Relationship Development Intervention®
Relationship Development Intervention® (RDI®) is a research based treatment approach developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein and Dr. Rachelle Sheely of The Connections Center in Houston, Texas. RDI® certified consultants coach parents in a method that remediates the core deficits of autism.
RDI® is research-based and multidisciplinary - combining developmental psychology, brain research, communication theory, learning theory as well as the latest autism research. This program recognizes that individuals on the autism spectrum are people whose neurotypical development is interrupted, and subsequent opportunities to develop relationships are halted or limited. RDI® seeks to restart that developmental sequence by providing opportunities for those in the spectrum to revisit and conquer the developmental challenges they have never met.
RDI® looks at the core deficits of autism as deficits in dynamic intelligence and the intersubjective relationships formed with others, with specific deficits in flexible thinking, emotional sharing, episodic memory, dynamic analysis, and self awareness. Through the RDI® program, we empower parents to be their child's therapist and teacher by coaching them in specific effective techniques including using declarative communication, slowing down the pace of the family and their interactions, working within their daily routine, and offering challenges addressing their child's specific weaknesses on a typical developmental continuum.
Only ten years in practice, RDI® is providing encouraging results and several research studies show preliminary findings that are quite exciting. Please refer to the RDI® website for more information on the research and results.
Social Skills Groups
All age groups offered 3 and up. If we do not currently have a group to fit your needs, we will work to develop a group that works for your child.
For those individuals who are not yet ready for group work, we will work individually with them following a similar structure to build competence and success until they can be incorporated into a peer group.
Groups consist of fun activities designed to promote relationship building, i.e. conversation circles, collaborative projects, simple to complex board games and group games, interactive activities, role-playing, and peer feedback.
Skills that are addressed range based on age but include joint attention, referencing a peer, working with a partner, friendship building, conversation, taking turns, playing a game, pretend play with a peer, joining in, good sportsmanship, and handling conflict.
Behavior Planning Assistance
Helps promote an understanding of your child's behavior as well as developing strategies and techniques that address behavior issues that are a problem. Social stories, applied behavior principles, sensory strategies, communication techniques, relationship building and positive behavior concepts are employed and custom-designed to fit your child's unique temperament and abilities.