Rutgers Psychology building

Psychological Services Clinic (PSC)

  1. WHO WE ARE
  2. Psychological Services Clinic (PSC)

The diagnosis of ASD in adulthood can be complex, especially when, historically, supports have been tailored for children. Over the years, Dr. Bal and colleagues have been working to "to adapt and improve [the traditional measures that were developed for the use in children for an ASD diagnosis], or to develop new tools that will better capture the specific difficulties and strengths of adults being evaluated for ASD." (Health, 2021)

The Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS) Psychological Services Clinic (PSC) provides evidence-based assessment and treatment services for autistic adults and other neurodivergent individuals (e.g., those with ADHD, Learning Disorders, or persistent symptoms following a traumatic brain injury). All services are supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized expertise in working with neurodivergent populations, particularly individuals on the autism spectrum. 

The PSC is not taking new referrals at this time. When there is availability for new referrals, this website will be updated.

If you are experiencing a clinical emergency and are in need of immediate clinical attention, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

The Psychological Services Clinic (PSC) is a Rutgers Training clinic, which means:

  • Services are provided by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, who are supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist. All sessions are video recorded for supervision and training purposes, with all video and written records kept securely confidential.
  • In addition to serving the community, RCAAS is dedicated to advancing autism research. The PSC collaborates with Dr. Vanessa Bal’s LifeSPAN Autism Lab, offering clients the opportunity to contribute to research by signing a consent form. With their consent, information collected through the clinic may be used to deepen our understanding of autism and improve clinical practices.
  • The PSC may be closed during Rutgers University breaks and holidays. Please understand that responses may be delayed during these periods. 

Our treatment services include individual psychotherapy and group approaches designed to address mental health challenges (e.g., depression, anxiety, emotion dysregulation) and support skill development to help clients achieve their personal goals. Examples include interventions to enhance social skills for job acquisition, strategies for building and maintaining relationships in various settings, learning approaches to anxiety management, and integrating executive functioning skills into daily life. These services include, but are not limited to:

 

Individual Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy at the PSC involves working with a student clinician trained in therapy tailored to neurodivergent individuals and personalized to each client’s needs. Treatment goals are collaboratively identified during a 1- to 2-session intake process, and a treatment plan is established by mutual agreement before therapy begins. Therapy is generally short-term, typically lasting 12 to 20 weeks, with progress assessed at regular intervals. If significant progress is made and both the client and therapist determine that continued therapy would be beneficial, treatment may be extended as needed. All therapists are supervised by a licensed psychologist.

Group Treatment

The PSC offers group therapies and courses in skills development. Such courses are often, but not always running, and include the following.

PEERS for Young Adults

PEERS for Young Adults is a social skills intervention for adults with ASD who are interested in learning new skills to make and keep both social and romantic relationships. Over the course of a 16-week period, young adults attend weekly group sessions that cover a variety of social skills.

These skills include, but are not limited to:

  • Conversational skills
  • Appropriate sense of humor
  • Handling direct and indirect bullying
  • Electronic communication
  • Handling arguments and disagreements
  • Organizing get-togethers with friends
  • Dating skills
  • Strategies for handling sexual pressure

 

Social Coaches (e.g., a parent or other person who has regular contact with the adult) also learn strategies to help the young adult expand their social network and maintain relationships, providing feedback through coaching as they practice these social skills.

This group is appropriate for adults who:

  • Are between the ages of 18-40
  • Have graduated from high school
  • Have been diagnosed with ASD
  • Speak in communicable sentences
Diagnostic Assessments

Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment

Adult clients may be referred to the PSC to clarify an individual’s diagnosis, for example Autism, ADHD, and/or Learning Disability. There are several components of a diagnostic evaluation, including questionnaires, interviews of the client and a family member, standardized tests and observation tools, and a feedback session. For a further description of the components of a diagnostic assessment, including approximate time frames, click here (please make a link to the FAQ’s “What are the elements of a diagnostic evaluation?” here).

The full diagnostic assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that provides an in-depth understanding of a client’s social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning. This assessment can be valuable in documenting strong evidence to support a diagnosis, such as autism spectrum disorder, and in identifying the need for recommended treatments and resources. The entire process, from the initial intake to the feedback session, typically takes approximately 10 to 12 hours to complete.

Autism Assessment

The PSC offers a targeted assessment for adults who suspect they may have autism but have not yet received a diagnosis. This assessment may be particularly helpful for those who have questioned whether they are autistic and are seeking individual or group therapy with a clinician experienced in working with neurodivergent individuals. Designed to guide treatment, the autism assessment typically takes 4 to 5 hours. If further evaluation is needed, information from this assessment can contribute to a more comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.

Neuropsychological Assessment

For clients with a history of neurodevelopmental differences or acquired neurological conditions for whom it would be helpful to gain a better understanding of the impact on cognitive and emotional functioning, a neuropsychological evaluation may be recommended. A neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of an individual's cognitive and behavioral functioning. It typically starts with the clinician interviewing the client and his or her family to gather information about strengths and challenges. It then involves a series of tests designed to assess various aspects of brain function, including attention, memory, language, visual perception, and executive functioning. The evaluation also includes assessments of emotional and social

functioning. Neuropsychological evaluations are often used to better understand the effects of a wide range of acquired neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, ADHD, and learning disability. The results of the evaluation can provide valuable information about an individual's strengths and weaknesses and can be used to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets their specific needs.