Parent, Cambridge

“My instinct is that the SSP Therapy has had a positive effect and is continuing to unfold. I am mindful of speaking in light, friendly, modulated tones and meeting his signals for social engagement.”

“In summary, he seems to have switched from a diffident, aloof, bored teen to a much younger child who is happy, excited, and engaged in activities like colouring and craft and 'treasure trails'. He leans in to kiss me at random moments, out and about, in public. He squeezes my hand or rubs his face on my shoulder.
He has taken to the piano and to reading paper books with gusto (not just graphic novels on the iPad ). He was explaining the plot of ‘The Hobbit’ to me and it is clear he really is reading the text thoroughly.

He is talking a lot more to me, asking me what I was reading (the news) and then making very astute observations about current American politics. This is the child I last knew around Year 2, when teachers commented on his exceptional intelligence, and his aptitude for analysis, observation and interrogative investigation. Then it all went offline and was abandoned/moth-balled. It’s as if he has returned to himself, but himself as it was at the start of Year 3. He behaves around the same age as his sister who is nearly 8.
However, they haven’t squabbled all week. They seem to peaceably co-exist, which was never the case previously. She just doesn’t seem to get on his nerves as she did before (not that she is currently doing anything different). N simply seems less triggered, less irascible, more relaxed and lets things go more. He is asking for a lot more - a foot massage at bedtime, piano lessons, lasagne rather than pizza in a Sicilian cafe when I’d reflexively ordered pizza for him, he corrected me and I responded to that and got him what he really wanted which made him happy.”