Overview of Services

Welcome and thank you for your interest in Relationship Development Intervention® (RDI®)! Within this packet you will find some basic information regarding RDI®, my services fees and a policy agreement. Once you have read over the packet, the next step is to determine if you want to schedule an initial consult with me. The consult lasts 1.5- 2 hours and costs $120. During this consultation I give a mini presentation about RDI® and I help you determine if you think this is a good fit for you and your family. For locals this consultation is done at my office in Longmont, Colorado. For out-of-towners this can be done via the telephone or via video conferencing.

Once you have determined that RDI® is something that you and your family are committed to doing, we then set up another consultation. Here, more detail is given about RDI® principals and we talk together about your family’s specific goals, objectives, strengths and obstacles.

Because I want your child and your family to be successful with your RDI® program, you need to plan on a minimum of six months of intervention. This is because RDI® is a parent-based Consultant Model. As a RDI® Program Certified Consultant it is my job to teach you the skills and strategies you need to connect more meaningfully with your child. This education piece takes time. This type of intervention will only be beneficial if you allow yourself the necessary time it takes for you to feel competent.

Once you have completed the two initial Consults with Stacy Goresko, Ph.D., then you will be ready to schedule the Relationship Development Assessment® (RDA) for you and your child. (See below for more details on the RDA.) In order to schedule the RDA, you will need to pay a deposit to secure the dates. It is always a good idea to get back to me sooner than later as I can book up quickly. I am happy to help in anyway I can. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,
Stacy Goresko, Ph.D.
RDI® Program Certified Consultant

About the Consultant

Stacy Goresko, Ph.D., is a Relationship Development Intervention (RDI®) Program Certified Consultant in private practice who specializes in educating and treating families, children, adolescents and adults on the Autism Spectrum. She provides home-based and school-based consultations.

Dr. Goresko is an accomplished educator with over 20 years experience directing and teaching in prominent schools and colleges. She is a respected presenter on Autism, Helping Children on the Spectrum at School, Building Social Relationships with ASD Individuals, and Language Use and Social Interaction of the Classroom.

Becoming a RDI® Program Certified Consultant has allowed Dr. Goresko to do what she does best- helping people- using her passion, compassion, teaching skills and expertise in face-to-face communication to educate people about Autism.

Dr. Goresko has since dedicated her life to support families who find themselves on the Autism Spectrum journey. As a parent of a child with autism she understands what families need. As a professional she can help!

Stacy Goresko, Ph.D., lives near Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two children.

A. What is Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)?

The goals for RDI Program are clearly stated on Dr. Gutstein’s website. The following is a direct quote from that site (www.rdiconnect.com): “Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) Program is a parent-based clinical treatment for individuals with autism spectrum and other relationship-based disorders. The primary goal of the RDI Program is to systematically teach the motivation for and skills of Experience Sharing interaction. Deficits in Experience Sharing have been found to rest at the core of autism spectrum disorders.”

“The RDI Program provides a path for people on the Autism Spectrum to learn friendship, empathy and a love of sharing their world with others. Language comes alive when integrated with real emotion. People with Autism and Asperger's learn not only to tolerate, but to enjoy change, transition and going with the flow. It begins at the edge of each person's current capability and carefully teaches the skills needed for competence and fulfillment in a complex world.”

The RDI Program is designed so that the parent’s of the child are the direct providers of intervention. A certified clinician acts as coach to help design and implement this program. The following are direct objectives for implementing an RDI Program:
• Construct a secure developmental foundation
• Develop a master-apprentice relationship
• Engage in motivation-building encounters
• Use frameworks to increase flexibility
• Adapt communication
• Construct a user-friendly environment
• Provide opportunities for massed experience sharing practice

To learn more about RDI, you can read Dr. Gutstein’s book, “Solving the Relationship Puzzle”. You may also purchase his DVD entiltied “Going to the heart of Autism.”

B. RDI Services

1. The first step in the RDI Program is to schedule two* initial 1.5 hour visit RDI consultations with Dr. Stacy Goresko. This may be at your home at my office or via the telephone or internet for long-distanced clients. The purpose of these two meetings is to talk specifically about RDI and how it might benefit your family. In these meetings we will talk about Autism Spectrum Disorder and go into some detail about the core areas of deficits of autism. Since RDI is a remediation program, (RDI attempts to remedy the core deficits of autism), it is critical that parents are familiar and comfortable with the concept of a remediation treatment program. During these meetings, we will also talk about the “Parent Objectives” piece of RDI as well as “Child Objectives.” These meetings will also provide an opportunity for you to ask me any questions you might have regarding RDI. ( Please note, this is not part of the RDI assessment and payment is collected at the time of each visit.)

