Description
The autism spectrum presents a range of communication, social, and sensory differences that are challenging for clinicians to address. Family Therapy and the Autism Spectrum provides a guide to conceptualizing those differences and ways to discuss them with clients and their families. Readers are provided with narrative examples illustrating the application of key concepts introduced in the text. These case examples address issues that range across the life cycle, from families with young children to ones with teens who are emerging as adults. Using the techniques learned in this book, clinicians will be able to guide families towards their positive autism narrative.
This book also features a visual framework to organize the compelling narrative of each person’s autism spectrum pattern of developmental differences or brain style. Using this visual framework and the corresponding descriptive language, clinicians and families can work together to create their "autism conversations." The conversations lead to the transformative experiences of developing competencies, resiliency, and advocacy for individuals and their families. The conversations also lead individuals with spectrum differences to use empowering language, supporting their ability to develop self-advocacy and self-determination skills.
Table of Contents
An Initial Conversation I. The Visual Framework 1. A Practical Framework for Clinicians 2. Narrative Therapy Practices and the Autism Spectrum II. Guiding Individuals and Families to Develop an Empowered Narrative 3. Powerless to Capable 4. Dysregulated to Controlled 5. Prompt-Dependence to Autonomy 6. Disorder to Style III. Narrative Development Across the Life Cycle 7. Young Children 8. Children 9. Adolescents 10. Young Adults IV. Therapy Resources 11. Organizational Supports 12. Regulation Supports 13. Social Narrative Supports A Final Conversation Index
