This paper attempts to provide a brief overview of the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment strategies presently being used with atuistics. Discussion of treatment strategies revolves around the use of operant techniques; from Lindsley and Skinner (1954) to more recent attempts of Lovaas (1976). Generalization and maintenance are also discussed in…

There are four general approaches to treatment for the symptomatic child. In individual child psychotherapy, the child is seen alone and play therapy is often utilized to help the child become aware of his feelings and express them more appropriately. In conjoint parent-child psychotherapy and counseling, the child is seen together with one…

Research on client characteristics is reviewed. The degree of disturbance, client expectations, social and economic attributes, race, sex, intellectual variables, and the nature of the presenting problem are all shown to interact with treatment method in determining the outcome of counseling. Several specific recommendations are made: (1) Behavior…