Parents as cotherapists: their perceptions of a home-based behavioral treatment for autistic children

Parents' views about acting as cotherapists in a home-based behavioral treatment for their autistic child were investigated. Three areas were studied: (1) the demands involved in being a cotherapist, (2) whether parents felt more able to cope with their child after treatment, and (3) whether they had the same conception of the treatment's aims as did the therapists involved. Parents viewed their treatment more favorably than a comparison group of parents receiving more usual forms of treatment. Most had an accurate impression of treatment but half found it hard to use the methods suggested. Although parents felt that their child improved as a result of treatment, several had stopped using the techniques or felt unable to apply them to new problems.