Rehab Kids

Autism and Attachment

Addressing Needs Through a
Neurodiversity affirming Lens
and Dispelling Myths
Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S

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Autism and Attachment
Addressing Needs Through a
Neurodiversity affirming Lens
and Dispelling Myths
Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S

Rehab Kids

ZNM059380
4/23
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17pp

4/23

Rehab Kids
 MATERIALS PROVIDED BY

Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S, is a licensed

Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and
Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Dr. Grant specializes in
working with children, adolescents, and families, including
working with neurodivergent children (autism, ADHD, sensory
differences, learning disorders, and developmental disabilities).
He is the creator of AutPlay® Therapy, an integrative family
play therapy approach. Dr. Grant is an international speaker
and keynote presenter having presented for the American
Counseling Association, Association for Play Therapy, American
Mental Health Counselors Association, and The World Autism
Congress. He is a multi-published author of several articles,
book chapters, and books. Dr. Grant is currently serving as
the chair on the board of directors for the Association for Play
Therapy. He is also a part time instructor in the Play Therapy
Certificate program at Mid America Nazarene University (MNU).

For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography in activity advertising.

Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the
authorized practice of certain professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing
the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in
accordance with and in compliance with your profession’s standards.
As required by several accrediting boards, speaker and
activity planning committee conflicts of interest
(including financial relationships with ineligible
organizations) were disclosed prior to the start of this
activity. To view disclosure information, please see
activity advertising.
 Autism and Attachment:
Addressing Needs
Through a Neurodiversity
Affirming Lens and
Dispelling Myths
Robert Jason Grant Ed.D, LPC, RPT-S
www.autplaytherapy.com

About Me
• https://www.robertjasongrant.com/about-dr-grant/
• www.autplaytherapy.com
• info@autplaytherapy.com
• Connect: FB and LinkedIn

1
Copyright
• All photos, original graphics, videos, content, PowerPoint slides, handouts,
and other materials associated with this training are copyrighted by
Robert Jason Grant Ed.D. Reproduction (other than printing a copy for
personal use only), sharing, or use of any kind is prohibited without the
written permission of Robert Jason Grant Ed.D. ©2022, Robert Jason
Grant Ed.D. All rights reserved.
• Robert Jason Grant Ed.D, 3322 S. Campbell Ave. Suite R. Springfield, MO.
65807. USA. www.autplaytherapy.com info@autplaytherapy.com

Privacy of Client Information

• This training, PowerPoint, & handouts may include case study information,
videos, and photographs.
• All such information is used with permission.
• Identifying information has been omitted or altered to preserve privacy.
• To ensure that you are in compliance with ethical practices, please respect
child/family privacy by using this PowerPoint and handouts for personal
purposes only.

2
 Disclosures
Dr. Robert Jason Grant
• Disclosures:
• Financial — Creator of AutPlay Therapy. Receives
royalties on trainings sold and all products related
to AutPlay Therapy.
• Non-financial — Board of directors: Association for
Play Therapy. Receives no compensation as
member of board of directors.

Professional Responsibility
Materials that are included in this course may include
interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized
practice of your professional status. As a professional, you are
responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including
activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of
practice in accordance with and in compliance with your
profession standards.

3
Learning Objectives
• 1) Apply a neurodiversity affirming framework for implementing
therapeutic attachment goals.
• 2) Evaluate a child’s real attachment needs verses caregiver
connection struggles.
• 3) Design play based and affirming interventions to address
attachment needs in autistic children.

Diversity NOTE
• If or when discussing autistic and/or
neurodivergent individuals - This training
guide will primarily default to identify first
language (autistic child) as research
supports most autistic individuals prefer
identity first language. Other language used
may include disability, neurodiverse,
neurodivergent, and neurotypical to respect
various opinions and desires to be
referenced in a specific manner.
• Mental health professionals should take
care to address clients in the way they wish
and prefer and gain more training on
neurodiversity affirming and informed
processes.

4
About This Training

Practical application

Understanding and
tools to work with
families

Resources for a deeper

dive

Autism and Attachment

Considerations
• Attachment disorders and issues
• Attachment needs as an autistic (neurodivergent)
response
• Caregiver connection struggles
• Complicated topic, not enough research

5
Attachment

• Attachment theory is a theory (or group of theories)

about the psychological tendency to seek closeness to
another person, to feel secure when that person is
present, and to feel anxious when that person is absent.
• Mentalhealp.net

Attachment Disorders
• DSM-5 attachment disorders - reactive attachment disorder (RAD)
and disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED).
• Attachment Disorders are psychiatric illnesses that can develop in
young children who have problems in emotional attachments to
others. Parents, caregivers, or physicians may notice that a child
has problems with emotional attachment as early as their first
birthday.
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

6
Attachment Disorders and Issues

• Attachment issues or needs beyond a DSM diagnosis.