   * if you have attended a recent two-day RDI Introductory Workshop given by Steve Gutstein, you are only required to have one initial meeting with Dr. Goresko.

    

2. RDA. After your two initial visits, the next step in the RDI program is to complete a Relationship Development Assessment (RDA). The RDA is an important step in determining the current level and customizing the RDI program to fit your family. The RDA is an involved assessment involving you and your child that requires approximately 12-17 hours of preparation and work. Everyone, including out of town clients must undergo the, 2, and 3. Typically this is done at my home office. For long distance clients please allow a three day stay to complete the entire RDA. Occasionally, Stacy Goresko will travel to administer the RDA. Please contact her to see if this is an option for your family.
3. The RDA requires the following steps:
   A. Send an Initial Home Video Tape for review. This tape will show your child in a variety of settings interacting and playing with others. This tape should be 20-30 minutes long, and must be VHS, DVD or mini-tape format. I will provide you with specific information about what to include in this video.
   B. RDA 1: This is the first part of the RDA, and will take place at my home office at 8083 Meadowdale Square, Niwot CO 80503. During RDA 1 both parents and the child are to be present. Please allow up to 2-3 hours for RDA 1.
   C. RDA 2: This portion of the RDA is used for Hypothesis testing. It will allow the clinician to confirm the level and stage of RDI for the child. The clinician and child participate in this session. Please allow up to 2 hours for RDA 2. This will also take place at my home office.
   D. RDA 3: This session includes the parents alone initially with the clinician and perhaps the child as well. At this time, the RDA 1 and 2 will be reviewed and specific areas will be highlighted to begin your customized RDI program. Please allow 1 to 2 hours for this meeting. You will need to arrange childcare for this session as it is for the parents and clinician only. The clinician will coach the parents and child during this session. Please allow 1-2 hour for RDA.
   E. The consultant will review and analyze the tapes of the RDA. This occurs after each part of the RDA and following completion of the RDA in order to prepare the written report. Typically this is completed after RDA3 unless other arrangements are made.
   F. RDI Treatment Plan. This will include the results of the RDA: stages, goals and objectives for your family for the next six months. A treatment plan and report will be mailed to the family within two to three weeks following completion of the RDA.
4. Consultation Sessions. Dr. Stacy Goresko will provide personal consultative services to help you with your RDI Program. RDI Program education and fine-tuning will be the focus of these sessions. During this time, the parents (sometimes on their own and sometimes with their child) will come to the office and we will work on developing the skills and strategies you need to connect more meaningfully with your child to make your RDI Program successful. Consultations typically last for 60 minutes. For long distance consultations are done via the telephone and/or the web. Video-tape review is also will also be a part of this session.
5. Video Tape Reviews. Feedback and consultation through video tape review is a critical piece of the RDI program. Videotaping your interactions with your child allows for self-reflection and individualized feedback from the consultant that is sometimes difficult for the consultant to observe at the office. Feedback can be given via telephone conversations or e-mail. Tapes are to be no longer than 30 minutes.
6. In Home Visits. Occasional home visits may be scheduled for families living within the Boulder/Denver/Fort Collins area. It is sometimes important for the consultant to observe the child interacting with the family in their natural environment. Families may choose to meet at home if time is available for the consultant.
7. RDI Informational Sessions. Informational sessions about RDI for other family members or professionals who interact with your child regularly can also be scheduled. These sessions are charged at the hourly rate.
8. Parent/Family Classes- I am in the process of forming a free monthly RDI Parent/Family Class for my local clients. More information on this is coming.
9. Public Education. Raising awareness and understanding about Austism and RDI is important to your child. I am available to provide RDI Introductory seminars and workshops for Professionals, School Staff, Special Need Professionals, Parent Support Groups etc. If interested, please contact Dr. Stacy Goresko at 303 652 4950.

