The basis of the developmental or psychodynamic perspective focuses on the inner person and how behavior may be influenced by an individual’s inner forces, memories, and past conflicts. Developmental theorists believe development continues throughout the lifespan while both society and culture challenge and shape an individual’s psychosocial development.
Psychodynamic therapies, which may be used in the treatment of individual’s with autism, include:
-
psychotherapy,
-
psychoanalysis, and
-
holding therapy .
Psychotherapy is aimed at helping individual’s, through a series of techniques and approaches, to improve mental health, emotional and behavioral issues. Specific problems are discussed between the individual and a licensed psychotherapist and strategies for solving these problems are implemented.
Psychoanalysis involves assessing an individual’s free associations with their unconscious patterns of life. According to psychoanalytic theory personality and behavior are determined by unconscious forces. Recent forms of psychoanalysis are being used to help individual’s gain a greater trust of self and build self-esteem.
Holding therapy is an extremely controversial form of psychodynamic therapy. The practice entails forced holding of an individual with autism until the individual stops resisting or a set time period is over. Those who disagree with holding therapy believe it is a potentially harmful and abusive act. Please note that the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research encourages individual's reading this information to conduct further research before implementing any strategy discussed.
References
Feldman, R. S. (2003). Development across the life span (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Please note: the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research does not endorse any philosophy over any other. It has been the experience of the Burkhart Center's directors and staff that, at times, a combination of philosophies is more effective than staying with only one philosophy. Please use caution when choosing a personal philosophy that the individual(s) being served, is/are served well by the philosophy.
