Start with a goal that belongs to the person
Ask what would improve this week: getting to an activity they enjoy, sleeping more comfortably, having a calmer transition or getting help with tasks. For children, invite age-appropriate input. For adults, seek consent before involving family members or sharing private details.
- Choose. Ask the person what would make one part of the week easier; offer ways to answer without speaking.
- Observe. Describe the setting, the unmet need and what helps. Do not diagnose a behavior from its appearance.
- Adapt. Offer a quieter space, a clearer plan, preferred communication, rest or one optional reminder.
- Coordinate. Take specific treatment questions to clinicians instead of improvising exposures or tic suppression.
- Review. Ask whether the change felt helpful, respectful and worth continuing. Record the person’s view.
What kinds of support have evidence?
Different difficulties call for different approaches. These are starting points for a qualified assessment, not a personalized treatment plan.
- Autism: Communication access, sensory accommodations, predictable information and individualized participation goals. Assess sleep, pain and co-occurring mental-health conditions separately.
- ADHD: External cues and organizational scaffolds, behavioral strategies, school or work adjustments and, when appropriate, prescriber-managed medication.
- Depression: Evidence-supported psychotherapy, medication and specialist options when initial treatment does not help. Significant deterioration or safety concerns warrant clinical attention.
- Anxiety: Condition-specific cognitive behavioral therapy and an agreed, supported plan; a real accessibility barrier should not be dismissed as an irrational fear.
- OCD: Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a well-supported treatment. Family members can learn supportive responses without abruptly withdrawing necessary accommodations.
- Tourette syndrome: Tics may not need treatment. When they cause pain, interference or distress, Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is an evidence-supported option.
A repeated action might be a tic, an autistic stim, a compulsion, a request for information or a response to discomfort. These have different functions. Avoid asking someone to suppress harmless stimming or tics merely because the movement is noticeable.
Compare ERP, CBIT, CBT and other therapies →
Try one fictional seven-day example
Imagine an adult who wants to attend a favorite group but finds noisy mornings difficult, struggles to begin several tasks, and experiences tics or intrusive thoughts. The person chooses the goal and approves each step. This example is invented for planning, not a tested clinical intervention.
- Monday: Ask which part of the activity matters and where the main barrier occurs.
- Tuesday: Offer a quieter preparation space and a voluntary visual reminder.
- Wednesday: Agree on a preferred prompt or check-in; avoid repeated demands.
- Thursday: Write down OCD or tic-treatment questions for the clinician. Do not create home exposure assignments.
- Friday: Ask which accommodation worked and which was unpleasant or unhelpful.
- Weekend: Preserve recreation, rest and a sustainable caregiver handoff if appropriate.
Six questions for the next appointment
- Which concern most affects the person's chosen goal or safety right now?
- Could sleep, pain, side effects, sensory overload or another co-occurring condition contribute?
- What evidence supports the proposed treatment for this specific age and symptom?
- How can assessment and therapy respect communication differences, consent and autonomy?
- How should support people respond without participating in rituals or taking away necessary accommodations?
- What warning signs mean we should call sooner, and whom should we contact?
My goal: ____ · What already helps: ____ · Accessibility needs: ____ · One optional change: ____ · Clinician question: ____ · How and when we will review: ____ · Caregiver backup/rest: ____.
Use the printable planner → · Prepare your appointment questions →
Safety, dignity and caregiver rest
Severe depression, suicidal thoughts, sudden dangerous changes or new psychotic symptoms deserve prompt professional support. In the United States, call or text 988 for emotional crisis support, or call 911 for immediate danger. Do not use a worksheet or chatbot for an emergency.
A sustainable plan should include the needs of the person providing support. Share only the information an agreed helper needs, with consent and age-appropriate involvement.
Sources and editorial status
Sources checked October 26, 2026. This guide offers educational planning suggestions, not a diagnosis, individualized therapy instructions or a clinical recommendation. Independent clinical review pending.