I've heard better things about occupational and speech therapy, though I haven't gone through those myself. Also, if any therapy, I'd recommend looking for therapists who are themselves autistic, and take an accepting approach.

Observing your kid and what makes them happy, without being influenced. Later on, asking your kid what they want, giving them time and space to respond, and being okay if they don't.

The biggest things that would have helped me are twofold:

1. Knowing that my parents accepted my true self exactly as I am. And gave me time and space to be that true self.

I think parents have the intention of preparing kids for the harsh world, by trying to get them to change in order to "cope better later".

All that did to me was send me the message that nobody in the world, not even my own parents, would ever accept me. It didn't prepare me. It increased my fears.

For an example of acceptance. I saw a great example of a parent building their kid a sensory room, with comforting lights and sounds.

1. Parents modelling calm, mature responses to difficult life situations.