Developing Therapeutically Attuned Relationships with Autistic Children and Their Caregivers

The purpose of this paper is to propose the Intentional and Attuned Therapeutic Relationship Model as a means to emphasize an intentional and attuned therapeutic relationship among the therapist, autistic child, and their caregiver. Neurodiversity-affirming practice is strengths-based, collaborative, and inclusive of the needs and goals of the autistic child and their caregiver. As this necessitates reevaluating occupational therapy models of care delivered to autistic children, this paper provides a brief review of sensory processing and emotional regulation; discusses the Intentional Relationship Model and the phenomenon of attunement, respectively; and proposes the Intentional and Attuned Therapeutic Relationship Model, which combines elements of the Intentional Relationship Model and attunement to develop the therapeutic relationship in alignment with the neurodiversity-affirming paradigm.