Group therapy for Asperger’s Syndrome

TriBeCa Therapy is located in Downtown Manhattan, NYC and provides individual psychotherapy and group therapy for adults, children, teens and couples who are looking for creative help in living and building their lives.

Asperger’s Syndrome is a controversial term applied to individuals who, among other things, experience an intense sense of awkwardness and difficulty in interpersonal relationships and in social situations. Group therapy is an obvious choice for individual with Asperger’s Syndrome because it provides an excellent opportunity to develop relationships.

A significant choice, however, is whether or not a therapy group for someone with Asperger’s Syndrome should be a group specifically for individuals with Asperger’s (i.e. with only patients in the group who have Asperger’s) or a mixed therapy group where there are individuals with Asperger’s as well as those without.

I strongly believe the second option is the better choice. Why? Look at it this way: If you’ve got difficulty getting close to people, building relationships with others and understanding the ins and outs of how all this works, does it make sense to work on that in an environment where everyone else is struggling with the same thing? Life includes all different kinds of people. Some of those people are like you, some not so much. Getting on in the world involves learning how to build relationships with all kinds of people. Is a therapy group with more diversity a more challenging environment? You bet.

While I won’t pretend that group therapy is a cure for Asperger’s (and many with Asperger’s are understandably offended by the notion of cure) I strongly believe that individuals with Asperger’s can develop, and can learn how to build meaningful social relationships. We get better at things that are challenging by doing them. Group therapy is an environment where individuals with Asperger’s can get the support they need to take on this challenge.

Will I fit in?

Surprisingly well, yes. That’s because fitting in is a matter we engage continuously. While everyone brings different things to the group, everyone has a responsibility to help build it. Many who come into a group (whether diagnosed with Asperger’s or not) question what it is they have to give. “What can I contribute?” you may ask. In group therapy we build with anything and everything available to us. You’ll likely be surprised by just how much you have to give.

For more information on creative group therapy for Asperger’s Syndrome, contact:

TriBeCa Therapy
matt@TriBeCaTherapy.com
212-571-5799
291 Broadway, Suite 801
New York, NY 10007