ADULTING PROGRAM
Welcome to The Conative Group Adulting Program!
Since its inception in 2016 we have successfully served many families in the Houston area. Our wholistic approach, providing treatment for the entire family, rather than just the young adult, has set us apart from most other programs. While our focus has been on young adults with autism, we also serve those struggling with other issues which are causing delays in moving forward in life.
The key to our success is embedded in a multi-pronged approach to treatment. We've learned that strong progress is far more predictable when there is a combination of Individual therapy, Group therapy, Family therapy, and Executive Function Coaching, creating multiple touch points and a variety of support for the entire family on a weekly basis. There must be a fundamental shift in the family system to support change and improvement in young adults who are struggling to move into independent living.
Change is difficult for everyone, but it is especially difficult for those with autism spectrum disorders and/or other mental health issues. Often, by the time families reach us, they have been living in a faulty, unsustainable family dynamic for some time. Parents have tried everything and are at a loss for how to help their adult child, and the young adult is both needing age-appropriate independence, but unable to manage their own lives without considerable support.
WHO IS THE ADULTING PROGRAM FOR?
The participants in our program are in various stages of adulting. Most have finished high school, some are considering/applying/attempting college or working slowly toward a degree. Some drive, some don't, and most live at home and/or are financially and emotionally dependent on their parents. A few of our participants are living independently with varying levels of parental support. Our goal with all participants is to help them reach for and achieve their highest and best level of independence.
The relationship between parents and their dependent adult children, particularly for those still living at home, is wrought with pitfalls and challenges. At The Conative Group, we focus on the mechanics of change and how to restructure the parent/child (young adult) communication and set age-appropriate limits and expectations. The goal is to slowly change a poorly functioning, outdated adult/child relationship, to a more sustainable, adult/adult dynamic, that fosters growth, ownership, and self-motivation. These changes do not come easily and require all members of the family to adjust and change their own behavior in service to their shared common goals.
ADULTING PROGRAM SERVICES
All services are provided in-house at The Conative Group. Each young adult is assigned an Individual therapist for weekly psychotherapy. The Individual therapist serves as the lead/case manager and communicates regularly with the in-house team (group therapist, executive function coaching, family therapist).
FAMILY THERAPY
Family therapy appointments are held every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the needs of the client and family. These sessions are invaluable for keeping treatment on track and for gaging the success of predetermined short- and long-term goals. We find the young adult's self-awareness is often different from the parent's expectations and experience of them, so bringing those issues into sharper focus is critically important for success. Working together in family therapy, we can guide the young adult toward self-regulating behaviors and change the parent/child relationship to one of adult/adult. This process of parents and young adults working together to create a new dynamic with reasonable expectation is necessary for progress to take place.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
An integral part of our team approach to treatment includes weekly Individual Therapy for the young adult. The gold standard for treatment of anxiety, depression, and most adjustment disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy. All clinicians at The Conative Group are highly skilled and experienced in this modality. Additionally, we can provide specialized treatment for young adulting with coexisting conditions such as trauma, screen, drug and alcohol addictions, and other comorbidities. The Individual Therapist also functions as the lead clinician and case manager.
GROUP THERAPY
Young ASD adults in our program usually have been struggling with social and emotional development and are quick to isolate and/or commune only with family. Our Young Adult Therapy Group meets on Friday afternoons. For so many of our participants, this group becomes a lifeline for social connection and a really great reason to get up, get dressed, and leave the house. Many of our young adults continue attending Group Therapy long after they have terminated treatment because of the fun and friendships that were developed through weekly participation. The group is programed and guided to teach social skills, self-management, and adulting practices, but it is also meant to be lighthearted, fun and entertaining. The success of Friday Group is one of the hallmarks of our program.
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION (EF) COACHING
Executive Function Coaching is a necessary, but adjustable aspect of our program. Multiple touch points allow this intervention to be extremely effective, particularly in the first few months of therapy. Initially, the in-house EF coach will schedule two 15 to 30-minutes (weekly) check-ins via phone or Zoom with the young adult, to make sure they are following the daily routine agreed to in advance at the family session.
Data from these EF sessions along with attendance records from other services are compiled each week and shared with the clinical team, the client, and the parents on a weekly basis. This sharing of information has been found to be helpful for identifying the daily challenges, running interference, and making fluid adjustments to the plan based on the specific needs of the young adult and the family. It is important to note that information shared each week is not meant to be a “gotcha” with reprimands attached. Rather the accountability it provides is critical for troubleshooting areas of concern as well as celebrating progress.