What ages do you support for autism therapy?

We support children, teens, and their families. Therapy is tailored to your child's age, developmental stage, communication style, and emotional needs.

Can therapy help with social skills and anxiety?

Yes. Many families reach out because their child is struggling with friendship skills, social anxiety, emotional overwhelm, school stress, or difficulty coping with change. Therapy can help build confidence, coping tools, and stronger relationships.

Do you offer ABA therapy?

Young Sprouts Therapy is a psychotherapy-based clinic. We offer relationship-based, play-based, and neurodiversity-affirming support for autistic children and teens. Therapy can also complement ABA, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, or school-based supports when helpful.

Can OAP funding be used for therapy?

Some families may be able to use eligible OAP funding for mental health services with Registered Psychotherapists or Registered Social Workers. We can provide receipts and documentation, and we encourage families to contact us if they are unsure what funding applies to their child.

Do you work with families outside Thornhill?

Yes. We regularly support families from Vaughan, North York, Markham, and Richmond Hill, along with other nearby communities. We also offer virtual sessions for families across Ontario when appropriate.

Young Sprouts Therapy

Autism Therapy for Kids & Teens in Thornhill

Compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming autism therapy for kids and teens in Thornhill, serving families in Vaughan, North York, Markham, and Richmond Hill. We support social skills, anxiety, emotional regulation, behavioural challenges, and parent-child connection through warm, play-based therapy.

Young Sprouts Therapy

Autism Therapy for Kids & Teens in Thornhill

Autism Therapy That Supports the Whole Family

If your child has autism, is awaiting assessment, or is working through social, emotional, or behavioural challenges that may be related to autism, you do not have to figure it all out alone. At Young Sprouts Therapy, we help children and teens feel safer, more understood, and more confident in everyday life.

Our therapists support kids and teens with autism through relationship-based, evidence-informed therapy that meets your child where they are. We focus on practical, meaningful goals that can make home, school, and family life feel more manageable.

Many families pair this work with our broader child therapy services when a child needs a wider range of support.

Child participating in play-based autism therapy at Young Sprouts Therapy in Thornhill

What Autism Therapy Can Help With

Every family brings different strengths and stress points. Here are common areas we support when parents are looking for autism therapy for kids or teens, or therapy that honours neurodivergence and emotional well-being.

Social skills support

Turn-taking, flexible thinking, conversation skills, friendship-building, and reading social cues—in a way that feels supportive rather than forced.

Anxiety support

School worries, transitions, sensory overwhelm, uncertainty, separation, perfectionism, and big feelings that often show up alongside autism.

Emotional regulation

Noticing body cues, naming feelings, building coping strategies, and moving through overwhelm with more confidence and support.

Behavioural challenges

Exploring the needs underneath meltdowns, shutdowns, avoidance, aggression, or daily power struggles—with strategies that support regulation and connection.

Communication and self-expression

Expressing needs, preferences, boundaries, and emotions using the communication style that works best for your child.

Parent and family support

Practical tools for co-regulation, routines, transitions, school advocacy, and calmer day-to-day interactions at home.

Therapy for Kids and Teens with Autism

Every autistic child or teen is different. We tailor therapy to age, communication style, sensory profile, and emotional needs—without asking your child to “perform” to deserve support.

For younger children
Play-based support for emotional expression, transitions, regulation, family routines, and early social connection. Your child does not need to sit perfectly still or talk on cue to benefit.
For school-age kids
Friendship stress, school pressure, flexibility, anxiety, emotional regulation, sensory overwhelm, and behaviour that often signals distress or unmet needs.
For teens with autism
Anxiety, identity, self-esteem, masking, peer relationships, emotional burnout, school stress, and care that feels respectful and age-appropriate.
For parents and caregivers
Parent coaching, collaborative planning, and practical strategies you can use between sessions—supportive, non-blaming, and grounded in real family life.

Teen with autism in a supportive counselling session focused on anxiety and self-expression at Young Sprouts Therapy

A Neurodiversity-Affirming, Play-Based Approach

Young Sprouts is a psychotherapy-based clinic. We support autistic children and teens through connection, emotional safety, and skill-building—not compliance-based language or “fixing” your child. We follow your child's lead, respect sensory and communication needs, and work with your family as partners.

Therapy can sit alongside ABA, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, or school supports when those are already in place. Many families use a mix of services; we are glad to collaborate when it helps your child.

Approaches we may draw from

Play therapy
Art and creative therapies
Sandtray therapy
Emotion-focused work
CBT- and DBT-informed coping strategies
Parent coaching and parent-child work
Collaboration with schools and other care providers when helpful

Learn more about play therapy at Young Sprouts.

Support for Social Skills, Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and Behavioural Challenges

Therapy is not only about the word “autism” on a form. It is also about the day-to-day struggles families notice: friendship stress, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, blow-ups, rigid routines, school pressure, sibling conflict, and exhaustion at home. We keep the focus on helping your child or teen feel more secure, flexible, connected, and understood.

Meltdowns and sensory overload
Reducing meltdowns around transitions or sensory overload.
Social confidence
Building social confidence and friendship skills.
Anxiety and avoidance
Supporting anxious or avoidant behaviour.
Emotional awareness
Improving emotional awareness and coping tools for big feelings.
Parent-child communication
Strengthening communication between you and your child.
Teen stress and self-esteem
Helping teens manage stress, masking, and self-esteem.

Parent and child meeting with therapist for autism support and parent coaching at Young Sprouts Therapy

OAP Funding and Practical Support for Families

Our team includes Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers. Some families may use eligible Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding for mental health services, depending on their child's plan and program rules.

We provide receipts and documentation that families need for eligible reimbursement or claims. If you are not sure what applies to your child, contact us and we will help you think through sensible next steps—while official eligibility always stays with AccessOAP and the Government of Ontario.

Read our guide to Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding, or explore fees, insurance, and budgeting.

Serving Families in Thornhill and Nearby Communities

We offer in-person autism therapy at our Thornhill office and welcome many families from Vaughan, North York, Markham, and Richmond Hill. Some families choose our clinic because they want a warm, child- and teen-focused space close to home. Others use virtual sessions across Ontario when that fits energy, schedules, or travel better.

A short drive to Thornhill is often worth it when you want a team that knows child mental health and neurodiversity-affirming care. If you are unsure, a free consult is an easy way to see if we feel like the right fit.

Meet Our Autism Therapists

Gretchen

MTA, MT-BC, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Daniela

MSW, RSW (Clinical Director)

Michelle

RSW, MSW

Shalheves

RSW, MSW

Riki

RSW, MSW

Jackie

RSW, MSW, Certified Family Mediator

Hilla

MSW, RSW

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the Next Gentle Step

If you are looking for autism therapy for your child or teen, we are here to help you sort through what is going on and find a plan that feels supportive and realistic. Book a free consultation to learn how Young Sprouts Therapy can support your family in Thornhill and nearby communities.

Send an Inquiry

For child, teen, and family therapy, visit our homepage. We also welcome families from Aurora and Markham through our locations and virtual care.