An Intersubjectivity Parental-Based Intervention (I-PBI) for Preschoolers with ASD

Abstract

Given the influence of parents’ qualities and dyadic characteristics on child developmental outcomes, recent findings strengthened the importance of involving caregivers during the intervention to increase dyadic syntonization levels and to extend the acquisition of competencies in naturalistic contexts. The Intersubjectivity Parental-Based Intervention (I-PBI) presented throughout this chapter is delivered involving caregivers in two different modalities: first, in the therapeutic setting, together with the child to support interactions within the dyad. Second, the focus is on the parental representation of the child and the caregivers in their role. Trained psychologists deliver the intervention after receiving specific licenses on developmental intervention models for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Finally, the team is constantly supervised at least once every month by an expert psychotherapist. Unlike parent-mediated intervention and parent training, the I-PBI does not require home assignments or fidelity schedules, and the therapist entirely delivers the intervention. Throughout this chapter, the structure and therapeutic techniques of the intervention will be presented. Further, results considering the child’s developmental trajectories and changes in caregiver-child interaction will be discussed.