Teen Daughter

My daughter will soon be 16 and always seemed to struggle with making friends and maintaining them. She says she feels "awkward". Throughout her life she has shown little signs of asberger's however not so overwhelming that others would key into it. I would like to feel fully equipped to attend college and live a happy life. Can a person have some traits and still have AS and what do you suggest I do. I live in Ma. and don't know who to speak to.

[Jason C Bourret, Ph.D., BCBA]

Many people start by discussing the issue with their pediatrician who can refer to someone with experience making those diagnoses. Keep in mind that the sort of difficulties that you describe are not uncommon in teens that have no diagnosis and the diagnosis isn’t necessary for you and your daughter to be working on them. I would recommend finding a therapist that you and your daughter are comfortable with and addressing the difficulties that she’s having head on. Going off to college and being successful on your own for the first time actually requires a fairly complex skill set. No reason not to start planning for and working on that now.