Autism Therapy, Testing and Treatment in Florida: Answers, Support and a Plan That Fits You
Whether you are wondering about your own mind, your child’s, or your teen’s, Dr. Christina Stai offers unhurried autism evaluations and affirming therapy, with practical next steps you can actually use.
Book Austims Therapy Consultation Across FLorida →Autism, Explained Without the Jargon
Autism is a lifelong way of being wired. It tends to shape three everyday things: how the senses take in the world, how much energy social contact uses up, and how comfortable change feels. None of that is a flaw. But when the world around an autistic person is built for different wiring, the mismatch can feel like constant effort.
That effort is often what brings people in. A parent notices meltdowns after school that never happen in the classroom. An adult realizes that weekends are spent recovering from weekdays. A teenager is “fine” on paper yet quietly worn out. Understanding the wiring is usually the moment things begin to make sense.
Sensory World
Lights, textures, sounds and smells can be vivid, dulled, or both in the same hour.
Social Battery
Connection can be rewarding and still be expensive. Recovery time is a need, not a luxury.
Rhythm & Change
Predictable routines can steady the day, while surprises can take real effort to absorb.
Watch: Care That Starts With Respect
A short video introduction to our approach to evaluations and therapy.
Video not showing? Watch it on YouTube.
Signs People Often Bring to a First Conversation
No checklist can diagnose autism, and these are only starting points for a conversation. Experiences vary widely, and many of them overlap with ADHD, anxiety and trauma, which is why a careful evaluation matters.
In Young Children
- Strong reactions to everyday sounds, clothing tags or food textures
- Deep, specific interests, or play that follows a fixed pattern
- Distress when plans shift without warning
In School-Age Kids and Teens
- Holding it together at school, then falling apart at home
- Friendships that feel confusing or exhausting to maintain
- Anxiety, perfectionism or school avoidance with no clear cause
In Adults
- A long history of “trying harder” to seem relaxed or typical in public
- Burnout cycles that repeat despite good intentions
- A relative’s or child’s diagnosis that suddenly sounds familiar
How an Autism Evaluation Works Here
We treat an evaluation as a collaboration, not a verdict handed down from a distance. Here is the path most clients follow.
A free conversation first
Twenty minutes with Dr. Stai to share your questions and learn whether an evaluation is the right move.
Intake and history
We gather the story: development, school or work, sensory patterns, relationships, and what a good outcome would look like.
Individualized testing
Evidence-based, gold-standard psychological tools chosen for the person being assessed, spread across comfortable sessions.
Written report
A detailed document describing strengths, challenges and specific recommendations, written so it can be shared with schools, employers or other providers.
Feedback session
A live walk-through of the findings, with room for every question, and a clear idea of what to do next.
✅ Important ConsiderationAn evaluation also looks at what else may be in the picture, such as ADHD, learning differences, anxiety or trauma-related concerns, so the plan addresses the whole person.
Therapy: Where the Daily Work Happens
A diagnosis explains a lot, but daily life is where change is felt. Therapy at Holistic Resources Clinic is trauma-informed and strengths-based. Sessions move at your pace, and the room, the pacing and the communication style are shaped around your sensory and energy needs.
For Autistic Adults
Making sense of a late discovery, easing burnout, setting boundaries, and loosening the habit of masking.
For Teens
Building self-understanding, handling social pressure, and learning to ask for what they need.
For Children & Parents
Emotional regulation, calmer transitions at home, and parent coaching to respond to overload with confidence.
For Co-occurring Concerns
Support for anxiety, low mood, past hurt and family stress alongside autism.
What a Therapy Goal Can Look Like
- “Mornings feel less rushed, and I leave the house without a meltdown.”
- “I can tell my manager what helps me focus, in plain words.”
- “My child can name when they are overwhelmed before it spills over.”
- “I schedule recovery time the same way I schedule meetings.”
Treatment Planning: Support That Goes Beyond the Report
In this practice, treatment means building supports around you, not training you to appear less autistic. We do not use Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) or functioning labels. Instead, your plan is assembled from what the evaluation and your goals show matters most, and it is revisited as life changes.
- Sensory adjustments for home, classroom and workplace
- Routines with built-in buffer and recovery time
- Executive functioning tools for planning, starting and finishing
- Scripts and strategies for conversations with family, teachers and colleagues
- Referrals to other professionals when additional support would help
Florida Families, Schools and Statewide Access
In Florida, schools use the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) process to determine services, and many families also work with IEP or 504 plans. A private evaluation can give those teams a clearer picture of a student’s needs, and we help families arrive at meetings with organized, specific notes.
