBA. Consultations will occur virtually or by phone, and in-person where possible. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) as well as Mindfulness and values-based coaching will be used with caregivers (i.e., Acceptance and Commitment Training). ACT is an evidence-based approach that combines mindfulness techniques with values-based processes which helps caregivers to address the thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sensations that can arise when implementing new strategies.

Youth are invited to join a small group of their peers, learn and practice new skills, and have fun in a relaxed setting. This service is intended for youth who have basic conversational skills and want to have greater success making and keeping friends. Through instruction, demonstrations and role-play, participants will work on targeted skills such as: Trading Information, Maintaining Conversations, Entering and Exiting Conversations and Appropriate use of Humour. Lunch will be provided. A screening will be completed prior to the start date to establish that youth are a fit for the program.

Youth are invited to join a small group of their peers, learn and practice new skills, and have fun in a relaxed setting. This service is intended for youth who have basic conversational skills and want to have greater success making and keeping friends. Through instruction, demonstration and role-play, participants will work on targeted skills such as: Starting and Maintaining Conversations; Choosing Appropriate Friends; Finding a Source of Friends; Sportsmanship; Handling Disagreements; and Dealing with Teasing. A screening will be completed prior to the start date to verify criteria for the program are met.

Roots & Wings Psychology is pleased to offer social skills groups using the POWER-Solving®: Stepping Stones to Helping Children Solve Life’s Everyday Social Problems curriculum. This comprehensive social skills curriculum teaches problem solving, anger management, social conversation, and developing friendship skills. Examples of skills targeted include, but are not limited to: setting and achieving a goal within a given situation; staying calm when told ‘no’, or when things don’t go their way; starting, maintaining, changing the topic, and ending conversation appropriately; accepting others who are different from them; and learning how to play a game appropriately.

Eligible participants must be between 7 and 11 years of age with no externalized behaviours (i.e., physical aggression, property destruction, self-injurious behaviours), and well-established verbal repertoire (i.e., can read and write close to their grade level).

Pizza and drinks will be provided at each session.

Roots & Wings Psychology is excited to offer a new service called Sleep Tight. Good sleep is crucial in supporting our children/youth’s growth and development as well as healthy brain and body functioning throughout their day. The Sleep Tight program is a time limited service that offers a sleep assessment and treatment plan, along with one month of follow up support.

Goals of the treatment plan are developed collaboratively with caregivers in consideration of the client, family values, as well as safety and subjective experience. Goals can include but are not limited to: falling asleep quickly, staying asleep throughout the night, rise without difficulty in the morning, decrease drowsiness during the day, and fall and stay asleep unassisted.