Where are the best places to go to for help/therapy/training

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Whatseranme868
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Location: Florida

13 Apr 2015, 8:31 am

First time posting. 24 years old and I can't stand the social skills road block I've been stuck behind for years, it's gotten a million times worse recently. Especially since entering the professional world. I'm in a position where I'm saving quite a bit of money over the next year, and I'm starting to think that I would gladly spend it all to go to a place that could intensively teach me better social skills/communication skills/how to survive being in groups/etc. Does such a place exist, or am I just dreaming? I have gone to several therapists over the years for anxiety and other issues, but honestly the "aspergers diagnosis" has been a much more recent realization. I am even considering changing careers and pursuing a career based on helping others with aspergers if I feel that I could handle it and if there are any opportunities in that.

I read stories and watch videos all the time of people with aspergers who seemed to have had a TON of help, especially when they were younger, to become good speakers and develop excellent social skills.

Where should I start looking? What are best places for a young adult with aspergers to go to to start looking for help and for answers?

Thank you. :heart:



jimmyboy76453
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13 Apr 2015, 9:12 am

I don't know if such a place exists. You might try adult-education life skills classes, but everyone else there will be mentally disabled, and most of the course work will be things like balancing a checkbook, which it sounds like you already know.

You could try searching online for a psychologist who specializes in ASD. They may be willing to help you learn social skills, or give you tips, or have another avenue to try.

This may sound crazy, but maybe try to find a progressive church and get involved in their young adults group or youth group. It will be small, they usually have weekly meetings that involve some controlled socialization, they often have events, you usually don't need to go to Sunday services if you aren't religious, most of the people will be friendly, and they ought to be supportive if you let them know you are struggling in this area. Look for a bigger church in your area, the kind that has a website and a band that plays music during services. Here is a link to a church in my local area that is the kind I'm talking about.
Find out who is the youth pastor and contact him, tell him what you are looking for, and he should be able to point you in the right direction. If you get a bad feeling about it, though, don't go. Not every person involved in a church is a good person.


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genesis529
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13 Apr 2015, 11:12 am

There is no help/therapy/training. That is the reality of being an autistic adult.