The therapist worked with Jessica and Ella for approximately 14 months. The therapist typically saw the family once a week. Ella’s primary treatment goals were increasing regulation ability and improving emotional modulation. By the end of the 14 months, Ella was demonstrating the ability to discuss and express her emotions in a healthy manner and had eliminated her past dysregulation meltdowns. Jessica was instrumental in participating and learning regulation interventions and implementing the interventions at home. Termination included establishing with Jessica that she would continue to monitor and teach Ella any additional regulation ability after the sessions ended.


Parents and other family


members play an important role in the emotional, psychological, and social development of children diagnosed with ASD.


The collaborative relationship between the therapist and the mother gave the mother a sense of support and encouragement, enabling her to feel understood and equipping her to become a part of the solution for her daughter instead of feeling like an obstacle. The therapist actively nurtured the collaboration by purposefully empowering of the mother and giving credence to her voice and expertise about her child, thereby raising her expertise credibility with school personnel. The rhythm produced between therapist and parent was essential for helping Ella improve her regulation ability. It also validated Jessica’s  the parent child-relationship.


Conclusion Parents and other family members play an important role in the emotional, psychological, and social development of children diagnosed with ASD. Play therapy is an interactive medium for parents and other family members to better experience their child diagnosed with autism and build interpersonal connections (Hull, 2011). Including family members in treatment with their child diagnosed with ASD provides an opportunity for parents to feel supported and acknowledged in their expertise of their child. It empowers parents to relating to and work with their child beyond what the play therapist would be able to provide in treatment isolation. Treating both parents and children as clients gives the play therapist greater flexibility and maneuverability in the therapeutic process, producing gains for both parents and children.


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18 | PLAYTHERAPY | June 2020 | www.a4pt.org


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ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, RPT-S, ACAS, is the creator of AutPlay® AutPlay®


Therapy Clinic in Southwest Missouri.


He has published several articles, chapters, and books and is an international presenter and keynote speaker. He currently serves on the Association for Play Therapy Board of Directors. drgrant@robertjasongrant.com


Therapy and operates the


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