Doing Therapy with Children and Adolescents with Asperger Disorder
"Children and adolescents with Asperger's syndrome can benefit greatly from individual psychotherapy as long as the therapist has extensive clinical knowledge and a thorough understanding of the syndrome, and takes into consideration the perspective and personal experience of the client. Providing an explanation of Asperger's based on a review of scientific research, Richard Bromfield describes how the characteristics of the syndrome affect the person's thoughts and experiences throughout childhood. The author has an intuitive understanding of the experience of having Asperger syndrome, and an engaging writing style, and his explanations and therapy are based on clinical wisdom maturing for nearly 30 years. Psychotherapy based on the practices described in this book will change the destiny of children and adults with Asperger's syndrome to one of greater connectivity to themselves and others. Should become the primary text for psychotherapists working with children and adolescents with Asperger's."
–Tony Attwood, Ph.D., author of The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome
"Dr. Bromfield generously shares his wisdom and experience in this very accessible, honest and often moving book. Any clinician who reads it in its entirety–or even selects a chapter or two at random–will discover new paths to take with their most complex and challenging clients and gain a greater appreciation for those with Asperger's syndrome. Bromfield gives us all a window into a world that is hard to describe, impossible to imagine, but needs and deserves to be understood."
–Naomi Angoff Chedd, Autism Specialist and coauthor, Replays
"[S]hows that [these children] have the same human needs for relationships as others, they just have trouble expressing them in socially proficient ways... While explicitly informed by research, the strength of this book is the sense he gives the reader of participating, of being right inside these challenging yet tremendously productive therapy relationships along with himself and his young clients... One by one, Bromfield takes neurological features which have been used as arguments against the use of therapy with people with Asperger's, and shows they are relative and to some extent flexible capacities, which may grow... The heart of therapy–keeping empathic however hard it might be–is beautifully expressed in this book."
–Counselling and Therapy Book Reviews
"[Offers] valuable insight into the world of Asperger syndrome. [H]elps the reader to understand the special needs of these individuals and to remind us that they are children and have the same needs, desires, and wishes as children without Asperger syndrome. [A] good guide for therapists. It can help them remain human and honest and understand what these children truly need. The book is also a good book for parents to read. It not only includes resource materials but also can serve as a ray of hope for these families and for the children living with Asperger syndrome."
–Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
"Throughout his evidence-based book, Bromfield captivates the reader by sharing optimism, encouragement, and anecdotes about effective and creative interventions with children and adolescents living with AS. A cutting-edge book that is sure to enhance practitioner libraries and edify the clinical mind and skills set. Bromfield reviews scientific research and provides radical and fascinating practice wisdom for clinicians who want to help clients who present with the ever growing diagnosis of AS. This book is a must-read for clinicians, parents of children with AS, and educators. Speech and language therapists might also find the book of value, as they are often important collaborators with clinicians working with young people with AS."
–Families in Society
Contents
1. What Asperger's Means for the Child.
2. Meet the Parents.
3. Beginning Therapy.
4. Hypersensitivity.
5. Anxiety.
6. Communication.
7. Intellect, Cognitive Style, and Creativity.
8. Feelings and Depression.
9. Social Difficulties.
10 Theory of Mind, and Other So-Called Impediments to Therapy.
11. Connecting It All.