Behavioral and Creative Psychotherapeutic Interventions with a 6-Year-Old Boy Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Comorbid Pediatric Trichotillomania (TTM)

ABSTRACT

Accurate diagnosis and assessment are integral in developing a treatment plan for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid pediatric trichotillomania (TTM). The behavioral and creative psychotherapeutic interventions that were adopted reflected the child’s needs, which were identified during assessment and ongoing treatment. Partnership with the child, as well as involvement with institutions and people significant and influential in the child’s life, positively impacted the child’s ability to engage with the treatment plan. This case study revealed that it can be possible for a child with ASD to cease TTM. In this case, to date the successful treatment outcome has endured for four years; the child has not reengaged in TTM on any part of his body.

KEYWORDS:

• Pediatric trichotillomania (TTM)
• autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• creativity in counseling

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank ‘Lysander’ and ‘Ourania’ for providing their consent to be the subjects of this article and for permitting publication of the images. I would also like to thank Ourania for reviewing the article.