Doing Therapy with Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome (eBook)

Richard Bromfiled, PhD, is on the clinical faculty of Harvard Medical School and maintains a practice outside Boston. He writes about children, psychotherapy, and family life for professionals and general readers. He is the author of Doing Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Teens in Therapy, Nurturing the Self of the Child with Asperger's , and Playing for Real.

Preface viii

Acknowledgments xvii

Important Notes xviii

1 What Asperger's Means for the Child 1

2 Meet the Parents 11

3 Beginning Th erapy 19

4 Hypersensitivity 29

5 Anxiety 43

6 Communication 61

7 Intellect, Cognitive Style, and Creativity 77

8 Feelings and Depression 101

9 Social Difficulties 121

10 Theory of Mind and Other So-Called Impediments to Therapy
147

11 Connecting It All 169

Appendix: Working with Parents 175

References 187

Author Index 201

Subject Index 205

About the Author 217

"Bromfield, who is a clinical psychologist, skillfully shares with the reader the beneficial knowledge that he has gained from his thirty years of experience in working with this specialized population. The book is filled with clearly conceptualized case examples that provide practical tips and fresh insights for the benefit of children and families impacted by Asperger's Disorder and high-functioning autism. Bromfield's relationship-based approach to therapy with this population is intended to be utilized in conjunction with other widely recognized, evidence-based interventions for treating children and youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, such as behavioral therapies, speech and language therapies, and social skills training. As such, it is intended to supplement and to mutually inform - rather than to supplant - these allied approaches...[Bromefield] focus[es] the bulk of his discussion on practical strategies for carrying out psychotherapy with children with Asperger's within a context of "human connection and understanding" (p. 174). Bromfield's therapeutic approach with this population is a natural fit with social work's core value of "meeting the child where she is" (p. xviii). Bromfield (p. 99) aims to "see the child in his own completeness and reality" as he details viable methods for encouraging children's unique talents, skills, and predilections in a spirit of realistic optimism." (Child and Family Social Work, August 2011)"This book is a joy to read, largely due to the author's chatty and jargon-free writing style. The reader is welcomed into his consulting room through the liberal use of snippets of case material to exemplify points. He writes with a self-questioning style, giving examples of his own thought processes in a way that helps a clinician to examine and so develop one's own practice. Although the author is a renowned child psychologist, working at Harvard Medical School and with an extensive private practice, he writes with humility, not presenting a ''know-it all'' approach. Examples and scenarios apply not just to psychotherapy settings but to all clinical scenarios with young people. His great fondness for his patients is also apparent.
This book is refreshing in its strongly clinical focus. Too many texts are overwhelmed with theory and can leave the novice none the wiser about what one actually does with patients. I wish I had read this before I started seeing young people in therapeutic situations. I remember wondering to myself "But what am I actually supposed to say?" While this book does not provide all the answers, it offers countless possibilities and helps one to reflect on the options. However, for the theoretically hungry, the author refers on to appropriate texts.
Overall, I would recommend this book to both trainees and experienced clinicians as an easy-to-read, practical and thought-provoking guide to psychotherapy with children and adolescents."
--Liz Searle, Specialist Registrar in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Great Ormond Street/Royal London Hospitals higher training scheme

"Doing Therapy with Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome is 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."
--Lisa E. Cox, PhD, LCSW, MSW, Associate Professor, School of Social & Behavioral Sciences, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey