ReAttach Protocol for Autism Spectrum Disorders: Activating the Growth Mindset in ASD

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by a typical way of being resulting from a pervasive developmental disorder affecting all domains of development: speech, language, social communication, social cognitive functioning, behavior, executive functioning, and physical functioning (1). Zeidan et al. (2) conducted a systematic review of the global prevalence of autism and estimated it at approximately 1%, with four times more diagnosed men than women. Realizing that ASD impacts the mental health of direct family members, the global impact of ASD is massive (3). ReAttach is a trans-diagnostic intervention for adults and children with mental health problems (4) that can be tailored for individuals with autism spectrum disorders as a systemic approach. Practice-driven research studies into the results of ReAttach for autism in targeting core symptomatology were promising in a broad range of developmental domains (5,4). In this paper, the authors describe the ReAttach Protocol for ASD for ReAttach Specialists and Affect Coaches. The authors want to state that for complex problems such as ASD, the basic ReAttach skills alone are insufficient, and extra tools for mapping complexity and inter relational dynamics, as well as additional ReAttach techniques (W.A.R.A. and New Mind Creation), are necessary. Nevertheless, describing this protocol will increase insight into applying ReAttach to individuals with autism.