Participant AB was done via Skype: Researcher Introduction Hello, AB once again thank you for participating in this interview. OK, before we begin the interview itself, I’d like to confirm that you have read and signed the informed consent form, that you understand that your participation in this interview is entirely voluntary, that you may refuse to answer any questions, and that you may withdraw from the interview at any time. Also, I would like you to know that I am recording this interview and as stated in the consent your information will be secure and remain confidential. Do you have questions before we proceed? Participant AB Response : It is my pleasure to help out, any which way that I can. : I have read the form and I do understand what it is saying! No! Codes Researcher Questions AB responses Codes  AJ How have you been treated by professionals (doctors, therapists, etc.) regarding your opinions and knowledge of your child’s disorder? Wow, I’ll you this, when I first found out that my son had autism I was shocked. I knew something was wrong. I mean he was hitting others, certain things would set him off, he did not like the sounds of police cars and so on. I would tell him no he cannot have something or tell him to wait and he would say “no” and throw so many tantrums that he got kicked out of 3 daycares. AJ I can only imagine how tough that must have been for you! It was tough but to me the craziest part was when I was talking to the therapist and certain doctors. Once I my son was diagnosed at age 3.5. I mean he is 6 years now, however for his first few years, I started to do research on the disorder and I tried several BHRS services, but I felt that I was being judged and when I say that this intervention is not working they are telling me that I am doing it wrong. One time a doctor tried to tell me that I should put him on mediation and I said, “well we never try everything first”. The way that he was talking to me was like it was my fault. I felt they had the degree and that I should listen to them and have no opinion. “I left the office sometimes in tears”. One day I went to pick him up at a daycare (placed her hand on her head) and I saw this lady working with another child and I knew the child had some issues, but I did not know what. I asked the teacher who was the lady and they indicated she was a play therapist. I remember sitting in my car until the lady came out and I approached her. I told her my situation and she give me her card. To make a long story short she began working with my child using play therapy within my home. AJ What are your experiences of using the play therapy interventions that are used inside and outside of the home when your child is displaying aggression/tantrums/non-compliance? What are some of the interventions used? How does your child respond?  When I first started, let me tell ya, it was frustrating because I could not get it. Also, I worked and using so.

1. Participant AB was done via Skype:
Researcher
Introduction
Hello, AB once again thank you for participating in this
interview.
OK, before we begin the interview itself, I’d like to confirm
that you have read and signed the informed consent form, that
you understand that your participation in this interview is
entirely voluntary, that you may refuse to answer any questions,
and that you may withdraw from the interview at any time.
Also, I would like you to know that I am recording this
interview and as stated in the consent your information will be
secure and remain confidential.
Do you have questions before we proceed?
Participant AB Response
: It is my pleasure to help out, any which way that I can.
: I have read the form and I do understand what it is saying!

2. No!
Codes
Researcher
Questions
AB responses
Codes
AJ
How have you been treated by professionals (doctors,
therapists, etc.) regarding your opinions and knowledge of your
child’s disorder?
Wow, I’ll you this, when I first found out that my son had
autism I was shocked. I knew something was wrong. I mean he
was hitting others, certain things would set him off, he did not
like the sounds of police cars and so on. I would tell him no he
cannot have something or tell him to wait and he would say
“no” and throw so many tantrums that he got kicked out of 3
daycares.
AJ
I can only imagine how tough that must have been for you!
It was tough but to me the craziest part was when I was talking
to the therapist and certain doctors. Once I my son was
diagnosed at age 3.5. I mean he is 6 years now, however for his
first few years, I started to do research on the disorder and I
tried several BHRS services, but I felt that I was being judged

3. and when I say that this intervention is not working they are
telling me that I am doing it wrong. One time a doctor tried to
tell me that I should put him on mediation and I said, “well we
never try everything first”. The way that he was talking to me
was like it was my fault. I felt they had the degree and that I
should listen to them and have no opinion. “I left the office
sometimes in tears”. One day I went to pick him up at a daycare
(placed her hand on her head) and I saw this lady working with
another child and I knew the child had some issues, but I did
not know what. I asked the teacher who was the lady and they
indicated she was a play therapist. I remember sitting in my car
until the lady came out and I approached her. I told her my
situation and she give me her card. To make a long story short
she began working with my child using play therapy within my
home.
AJ
What are your experiences of using the play therapy
interventions that are used inside and outside of the home when
your child is displaying aggression/tantrums/non-compliance?
What are some of the interventions used? How does your child
respond?
When I first started, let me tell ya, it was frustrating because I
could not get it. Also, I worked and using some of the things
that she was telling me made no sense. When I was looking at
her working with him, to me they were playing. After a few
sessions it started to make sense what she was doing. Although
apprehensive I figure I will give it a shot. It’s not like I was not
disappointed before with services. And I figure if this does not
go well, I will tell her in the nicest way not to come back
(laughs). Let me start with the interventions.
AJ
Sure!
Some of the things that I was taught to use, “hold on let me look

