Young Man With Asperger’s Feels "Awesome" Now

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Young Man With Asperger’s Feels "Awesome" Now

Chris Stock, Child Guidance Resource Centers client

Young Man with Asperger’s Syndrome Feels Awesome Now

Originally misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder, Chris Stock had a hard time interacting socially and controlling his frustrations. He even once tried to choke his aunt, Debbie Stock, who is now raising him in Chesterbrook.

But thanks to a proper diagnosis, medication adjustments and two years of intensive counseling from the Child Guidance Resource Centers, he graduated in 2010 from Conestoga High School. Now he is nearing completion of a computer technology degree at ITT Technical Institute in King of Prussia.

“I was out of control,” recalls the 21-year-old, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. “I wanted to destroy my own property and I lashed out at my aunt, but I’ve changed for the better. I’m calmer and more agreeable, and I feel awesome now.”

“Child Guidance was really a blessing for both of us,” adds his aunt. “They helped him adjust to life at a very large public high school and to his new diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. They’ve helped him really grow up.”

When he was a young teenager Chris was placed for more than two years at a residential boys’ camp in central Pennsylvania. During that time, his mother died of a heart attack.

After his release from the camp, at age 16 he moved in with his aunt. Arguments ensued. “He was frustrated over not being like the other kids, and when he was with his parents acting out their anger issues had been very common,” recalls Debbie Stock.

Chris eventually was referred to the Child Guidance Resource Centers’ Coatesville office. For the next two years Carol Kosta, a behavioral specialist consultant, worked three hours a week with Chris and his aunt. After observing him at home, in the community and his school, she focused Chris' treatment goals on becoming more socially appropriate, managing his anger and developing more independent living skills. Several mobile therapists also worked one-on-one with him two hours a week to help him find ways to develop skills and achieve his goals.

“He’s really a great kid,” says CGRC’s Jennifer Wood, his case manager. “He just needed to learn how to cope and manage his anger.”

His aunt agrees: “He still has a few anger issues but he knows better how to handle them. He’s even helped a couple kids at our church who were going through anger issues."

At Conestoga High, Chris repaired computers and the TV studio’s broadcast equipment—tasks he still performs while completing his computer tech degree. Upon graduation, he would like to return there. “They taught me for four years,” says Chris, whose therapy and medications are now being handled by an adult services agency, “so I want to give back to them what they gave to me.”