Main description:

Play Therapy and Asperger's Syndrome: Helping Children and Adolescents Grow, Connect, and Heal Through the Art of Play is for the mental health professional (psychologist, licensed counselor, licensed social worker) who utilizes play therapy and who works with children and adolescents diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. This book is also for the graduate student learning effective therapy approaches to use with children and adolescents diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. The book provides a history of Asperger's syndrome and the challenges that often arise in therapy with this population. The book examines therapist characteristics and skills necessary to effectively utilize play therapy with young people diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Play Therapy and Asperger's Syndrome presents the main therapeutic themes of children and adolescents diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and play therapy techniques are provided for each theme to address the emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges. A separate chapter is devoted to issues of divorce and grief/loss and presents specific play therapy techniques to help children and adolescents diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome during these potentially tumultuous life events. Each chapter presents play therapy techniques to help build family connections and help parents/caregivers connect in a deeper understanding of their child or adolescent diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.

Contents:

Acknowledgments
Preface
Chapter 1. In His Own Little World: Living with Asperger's Syndrome
Chapter 2. What is Asperger's Syndrome?
Chapter 3. Potential Challenges in Therapy with Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome
Chapter 4. The Therapeutic Alliance, Empathy, and Themes in Play Therapy with Children Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome
Chapter 5. Play Therapy Toys and Techniques with Children Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome
Chapter 6. Creating Connection and Examination of Themes in Play Therapy with Adolescents Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome
Chapter 7. Play Therapy with Adolescents Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome
Chapter 8. Divorce and Grief/Loss Issues
Epilogue
About the Author
Bibliography
Index