Our Approach

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At samarcenter, we believe effective therapy starts with a holistic understanding of the individual and their systems of support. Our approach is rooted in the following principles, enhanced by practical adaptations to ensure accessible and impactful care:

 

• Person-Centered and Strengths-Based Care: We honor each person's strengths, abilities, and aspirations, tailoring therapy to build upon these qualities. Concrete strategies are emphasized over abstract concepts, incorporating special interests and focusing on practical applications.

• Communication Adaptations: To ensure clarity, we simplify language, use concrete examples, visual aids, and break information into smaller chunks. Extra processing time is provided with frequent checks for understanding, making sessions accessible and engaging.

• Trauma-Informed Practice: Safety, trust, and empowerment are central, especially for those with complex trauma histories. We validate lived experiences, address stigma, and gradually build emotional safety to foster healing.

• Recognition of Executive Functioning and Sensory Needs: We accommodate challenges like emotional regulation and sensory processing differences. Environmental adjustments, such as minimizing distractions, incorporating sensory-friendly settings, and using structured activities, ensure therapy is both effective and adaptive.

• Session Structure: Sessions are designed to meet individual needs with shorter lengths, frequent breaks, consistent routines, and repetition of key concepts. Clear boundaries and structured activities help create a predictable and supportive environment.

• Thoughtful Communication Considerations: We respect diverse communication needs by adjusting to expressive and receptive differences, ensuring accessible and meaningful therapeutic interactions.

• Therapeutic Modifications: Caregivers are included when appropriate, with a focus on behavioral strategies, role-play, and active practice. Therapy integrates strengths and special interests to make interventions practical and relatable.

• Assessment Considerations: Our assessments are adapted for developmental age, communication differences, and include input from multiple informants. Functional assessment and ongoing progress monitoring guide interventions.

• Collaboration with Systems of Support: We work closely with families, caregivers, educators, and other systems to align care with individual goals. Social support integration fosters skill generalization, builds natural supports, and addresses systemic barriers.

• Cognitive Adaptations: Complex concepts are broken down into concrete steps, using memory aids, repetition, and multisensory learning to enhance understanding and usability.

• Environmental Adjustments: Therapy takes place in settings designed for comfort and predictability, with accessible materials, safe spaces, and minimized distractions to meet diverse sensory and physical needs.

• Emotional Regulation: We simplify emotion identification using visual emotion scales and concrete coping strategies. Techniques like physical regulation and clear crisis plans provide actionable tools for managing emotions.

• Evidence-based: Our therapists utilize evidence-based practices grounded in research and proven effectiveness to guide our treatment methods.

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At samarcenter, these principles and adaptations ensure that therapy is not only effective but also inclusive, empowering individuals to achieve their goals in a supportive and accessible environment.