Type of Therapy

Description

Benefits

Limitations

My Personal Reflections

Play Therapy

Play therapy is an intervention where toys, games, and pretend play are used to gain an understanding of the individual’s inner world, build social skills, and develop awareness.

- Good for younger individuals.

- Builds confidence in one’s own ability.

- Learn through play, which makes it enjoyable.

- Can be done in a group to increase social skills.

- May not work for older individuals.

- Requires an experienced therapist in this field.

DIR Floortime

Developmental Individual Differences Relationship Based Floortime is an approach that incorporates working with the an individual at their level of functioning with their interests. This includes increasing affect regulation, social skills, and motor planning.

This therapy can be used with a variety of ages.

- Works within the individual’s field of interest.

-Includes family members (works systemically).

- Helps decrease unmotivated physical repetition.

- Build strong individualized bonds.

- Requires a facilitator with specific training in DIR Floortime.

- Requires time for caregivers to interact with the therapy.

Speech and Language Therapy

This therapy offers support for communication difficulties, whether receptive or expressive, or a combination of both.

This therapy aims to find a way to increase communication for each individual, whether it is verbally or through assistive devices.

- Improves communication skills.

- Benefits individuals of all ages and abilities.

- Increases confidence in abilities and self-empowerment.

- May be a long-term intervention.

- Requires practice at home.

Occupational Therapy

OT helps with teaching an individual to be more independent. This can be done based on their level of functioning and environmental requirements. OT helps with executive functioning abilities, and physical integration, and sensory processing.

- Includes sensory processing work, which is helpful for individuals with ASD.

- Increases independence and self-confidence.

- Builds physical prowess and mastery.

- This may be a long-term intervention.

- Requires an OT with experience in ASD.

Art Based Therapy

Art Based Therapy includes a variety of artistic mediums including visual arts, drama, dance, music, and storytelling. These arts are used to help an individual through their emotional challenges, integrating understanding, acceptance, and moving on. These mediums do not always rely on the verbal expression of emotions and therefore benefits individuals with ASD.

- Offers a wide range of mediums to choose from.

- Works with all ages.

-  Helps build creativity and self-empowerment.

- Requires an individual trained in this field.

- Individuals may have sensory reactions to some mediums of art therapy.