Autism Therapy in NYC
Neurodiversity-affirming therapy for autistic children, teens, and adults. Build skills, manage anxiety, and embrace your authentic self
You finally have the autism diagnosis. Maybe you fought for years to get it. Maybe you just received it last week. Either way, you're wondering: What now?
Your child (or you) is autistic. That's not something to fix—it's something to understand. But navigating a neurotypical world while autistic? That comes with real challenges: sensory overwhelm, social anxiety, executive function struggles, and burnout.
You need support that honors autistic identity while building practical skills for daily life.
We specialize in neurodiversity-affirming therapy for autistic individuals in Manhattan and throughout New York—therapy that works WITH your brain, not against it.
Who This Is For
Autism Therapy Helps Autistic Individuals With:
Anxiety & Emotional Regulation
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Managing sensory overwhelm and overstimulation
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Social anxiety and fear of rejection
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Meltdowns, shutdowns, and autistic burnout
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Understanding the difference between generalized anxiety and autism-specific anxiety
Anxiety & Emotional Regulation
Executive Function & Daily Living
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Organization, time management, and task initiation
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Managing routines and coping with unexpected changes
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Planning and problem-solving strategies
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Daily living skills support
Executive Function & Daily Living
Social Communication & Relationships
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Building meaningful connections while staying authentic (not forced masking)
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Understanding neurotypical social rules without suppressing autistic identity
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Navigating friendships, romantic relationships, and family dynamics
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Setting boundaries and self-advocacy
Social Communication & Relationships
Identity & Self-Acceptance
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Understanding and embracing your autistic identity
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Deciding when/how/if to mask
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Managing internalized ableism
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Finding autistic community and belonging
Identity & Self-Acceptance
Support Across Ages:
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Children & Teens: Understanding their autistic identity, managing school stress, social communication, parent coaching
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Adults: Late-diagnosed processing, workplace accommodations, relationships, unmasking, autistic burnout ​
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Parents & Families: Understanding your autistic child, effective communication, managing meltdowns, school advocacy
Many autistic individuals also experience ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, or identify as LGBTQ+. We address the whole picture, not just autism in isolation.
Our Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
What "Neurodiversity-Affirming" Actually Means:
✓ Autism is not broken. We don't try to make you "act normal" or eliminate autistic traits.
✓ Stimming is valid. We don't suppress hand-flapping, rocking, or other self-regulation strategies.
✓ Special interests are strengths. We celebrate intense interests, not pathologize them.
✓ Masking has a cost. We help you decide when masking is necessary vs. harmful—and build skills for unmasking safely.
✓ Communication differences are respected. Verbal, nonverbal, or AAC—all communication is valid.
Evidence-Based Approaches We Use:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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ACT is particularly effective for autistic individuals because it:​
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Accepts difficult emotions (anxiety, sensory distress) instead of fighting them
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Works WITH autistic thinking patterns, not against them
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Focuses on YOUR values, not neurotypical expectations
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Builds psychological flexibility in navigating a neurotypical world
Executive Function Coaching​
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Organization systems that work for autistic brains
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Visual schedules, timers, and routine management
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Strategies for managing transitions and unexpected changes
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Task initiation and completion support
Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies (CBT)​
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Managing anxiety and intrusive thoughts
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Challenging negative self-beliefs ("I'm broken," "Something's wrong with me")
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Developing coping strategies for sensory overwhelm
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Social skills practice (when desired by the client)
What Happens After Evaluation
Already Evaluated with HMV Psychology?
If you or your child was evaluated with us, therapy builds directly on evaluation results:
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We already understand your autistic profile and co-occurring conditions
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Therapy implements the specific recommendations from your evaluation
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Seamless continuity of care—no need to explain everything again
Evaluated Elsewhere?
That's fine! We can review previous autism evaluations and create a therapy plan based on those results.
No Diagnosis Yet?
You can start therapy without a formal autism diagnosis if you're self-identified or questioning. However, for school or workplace accommodations, formal evaluation is typically required.
Why Choose HMV Psychology for Autism Therapy
Specialized Autism Expertise
Nearly 15 years working specifically with autistic individuals across the lifespan—not general therapists who "see some autism clients"
Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
We honor autistic identity, celebrate differences, and never use compliance-based or punishment-based approaches
Dual Psychology + Behavior Analysis Background
Dr. Voulgarakis is both a licensed psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA-D)—unique expertise in understanding autistic behavior
Trained at Mount Sinai's Seaver Autism Center
Postdoctoral training at one of NYC's leading autism research and clinical centers
Understanding of Co-Occurring Conditions
Autism + ADHD, autism + anxiety, autism + LGBTQ+ identity—we understand complex presentations
Convenient Location
One block from Central Park with flexible in-person, telehealth, or outdoor walk-and-talk sessions.
Common Questions
Is autism therapy the same as ABA? No. While Dr. Voulgarakis is a board-certified behavior analyst, our therapy is NOT traditional ABA. We use ACT, CBT, and executive function coaching—neurodiversity-affirming approaches that honor autistic identity.
Do you work with nonspeaking autistic individuals? Yes. We support all forms of communication, including AAC (augmentative and alternative communication).
What if my child doesn't want to change who they are? Good! We don't want that either. Therapy focuses on managing challenges (anxiety, burnout, overwhelm) while celebrating autistic identity.
Can therapy help with autistic burnout? Yes. We help you recognize burnout signs, reduce masking, implement recovery strategies, and prevent future burnout.
Start Autism Therapy in NYC
Ready for neurodiversity-affirming support?
Not sure if it's autism? Start with a comprehensive autism evaluation