Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) benefit from a positive, affirming support of their individuality. This forward-looking book focuses on building individual strengths and resilience, rather than modifying perceived weaknesses, through individualized therapy within a group context. Integrating psychological and educational theory with a variety of creative therapies, Judith Martinovich combines activities such as art making, drama, music, puppetry, yoga and photography with conventional cognitive-behavioural interventions to support individuals with AS. The different activities complement and reinforce each other and are designed to address specific traits of the autism spectrum to aid skills development. Although created primarily for use with adolescents and young adults, the practical and versatile activities can be adapted for different age and skill levels, objectives and settings. Informed by contemporary research, they meet the objectives of a framework of principles drawn from Positive Psychology and Social and Emotional Learning. Creative Expressive Activities and Asperger's Syndrome is a comprehensive resource for parents as well as teachers, social workers, psychologists and arts therapists who wish to link therapeutic goals with creative activities for people with or without Asperger's Syndrome. --- from the publisher Contents List of figures. List of creative activities. Preface. Part I: A Multidimensional Approach to Asperger's Syndrome. 1. Introduction. 2. What makes an adaptive, resilient and happy person? 3. Defining Asperger's Syndrome and its impact. Part II: Creative Activities. 4. Groups. 5. Conceptual, cognitive processing: semantic, pragmatic weaknesses. 6. Self-awareness and self-related skills: emotion, depression, anxiety, emotional self-regulation. 7. Social difficulties and connecting with the world. 8. Nuts and bolts of art techniques. References. Appendix 1: VIA classification of character strengths. Appendix 2: Music list. Subject index. Author index.
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