Relationship Development Intervention
Relationship Development Intervention, identified by the abbreviation RDI is a trademarked proprietary treatment program for sutism spectrum disorders.The program was developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein, who, along with his wife Dr. Rachelle Sheely, both clinical psychologists, founded the Connections Center in Houston, TX.
The program is based on the philosophy that individuals with autism spectrum disorders can participate in authentic emotional relationships if they are exposed to them in a gradual, systematic way. The developers of the program say it is a parent-based clinical treatment for individuals with autism spectrum and other relationship-based disorders. The stated primary goal of the program is to systematically teach the motivation for and skills of "experience sharing" interaction, which proponents of this method claim is at the core of autism spectrum disorders.
The therapy methods are claimed to be suitable for the treatment of others who experience problems with social interaction.