2016 Volume 29 Issue 2 Pages 3-15
Autistic children often express the “vast world”, which has much in common with the world of archaic people and infants. This paper discusses the process of seven-year playtherapy, in which a high-functioning autistic girl, together with the therapist, has come in touch with the vast world and formed various “frames” to contain it. “Invisible frames” appeared around the client and the therapist, which subsequently enabled the client to break out of her “solid shell”. The vast world then emerged, where ghosts could be seen and invisible light could be perceived. Through creating a variety of “frames” and performing many rituals in the therapy, the client made it possible for the vast world to be contained within her “inner frame”. Throughout this whole process, the client gradually familiarized herself with the ordinary world.
