Engaging Floortime (1): On Greenspan’s DIR Model of Treating Autism
I have been reading the newest book by Dr. Stanley Greenspan, Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate and Think and will be writing a series of posts that (I hope) will add up to a more comprehensive review. Dr. Greenspan is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the George Washington University Medical School and the originator of the Floortime approach. Engaging Autism presents an overview of how to use the Floortime approach to help ASD children “reach beyond autism” (as the Floortime Foundation puts it, to work with children across the autism spectrum, from childhood to adulthood (though the latter are addressed in less comprehensively).
Connecting. Relating. These are the terms—the skills—-that children “at risk for autism” lack and that a program based on Greenspan’s developmental, individual-difference, relationship-based (DIR) model can treat:
“With this approach, children learn to master critical abilities missed or derailed along their developmental path—namely, the ability to relate to others with warmth and pleasure, communicated purposefully and meaningfully……., and, to varying degrees, think logically and creatively” (p xi).
I will address the specifics of Greenspan’s approach and of its applications to “difficult symptoms” (scripting, self-stimulation, toilet training, meltdowns, social skills) in future posts.
While the title of the book is Engaging Autism, I often had the sense as I read that I was reading about children in general and autistic children—-”children with ASD” or “children at risk for ASD,” as Greenspan tends to put it—-occasionally. I am not saying that Greenspan is not addressing the specific challenges that autistic children face, but rather that his book suggests that he thinks that autistic children are in many ways just like typical children, but with biological deficits that have impaired their sensory processing, and thus their emotional and relational development.
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POSTED IN: Books, Psychology, Treatment
12 opinions for Engaging Floortime (1): On Greenspan’s DIR Model of Treating Autism
Ashley
Jul 15, 2006 at 7:07 am
Did you know that he and Alan Greenspan are brothers? Quite an impact on us, really.
Ashley
Jul 15, 2006 at 7:08 am
Oh, and the book looks good. I look forward to hear more about those challenging efforts.
Jannalou
Jul 15, 2006 at 9:34 am
I wouldn’t be surprised if Greenspan thinks that autistic people are “normal inside” - with the normality just masked by the autism. A lot of people do.
I am not one of those people.
Laura Cottington
Jul 15, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Kristina,
I am very interested in getting the book after reading your posts. I trained with Greenspan in ‘94. I really haven’t bought anything of his since. It looks like he addresses some issues that pertain to Sam more specifically than his early works. Do you suggest buying? I trust your opinion. Just looks like he’s updated some stuff on your post.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 16, 2006 at 9:08 am
Laura, we read The Child with Special Needs (1998) when Charlie was 2 (that would have been in 1999). I have been comparing the 1998 book with Engaging Autism and much is the same—the focus on autism is more prevalent, of course. Are there any issues in particular you are curious about? I can try to address those.
Ashley, I think I had heard about SIG being Alan Greenspan’s brother—-would be very glad to know your thoughts on Engaging Autism.
Jannalou, I’m with you on both points. Greenspan keeps moving back and forth between writing about “children with ASD” and “children” in general.
Ashley Morgan
Jul 16, 2006 at 10:06 am
I’ve heard from parents and therapists that Floortime has evolved, and is now more behaviorally based (esp with DIR). Some even say it has become more successful because of the changes/improvements.
Stan The Man is a very trusted person - his book was one of the first to help special needs kids. Pediatricians know who he is - they are comfortable with him - the first stop for newly diagnosed parents. Because of this, what he has to say becomes very important.
I’m always happy to hear about therapy evolving. There is so much to learn every day. No therapy will ever be perfect - there’s always room for improvement - even if it means going back if something new doesn’t work (The New Coke went back to the old formula didn’t they? I’m really dating myself aren’t I?)
We had success with floortime for a limited period. For us personally, our behavioral program was the cornerstone to our son’s progress. Another example that there’s no such thing as “one-size-fits-all”.
I also like the fact that in much of his writing he puts the fact that kids are kids first over any disability.
Jannalou
Jul 16, 2006 at 10:49 am
Sure, kids are kids are kids, but autistic kids aren’t the same as non-autistic kids. They aren’t “normal kids” inside. If you “get rid of” or “break through” the autism, you aren’t going to have a “normal kid” - you’re just going to have a partial kid… a partial human being.
I’m a person, with or without my ADHD diagnosis. As such, I deserve to be respected and have my needs tended to in much the same way as any other human being does. I just happen to have some different needs, some different ways of interacting with the world.
Same with autism.
Ashley Morgan
Jul 16, 2006 at 11:03 am
Well said Jannalou! Leo isn’t a normal kid inside. He’s wired differently, and has indeed needed very specific help. Spectrum or not, we all deserve to be heard, respected, and valued regardless of our differing needs.
Janna’s Thoughts… » Blog Archive » Coming Soon to a Blog Near You…
Jul 19, 2006 at 8:10 pm
[…] The book I’ll be reviewing is The Growth of the Mind and the Endangered Origins of Intelligence, by Stanley I. Greenspan, MD (with Beryl Lieff Benderly). This was inspired by the posts about Greenspan’s new book, Engaging Autism: Helping Children Relate, Communicate, and Think with the DIR Floortime Approach, over at Autism Vox. […]
rakhee
Jul 8, 2007 at 2:39 pm
hi folks,
i am currently pursuing my masters from India, am very much interested in learning more about the DIR approach and am keen to do a research on the same.
i would be great full if any one who has experience about how this model works would be willing to help me out by posting me articles or any useful information about the same.
thank you all
Me
Nov 8, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Rakhee, it is great that you are interested in DIR. It is truly a blessing of an approach for the many children that can benefit from it.
Take a look at http://www.icdl.com.
I am glad that there is an opportunity for it to be used in India. Are you in Delhi by any chance? What program are you in?
Rakhee
Jan 15, 2008 at 1:49 am
hi
thanks for your reply , have already checked out all most all the related web sites providing useful information about this approach. I am based in Mumbai.going to begin with my research this month itself.
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