Cornerstones of Maine, a transitional living program for young adults located in Southern Maine, is launching a neurodiverse affirming program this spring. The program will follow the same ethos and mission of supporting young adults on their journey to independence through a therapeutic and experiential approach, namely known for its immersive therapeutic milieu.
In addition to the robust clinical and coaching offerings Cornerstones provides, this neurodiverse program will place a focus on occupational therapy and individualized practices to better support our clients. “There is a significant increase in neurodivergent presentations in young adults and that number is only going up. Because this is an emerging phenomenon, there are a lot of misnomers and misunderstandings surrounding how to adequately provide care for this population. We want to approach this with humanity, authenticity, and evidence-based practices,” says Cornerstones of Maine’s Executive Director Eric Beaudoin, Psy.D.
Over the past few years, Cornerstones has seen an increase in neurodiverse referrals from folks seeking services after receiving treatment at autism residential treatment programs. These clients’ families and consultants reported referrals experienced partial regression due to a lack of social exposure. The immersive therapeutic milieu at Cornerstones offers clients the opportunity to build upon their interpersonal skills and social experiences safely.
Additionally, while group therapy in the transitional living houses at Cornerstones is process-focused, group therapy at the neurodiverse program will be skills-focused and experiential. The neurodiverse affirming program will begin with a maximum capacity of ten young adults, all genders, ranging from ages 18-28. This is intentionally designed to allow for one-on-one interactions with staff and fellow housemates. Cornerstones looks forward to expanding its offerings in 2024 to better support young adults on their journey to independence. For more information, please contact the admissions team at 1-800-588-6898.
About Cornerstones of Maine:
Cornerstones of Maine is a clinically focused transitional living program located in Portland and Biddeford, Maine. Their program assists 18 to 28-year-old creative & bright, determined emerging young adults who are struggling to live and function independently. Clients have a history of mood or anxiety disorders, executive functioning issues, social skill deficits, and academic challenges. Their program provides a therapeutic & experiential approach that gives structure and support based on each client’s individual needs. Cornerstones provides all gender accommodations that are LGBTQ+ affirming and the average length of stay is 9 to 12 months. For admissions information, email Aaron Rumsey at arumsey@cornerstonesofmaine.com.