C. Fees and Payment Schedule

1. First two Initial Consultation fees: 1.5 hours each. $120 each (to be paid at the time of each meeting
2. Initial Family Video Review and parent questionnaires review: $95.
3.  RDA 1, 2, 3 and Treatment Planning Report: $1200.00
4. Consultation Session: $95/hour at my home office. $95/hour for long distance phone or internet consultations. For off-premise rates please contact Stacy Goresko.
5. On-going Video/Tape Reviews: $95 for up to 30 minutes of tape.
6. A separate monthly fee to use the Connections Center’s Operating System: $50. (These funds goes directly to the Connections Center (RDI headquarters) in order to provide RDI families access to online resources and support. This fee is mandatory for all families who are doing a RDI program.
7. The RDA requires a $425.00 deposit ($330 for the RDA deposit and $95 to review your videotape and questionnaires) when you send in your initial videotape* and questionnaires. Dates for the RDA are not reserved until the deposit has been received. RDA appointments are on a first come basis and will NOT be held until a deposit is made. If schedule changes are made within two weeks AND the RDA appointment is filled, the deposit will be fully refunded and/or another appointment can be made. The balance of the RDA ($ 870.00) is due at the time of the RDA 1. This amount will take care of balance of the RDA 1,2, and 3 and the final report. Consultation fees are due at the time of rendered services (this includes video and phone consultations as well.) Payment can be hand delivered or mailed. (Payment options may be available on an individual basis but require that arrangements be made with Stacy Goresko prior to the RDA.)

Consultation sessions generally occur weekly throughout the month (two office visits and two videos) and it is the responsibility of the family to schedule appointments. For people living out of town, the office visits can be replaced by phone consultations, and/or video reviews with email feedback. Make-up sessions must occur within the same month and can be in any format (office, phone, video review). If a family fails to use their consultation sessions within any given month, these sessions are forfeited unless other arrangements have been made prior to the first day of the following month.

* Initial videotape must be received at least one week prior to the RDA 1. The questionnaires must be sent along with the deposit to secure you a slot and dates.

D. RDA Checklist

• Read information package
• Parent Questionnaires
• Read “Solving the Relationship Puzzle” or view “Going to the Heart of Autism” video
• 20-30 minute video sent to consultant
• Initial two RDI consultations
• RDA 1
• RDA 2
• RDA 3
• Treatment Report and Plan

Send Tape to:

Dr. Stacy Goresko
RDI® Program Certified Consultant
8083 Meadowdale Square
Niwot, Colorado 80503

If you have any questions about this information, please call me at (303) 652-4950. Thank you for your interest in RDI and I look forward to working with you and your family.

Additional Policies

1. It is the responsibility of the family to schedule all appointments, send in regular videotapes for review, and re-schedule any missed consultations within the SAME month of the missed consultation.
2. $25 fee is charged for bounced checks.
3. Missed/Late sessions If an office session must be cancelled, please give 24 hour notice if at all possible. Sessions that are missed but not cancelled will billed at the regular hour rate. For extenuating circumstances please contact me directly.

   If a client arrives late for a session, the session will still end at the scheduled time. This policy applies to phone consultations as well.

   If I must cancel a session, I will give as much advanced notice as possible.

   I will make every attempt to reschedule sessions that I cancel at a time convenient to you. Any sessions cancelled by me can be made up at any time within the same month.

4. Sickness Please do not bring your child to a session if he/she is running a fever, vomiting, or has a contagious condition.
5. Weather In the case of poor weather conditions making travel dangerous, please call to cancel the session. These sessions will be can be made up at any time within the month. If you are unsure about the weather, please call ahead. I will make every attempt to reschedule at a convenient time.

RDI Contract Agreement (download)

The Relationship Development Assessment (RDA)- Parts One, Two, and Three The RDA One is scheduled for approximately 1.5 hours. The goal of the RDA One is to examine if both the parent and child or children (in a dyad situation) have the beginning basis for the Intersubjective Relationship (IR). In the RDA the Examiner looks for evidence to see how the system (IR) is currently functioning. The Examiner is looking for what patterns and actions that the parent or child continue to take that are causing breakdown in the relationship.

The RDA is scheduled for approximately 1.5 hours as well. In the RDA Two the Examiner is trying to pinpoint the child’s obstacles and strengths. Here the examiner is looking to understand what the child is capable of bringing to the Intersubjective Relationship. For this part, the child is without his parents and works directly with the examiner (or with another child in a dyad situation.)

The RDA 3 is scheduled for approximately 1-2 hours. In the RDA the parents discuss with the Examiner the results of the RDA 1 and 2. During this part, the Examiner helps the parents get ready for more hands-on learning. The Examiner may demonstrate helpful ways for parents to begin working with their child. Talk of the next steps and where do we go from here are discussed.