Do you have any recommendations for a support group that I can recommend to the mother of one of my 3 yo clinic patients who has recently been formally diagnosed with autism. Thanks...

I have had a little trouble figuring out how to say this, but I don't really recommend a support group early on for parents of a young child with autism. Support groups can be great, but they tend to focus on dealing with grief about diagnosis and about advocacy and treatment controversies. Especially with autism, arguments about cause and treatment tend to be quite inaccurate and politicised. I would be careful not to send them to some one you don't know personally, and different cases would need different people for support. I would prefer the family focus on details of the specific kid's abilities and needs and get support more in the context of their child's treatment. Are they in school yet? Would you mind talking to me directly and maybe we could do something together or I could help you make a plan. Why not page me next week or email me directly hem2@columbia.edu? Yours, Harriet McGurk