Play-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Play-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders explores the most recognised, researched, and practical methods for using play therapy with the increasing number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), and shows clinicians how to integrate these methods into their practices.

Using a diverse array of play-based approaches, the book brings together the voices of researchers and practising clinicians who are successfully utilising play and play-based interventions with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. It also examines the neurobiological underpinnings of play in children on the autism spectrum and the overall effect of play on neuro-typical and neuro-atypical development.

Finally, through careful integration of theory with real-world clinical case application, each chapter also shows clinicians how to incorporate a particular treatment approach and make it a viable and effective part of their work with this challenging clinical population.

Table of Contents

Part I: Foundations.

• Badenoch, Bogdan, Safety and Connection: The Neurobiology of Play.
• Rubin, Playing on the Autism Spectrum.

Part II: Individualized Play-Based Interventions.

• VanFleet, Coltea, Helping Children with ASD Through Canine-assisted Play Therapy.
• Bundy-Myrow, Family Theraplay: Connecting with Children on the Autism Spectrum.
• Gallo-Lopez, From Monologue to Dialogue: The Use of Play and Drama Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
• LeGoff, Krauss, Allen, LEGO-based Play Therapy for Improving Social Competence in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Courtney, Touching Autism through Developmental Play Therapy.
• Ray, Sullivan, Carlson, Relational Intervention: Child-centered Play Therapy with Children on the Autism Spectrum.
• Green, The Narcissus Myth: Resplendent Reflections, and Self-healing: A Jungian Perspective on Counseling a Child with Asperger’s Syndrome.
• VanFleet, Communication and Connection: Filial Therapy with Families of Children with ASD.
• Richardson, The World of Sandtray and the Child on the Autism Spectrum.

Part III: Programmatic Play-Based Interventions.

• Hess, DIR/Floor Time: A Developmental/Relational Play Therapy Approach Towards the Treatment of Children Impacted by Autism.
• Solomon, The PLAY Project: A Train-the-Trainer Model of Early Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
• Powers-Tricomi, Gallo-Lopez, The ACT Project: Enhancing Social Competence through Drama Therapy and Performance.

Part IV: Expressive/Creative Interventions.

• Goucher, Art Therapy: Connecting and Communicating with Children on the Autism Spectrum.
• Walworth, Music Therapy Interventions for Social, Communication, and Emotional Development for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
• Devereaux, Moving into Relationship: Dance/Movement Therapy with Children on the Autism Spectrum.

"Play-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders provides new perspectives and creative strategies that will enable children and adolescents with ASDs to improve interpersonal abilities as well as the communication of thoughts, emotions, and personality. It is an excellent book, and I highly recommend it for students and colleagues from a range of disciplines."
- Tony Attwood, author of The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome

"This book is inspired and inspiring, timely, optimistic, and practical. The authors share their focused interest, theoretical beliefs, and creative application of varied techniques to help the reader feel better equipped and guided to work with children on the autism spectrum. It is great to find authors who set the context for their work, articulate a consensus of goals, and then convey a virtual quilt of evidence- and practice-informed expressive and behavioral interventions."
- Eliana Gil, Gil Center for Healing and Play, Virginia, USA, and author of Helping Abused and Traumatized Children: Integrating Directive and Nondirective Approaches

"Play-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders blends research-based insights on ASD and the neurobiology of play with a range of play-based therapeutic applications tailored to the needs of children and adolescents with ASD. It will be an important resource for mental-health professionals working with young clients and families facing the challenges of ASD."
- John W. Seymour, Minnesota State University–Mankato, USA

"This book brings together an amazing collection of authors, all of whom are noted experts in their particular areas. From beginning to end, the reader is provided with meaningful case examples and the artful weaving together of theory, approach, play, and research. Play-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders will become a standard resource in many fields."
- Linda E. Homeyer, coauthor of Sandtray Therapy: A Practical Manual

"This book is a marvelous compendium of engaging interventions for people with ASDs and a vital text in this age of evidence-based practice. It lays out the array of possible treatments and the existing research base for them, giving clinicians a rich sense of these approaches and allowing families to make choices based on their own culture and values.  I strongly recommend this book to any practitioner in the field."
- Joshua D. Feder, director of research at the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders, Maryland, USA