Play Therapy in Dealing with Bereavement and Grief in Autistic child: A case study

Autism is a Neuro Developmental Disorder affecting socialisation and communication with stereotype behaviours. A single case of an Autistic child is studied in dealing with grief using Play Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Play Therapy of directive nature is used with dolls, light and sound toys to communicate and deal with emotional problems of the child. Operant Conditioning was used to make the child understand the dolls and theme. Eleven sessions of 20 minutes duration was held. Through dramatic play using dolls and toys the child was made to understand cognitively about death. The child before treatment was depressed, angry and dull and believed that father was alive. But after the treatment accepted that her father is dead and will not return back. The child understood the concept of death and this healed the child