Therapists for autistic children work on interpersonal communication.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines autism as a "developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills." The treatment of autism can range from medicinal treatment to behavioral therapy. Becoming a therapist requires that a student complete a bachelor's degree program and pursue further study as a graduate student in counseling or psychology.
Instructions
1. Research graduate school programs in psychology or counseling. Check each program's website for biographies of the staff and look for faculty members who have worked as behavioral therapists for autistic children.
2. Choose an undergraduate degree that incorporates the pre-requisites for your graduate program in its degree path.
3. Register for and take the Graduate Record Exam. Apply to the graduate schools of your choice.
4. Apply for work-study and research positions with faculty members who work as behavioral therapists with autistic children.
5. Apply for an internship at a facility that provides treatment for autistic children.
Tags: autistic children, behavioral therapists, faculty members