Emotional life of autistic spectrum children: What do we want from child psychotherapy treatment?

Abstract

This paper describes an ongoing evaluation of child psychotherapy with seven children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The assessment and evaluation model used involves parents and enhances shared understanding of each child's experience and characteristics, respecting individual strengths and limitations. Treatment aims include understanding the children's phenomenological experience and enhancing emotional regulation, to produce positive benefits for family life and the children's wellbeing. Common characteristics are identifiable despite differences between the children. Modifications in psychotherapy technique are illustrated with three cases. Nevertheless, the emerging phantasy life of these children shows commonalities with that of non-ASD children, further justifying the appropriateness of a psychoanalytic approach. The importance of these children's relationships with their psychotherapists and parents’ involvement in supporting the psychotherapy are stressed.

Keywords:

• Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• hopes and expectations for treatment approach
• autistic object
• resilience

Acknowledgements

Particular thanks to Ruth Glover, Tony Lee, Sandra Nathanson and Maria Rhode for help with preparing this paper.

Notes

1. Funding from this project from the Winnicott Trust and the Association of Child Psychotherapists is gratefully acknowledged. See Urwin (2007) for more details of the method described.