Abstract
This qualitative study researched the gaps in the therapeutic alliance of caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder and their related service providers. Results indicate a need for better collaboration and communication to best support the child.
Primary Author and Speaker: Caitlin Rose Toney
Additional Authors and Speakers: Rae Ann Smith, Kathleen Reeves
This study was built upon research into therapeutic relationships of related service providers and children with ASD. As previous research has found, children with ASD have difficulty forming social emotional relationships with others, but they display a want and need to build these relationships (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Because of these difficulties, caregivers of children with ASD tend to take the burden of fostering these relationships, along with generalizing skills, and continuing their day-to-day routines. When the caregiver can form a relationship with the therapeutic professionals, they report a higher sense of satisfaction and success in supporting their child (Samadi & Samadi, 2020). The purpose of this research was to investigate the lived experiences of caregivers with therapeutic relationships with related service providers working with children and adolescents with ASD through Collaborative ABA Services LLC. Interviews were conducted in a face-to-face format and the data was then uploaded into Dedoose to analyze and identify themes present. The findings displayed gaps in service in relation to lack of communication or check ins, difficulty forming relationships with parents secondary to the medical model, and difficulty generalizing skills secondary to caregivers not attending sessions or not having enough time to provide adequate education of caregivers. The results offer insight into the challenges caregivers experience when trying to bridge the gap between their child and related service providers and also the barriers faced by related service providers. This poster will encourage conversations with practitioners about difficulties they face within their own practice settings and encourage them to identify ways to bridge this gap in order to increase support for clients and their caregivers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/living.html
Samadi, H., & Samadi, S. A. (2020). Understanding different aspects of caregiving for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs: A narrative review of the literature. Brain Sciences, 10(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10080557