The comprehensive therapeutic protocol outlined here positions play as both a psychological tool and a molecular catalyst for positive development in ASD. By grounding interventions in neuroscience, developmental psychology, and positive psychology, the protocol ensures that therapeutic play transcends traditional remediation and fosters flourishing.

Key takeaways include: (1) Play activates molecular pathways that enhance neuroplasticity, stress regulation, and social bonding; (2) Developmental psychology provides the framework for sequencing play activities into progressive pathways; (3) Positive psychology reframes therapy as an opportunity for thriving, not merely deficit reduction. The integration of these perspectives results in a protocol that is holistic, evidence-based, and adaptable.

Ultimately, this protocol positions play as a central driver of developmental outcomes in ASD, offering clinicians, caregivers, and researchers a blueprint for interventions that are simultaneously biologically precise and psychologically enriching. Play emerges not only as therapy but as an intervention rooted in the deepest layers of biology and psychology.

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Excerpt from: Play-Based Interventions for Promoting Positive Developmental Outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comprehensive Therapeutic Protocol Informed by Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, and Positive Psychology. by P. De Ceuster

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