{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.02011263073209976, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.949720670391062, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Parent-Mediated, Play-Based Counseling Interventions: Use of Affective Engagement to Treat Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) benefit greatly from a comprehensive counseling approach capable of addressing a myriad of associated symptoms that can vary in presentation from one client to another. Parent-mediated, play-based counseling interventions represent a systemic and empirically supported component to treating children with this disorder. The authors review diagnostic criteria for ASD and highlight valuable elements of parent-mediated approaches that can enhance a child's social communication by targeting playful interactions. Joyful, affective engagement through play is highlighted as an essential catalyst of social–emotional growth for children with ASD, since this experience of joy creates intrinsic motivation for the child to seek out additional opportunities to play with others. One particular model, the Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters (PLAY) Project, is presented along with a composite case study that illustrates a sampling of PLAY techniques. Finally, the authors discuss implications for practitioners and recommendations for future research.