Autistic Spectrum Disorder From The Viewpoint Of Gestalt-Therapy: A Dialogue With The Dir/Floortime Model

um diálogo com o modelo DIR/Floortime

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that causes impairments in behavioral, socio-emotional and communication skills. Gestalt therapy takes a phenomenological, non-reductionist approach to the disorder, understanding the symptoms of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as the best way for them to self-regulate in a given environment. The main authors of the child gestalt clinic make approximations with developmental theories, including the ideas of Stanley Greenspan, author of the DIR/Floortime model. This research aimed to verify the theoretical and practical relationships between Gestalt therapy and the DIR/Floortime model in working with autistic children. To this end, an integrative literature review was carried out, using books and articles on the aforementioned topics, and content analysis was carried out. It was concluded that the approaches share a holistic view of development and their theories dialogue with each other, recognizing the importance of relationships and interaction between the field, the organism and the environment, but they differ in terms of therapeutic stance and focus.