Anxiety and depression treatment for adolescents with autism

Linden Oaks Behavioral Health offers Aspirations, an intensive outpatient program designed to help adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) more effectively manage their anxiety and/or depression.

The Aspirations program helps adolescents who experience difficulties in the following areas:

  • Social interactions and communication
  • Attending and adapting to school
  • Recognizing and working with emotions
  • Anxiety, panic attacks and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
  • Depression, low mood and lack of motivation
  • Self-care and daily responsibilities

Program schedule

Adolescents participate in outpatient group therapy in the morning, five days a week, then have the opportunity to transition to and attend afternoon classes at their school. The schedule includes daily group check-ins on goals and emotions, learning and practicing coping skills, and group discussions on social skills and interactions.

Focus on strengths

Through a structured, caring and support environment, therapists use innovative therapeutic services to help modify behaviors, improve communication and provide strategies for managing anxiety, depression and mood. Aspirations uses a unique blend of therapies to make a difference for adolescents and their families:

  • Individual sessions – focus on individual treatment goals and progress
  • Family education sessions – provide support and encouragement for families to work on modifying habits and issues at home
  • Group therapy – focus on skills education in mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, values, mental health education and social skills
  • Tutoring services – available as part of the treatment as needed

To learn more about our Aspirations program, call the Linden Oaks Help Line 24/7 at 630-305-5027.

Linden Oaks locations