Not near Sunny Isles Beach? Telehealth is available to Florida residents, whether you are in South Florida, Central Florida, the Gulf Coast or the Panhandle. Telehealth follows the clinician’s licensure and Florida telehealth rules, which we confirm at intake.
In Person
Sunny Isles Beach office, a calm setting for testing and sessions.
Telehealth
HIPAA-compliant video from the quiet corner of your own home.
School Support
Reports and notes that are ready for ESE, IEP or 504 conversations.
Adoptive and Foster Families
Children who have lived through transitions in care can show behaviors that look like autism, trauma responses, or both. Our trauma-informed approach helps caregivers sort out what they are seeing, with evaluations and therapy that respect each child’s history and pace. Parent coaching helps caregivers build routines and responses that feel steady and safe at home.
Florida Cities We Serve
We offer autism therapy, testing and treatment planning to families and adults in the following Florida cities, through secure telehealth and in person at our Sunny Isles Beach office.
- Aventura
- North Miami Beach
- Miami Beach
- Miami Gardens
- Hialeah
- Miami
- Hollywood
- Fort Lauderdale
- Miramar
- Pembroke Pines
- Hallandale Beach
- North Miami
- Dania Beach
- Miami Lakes
- Cooper City
- Davie
- Oakland Park
- Plantation
- Sunrise
- Pompano Beach
- Doral
- Coral Springs
Should You Start With Testing or Therapy?
Start with testing if…
You want a formal answer, you need documentation for school or work, or you want a full map of strengths and challenges.
Start with therapy if…
You need support now, a label is not essential, or you prefer to explore identity first. A diagnosis is never required for therapy.
Unsure? That is exactly what the free consultation is for. Many people begin with a conversation and decide on the right order together.
Fees, Insurance and Superbills
Sessions start at $129 for 30 minutes. Holistic Resources Clinic is an out-of-network provider, and a superbill can be provided on request for you to submit to your insurer for possible reimbursement. Review your plan’s out-of-network mental health benefits, including any deductible, before you begin.
💡 Expert TipCall your insurer and ask two questions: whether you have out-of-network mental health coverage, and what percentage of the session fee is reimbursed after your deductible.
Meet Your Psychologist
Dr. Stai founded and leads Holistic Resources Clinic, a boutique practice for neurodivergent children, teens, adults, and families. Her style is warm and collaborative, grounded in trauma-informed, strengths-based care.
She pays close attention to the things that shape daily life for autistic people: sensory needs, identity, and sustainable energy. Clients can expect clear explanations, respect for their pace, and no ABA or functioning labels.
Visit or Call
Office
500 Bayview Dr
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
Open in Google Maps
Reach Us
Current clients: +1 319-665-2848
New clients: +1 573-455-3351
info@holisticresourcesclinic.com
Autism Therapy, Testing & Treatment in Florida: Questions
Do you evaluate for autism in children, teens and adults?
Yes. Evaluations are available for all ages and begin with intake, followed by individualized testing, a detailed report and a feedback session.
How do I know if testing is the right step?
If you want a formal answer or documentation, testing helps. If you mainly want support, therapy can begin without a diagnosis. The free consultation can help you decide.
Will you tell my child they are “high” or “low” functioning?
No. We do not use functioning labels. Reports describe specific strengths, needs and supports instead.
Do you use ABA?
No. Our care is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed and strengths-based, and does not use Applied Behavior Analysis.
Can the report be used at school or work?
Yes. Reports are written with specific recommendations so they can be shared with schools, employers and other providers.
Is telehealth available across Florida?
Yes, for Florida residents. It follows the clinician’s licensure and Florida telehealth rules, confirmed during intake.
What do sessions cost?
Rates start at $129 for a 30-minute session. We are out-of-network and can provide a superbill on request.
What is the difference between a Psy.D. and a Ph.D.?
Both are doctoral degrees in psychology. A Psy.D. emphasizes clinical practice, while a Ph.D. often emphasizes research. Either can lead to licensure as a psychologist.
Take the First Step Toward Clarity
Share your questions in a free, no-pressure conversation, and leave with a clearer idea of what comes next.
Book Your Free Consultation → 500 Bayview Dr, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 · Telehealth across Florida · +1 319-665-2848