• Secure Attachments - Repeated positive experiences with a caregiver help infants
develop a secure attachment.
• Insecure Attachments - Infants who experience negative or unpredictable responses
from a caregiver may develop an insecure attachment style.
• Four Types: 1) secure 2) avoidant (aka dismissive, or anxious-avoidant in children) 3)
anxious (aka preoccupied, or anxious-ambivalent in children) 4) disorganized (aka
fearful-avoidant in children)
• Avoidant, anxious, and disorganized are considered insecure attachment styles.
• Psych Central

Attachment Disorders and Issues

• Evaluation and Diagnosis

• Formal Therapy
• Play therapy
• Theraplay
• AutPlay Therapy
• Attachment based or focused therapy

7
Further Reading
Embrace Autism - https://embrace-
autism.com/attachment-styles-and-their-
consequences/

Being
Neurodiversity
Affirming

8
 Attachment
Needs as an
Autistic
Response
I am Autistic (neurodivergent)
not neurotypical!

Attachment Needs as an Autistic

Response

• Masking
• The Double Empathy Problem
• Ableism
• Neurodivergence in general

9
Caregiver Connection Struggles

• The child has developed and feels an attachment/connection to the parent, but the
parent is not receiving in a way that feels like a connection to them. (Green therapy
example).
• Does the caregiver know how to play with their child, do they understand and value
neurodivergent play.
• Does the caregiver understand the double empathy problem?
• Does the caregiver expect he child to “do” relationship in a certain way?

Caregiver
Connection
Struggles Family Play Observation

10
Family Play Observation
• Theraplay MIM - Marschak Interaction Method
https://theraplay.org/training/training-
programs/theraplay-modules/module-three-marschak-
interaction-method-administration-scoring-and-feedback-
for-theraplay-practice/
• AutPlay Family Play Observation
• A play space or playroom
• 25-30 minutes
• Help parents feel relaxed
• Simple instruction – play with your child the way you
normally would at home, no rules, just keep everyone
safe.
• Observation form

AutPlay Therapy
• A neurodiversity Affirming
Understanding
• A family play therapy approach
• Connection, engagement, and
relationship development focus
• Identity, self worth, and advocacy

11
AutPlay Therapy
• A Neurodiversity Affirming
Understanding
• The AutPlay Follow Me Approach (FMA)
designed for children with high support
needs
• Interventions that address attachment
disorders and caregiver issues

Affirming Play
Interventions
• Identity
• Relationship development
• Child/caregiver repair

12
 Interventions and
Approaches

AutPlay FMA Play Time

A nondirective play time between
parent and child.

13
Midline
Mirror Moves
Let’s Do It Together!

Sculpture

• AutPlay YouTube Channel

• https://youtu.be/_RnhnpCBoho

14
Hand Bury and Brush

• AutPlay YouTube Channel

• https://youtu.be/sfEf2yCre9s

Hands Hands Hands

• AutPlay YouTube Channel

• https://youtu.be/YNe1Rz5AiGQ

15
Hats and Masks

• AutPlay YouTube Channel

• https://youtu.be/yhkonykHeSU

Resources

• AutPlay Therapy – www.autplaytherapy.com

• Theraplay – www.theraplay.org
• Attachment Centered Play Therapy by Clair Mellenthin
• Attachment Focused Family Play Therapy by Cathi Spooner
• Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism
Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up,
Acceptance, and Identity by Emily Paige Ballou, et al.

16
References
• Botha, M., & Gillespie-Lynch, K. (2022). Come as you are: Examining autistic identity development and the
neurodiversity movement through an intersectional lens. Human Development, 66(2), 93–112. doi-
org.mnu.idm.oclc.org/10.1159/000524123
• Brown, H. M., Stahmer, A. C., Dwyer, P., & Rivera, S. (2021). Changing the story: How diagnosticians can support a
neurodiversity perspective from the start. Autism, 25(5), 1171–1174. doi.org/10.1177/13623613211001012
• Bratton, S.C., Ray, D., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2005). The efficacy of play therapy with children: a meta-analytic review
of treatments outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36, 376-390.
• Davies, J., Glinn, L., Osborne, L.A.. Reed, P. (2022). Exploratory Study of Parenting Differences for Autism Spectrum
Disorder and Attachment Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05531-0
• Grant, R. J. (2023). The AutPlay® therapy handbook: Integrative family play therapy with neurodivergent children.
Routledge.
• Hannah Taylor, Christopher J. Hand, Hannah Howman & Ruth Filik (2022) Autism, Attachment, and Alexithymia:
Investigating Emoji Comprehension, International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, DOI:
10.1080/10447318.2022.2154890
• Howard, A. R. H., Lindaman, S., Copeland, R., & Cross, D. R. (2018). Theraplay impact on parents and children with
autism spectrum disorder: Improvements in affect, joint attention, and social cooperation. International Journal of
Play Therapy, Vol 27(1), pp. 56-68.
• Schottelkorb, A. A., Swan, K. L., & Ogawa, Y. (2020). Intensive child-centered play therapy for children on the autism
spectrum: A pilot study. Journal of Counseling & Development, Vol 98(1), pp. 63-73.

Thank You

17
NOTES
NOTES