4. in his play room” (laughs) I have to take the lab top to his
playroom so that I can show you since we are on video (laughs
again). “We use building blocks to help him release his anger,
all these books (shows books on being a good friend,
cooperation, coping skills) we also use for social stories
especially when he is having a tough day. Sometimes I take
them with me in the car. One thing that he really enjoys, and it
help calm him down about 70% of the time is a sensory bottle
that we make with the therapist. It has sea shells, colorful
stones, sand and something else ...oh glitter. So, when we must
transition, and I see him getting agitated I reach for that bottle.
At home I try to act out stories, but he does not always respond
to this intervention, but I still keep trying it...(crossed her
fingers and laughs)”. Son came into the room and said “hello”
and sat watching a video on what appears to be his lab top.
“mom calls son…what do you like to do when you get
upset?”...(little boy) “paint” he loves drawing and this is
helping his anger go down too. I remain hopeful!
AJ
What do you mean by that?
I have to have hope that my son will get better, where I can
manage his behaviors. He is getting better at school and I am
learning to trust the process. Well that’s what he plays therapist
say to me when she sees me getting frustrated because he
responds better for her than myself. I’m learning not to take it
personal (laughs)
AJ
What are some of your thoughts about play therapy after
experiencing the therapy with your child after the first few
sessions? Why?
Took deep breaths) Well how can I put this? I was kind of
disappointed t first because I did not see much improvement,
my child, my baby boy was still upset and angry and I could not
get him to open up and explain without him escalating more. “ I

5. felt lost’ When the therapist left my house I often wonder if I
should just give up. (tears started to drop from her eyes) “I” “I”
use to watch him go to sleep after struggling all day and I felt
“guilty”
AJ
What do you mean you felt “guilty”?
“I felt at peace and I was happy that he was asleep and that I
can have a moment for myself to breath, to think” (dries her
eyes). But I started to see some kind of hope, I saw him getting
angry with the therapist and would say to myself “this lady is
going to run the hell out of here” (laughs) but to my surprise
she did not back down, after about the 5th session I saw him
opening up more and doing more with the therapist. I mean
when I asked him to do something it was not a “no “right away,
he was compromising more with me and his teacher reported on
the playground he was not pushing other children when he got
upset although did he yelled. That’s when I knew that
something as to be working I just had to be consistent and
follow the routine.
AJ
Is there any information you would feel comfortable to share
which has not been included in the questions?
Not that I can think of! I must say that it was nice that someone
wanted to learn about how parents have to deal with their
children on the spectrum. I think that if everyone took the time
to really understand how families struggle things might change
with the way people look not only at the child but also with the
child.
AJ
This is one of the many reasons why I wanted to get an
opportunity to understand the lived experience of families in
relation to using play therapy. I want to thank you for part-
taking in this study. Would it be okay if I contact you if I have

6. any follow up questions?
Sure! Just let me know ahead of time, would be great if you can
come also when he is in therapy.
AJ
Interview ended
AB: Hung up
Participant CM interview done Face to Face
Researcher
Introduction
Hello, CM once again thank you for participating in this
interview.
OK, before we begin the interview itself, I’d like to confirm
that you have read and signed the informed consent form, that
you understand that your participation in this interview is
entirely voluntary, that you may refuse to answer any questions,
and that you may withdraw from the interview at any time.
Also, I would like you to know that I am recording this
interview and as stated in the consent your information will be
secure and remain confidential.
Do you have questions before we proceed?
Participant AB Response
: It is my pleasure to help out, any which way that I can.

7. : I have read the form and I do understand what it is saying!
No!
Codes
Researcher
Questions
CM responses
Codes
AJ
How have you been treated by professionals (doctors,
therapists, etc.) regarding your opinions and knowledge of your
child’s disorder?
As a parent with a child with emotional and behavioral needs, “I
feel well respected by the service professionals (e.g. therapist,
psychologist, program director, clinical supervisor, and case

8. manager)”. Since the start of services each professional
involved has shared with me what will be expected for my little
girl’s treatment process. Her therapist has made us feel at ease
and knowledgeable about her behaviors and diagnoses
AJ
After participating in Non-directive and directive approaches to
the play therapy procedures, what are your experiences of using
these procedures at home with your child? How? Why?
My daughter’s therapist has helped me with learning what play
therapy procedures are helpful to decrease my child’s negative
behaviors. I feel like I can help her more when her therapist is
not present. I’m able to use 1,2,3 Magic, social stories, planned
ignoring, and art which she enjoys the most to help her decrease
negative behaviors and express herself more. Before it was hard
taking her butt out in public, where you find others staring
because your child is acting out and you feel lost and just want
to run and hide (took a sip of water) but I mean everything is a
learning process and thank God the therapist is willing to work
with me and my child.
AJ
How do you implement play therapy when your child is
displaying disruptive behaviors during social interaction inside
and outside of the home? How do they respond?
My daughter has a temper (shaking her head and rolling her
eyes) and has difficulty getting along with peers her age. I
remind her to use her relaxation techniques learned by her
therapist to calm herself. She is able to count to 10, take deep
breaths, ask for breaks, and use stop, think, and act while
playing with her brothers and sisters and peers. Once my
daughter reaches a calming state she is able to return to playful
activities with others. We have her therapist to thank for all
these helpful techniques.
AJ

9. What are your experiences of using the play therapy
interventions that you used inside and outside of the home when
your child is displaying aggression/tantrums/non-compliance?
What are some of the interventions used? How does your child
respond?
I use planned ignoring, timers, if/then statements, removing
privileges, and token economy system which have all been
effective within our home. My daughter responds well
(clapping her hands and smiling) to each especially the token
economy system because she likes to work towards receiving
things like ice cream, a day to the movies, going to the store to
pick out things she likes, and earning more time on her
electronics or video games.
AJ
What are some of your thoughts about play therapy after
experiencing the therapy with your child after the first few
sessions? Why?
( Clearing throat) Play therapy is so helpful and beneficial to
not only my daughter but for me. I have learned a lot about play
therapy interventions that have been helpful not only in the
home and school, but outside in the community (e.g. park). I
have noticed my kid (laughs) has improved her behaviors and
has even been able to express herself more without any anger.
AJ
Is there any information you would feel comfortable to share
which has not been included in the questions?
No (laughs) but I would like to say thank you for allowing me
to share my experience with my child
AJ
Interview ended: Shake CM hand
CM: left the room