Monday, April 16, 2012

Autism and social skills: Parenting Guides to Help Your Child


As a licensed psychologist, I have worked with children with a variety of difficulties such as behavior problems, anxiety, and difficulties with social skills. These difficulties may encompass many psychological disorders such ADHD, Autism, or social anxiety disorder. The focus of this post is on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). ASD is associated with difficulties in social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors.

When working with a family, it is common that the family will attend therapy once a week. Therefore, the majority of the work practicing skills must occur at home (outside of the therapy session). Specific to children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, therapy often requires more intense treatment. Discussions regarding appropriate services should be addressed with your psychologist or behavior therapist.


Below are some suggested readings to help your child with navigating the social world:

·         You are a Social Detective! by Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke
·         Whole Body Listening Larry at Home by Kristen Wilson and Elizabeth Sautter

Other suggestions for understanding difficulties associated with autism include:
·         Children with Autism: A Parent's Guide by Michael D. Powers

·         Could It Be Autism?: A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps by Nancy D. Wiseman



© Copyright 2012 Erlanger A. Turner 


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